Medical
Having already cured many diseases and conditions that were once a death sentence, medical researchers continue to strive to help us live longer and healthier lives. Read about the latest advances here.
Latest News
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Flow: We really are unconscious when we're 'in the zone'
March 04, 2024Analyzing the brain waves of improvising jazz musicians, researchers now understand how the brain achieves a creative flow state. The findings have practical implications for anyone wanting to get ‘in the zone’ to generate creative ideas. -
Scar-free surgery prints living skin (and maybe hair) right into wounds
March 04, 2024In a world first, researchers have printed multi-layered, living skin directly onto significant injuries in rats for scar-free skin repair. It's not sci-fi – they're genuinely 3D-printing skin (and possibly hair) right into damaged areas. -
Mussels and silkworms ally to thwart internal bleeding and infection
February 27, 2024Mussels and silkworms may soon be indirectly responsible for saving people's lives. Scientists have used proteins from both animals to develop an internal wound dressing that stops bleeding and prevents infections. -
Ultrathin, wireless, light-operated pacemaker cuts invasive surgery
February 26, 2024A new pacemaker is thinner than a human hair, wireless and operated entirely by light from an optic fiber. The non-invasive device could help regulate heart activity or even stimulate neurons in a set pattern to treat conditions like Parkinson’s. -
Cystic fibrosis breakthrough points to zinc as infection buster
February 26, 2024Zinc has been found to be important in reducing lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis, whose immune cells' natural bacteria-fighting ability has been reduced by the genetic mutation that causes the disease. -
79% of Crohn's disease patients in remission after early intervention
February 25, 2024Giving infliximab, an immunotherapy drug, as soon as possible after diagnosis with Crohn’s disease significantly reduced complications, including the need for urgent surgery by a factor of 10, a clinical study has found. -
Asthma drug staves off food allergies in up to 68% of patients
February 25, 2024A drug used to treat asthma has been shown to substantially reduce the risk of potentially life-threatening reactions in people aged one and older with multiple common food allergies, including peanuts, following accidental exposure. -
Using your nose to regenerate knees eroded by osteoarthritis
February 22, 2024A clinical trial will soon commence investigating whether nose cartilage can be used to regenerate knee joints that have been severely worn down by osteoarthritis. If successful, the procedure could be an alternative treatment for the condition. -
Stubborn liver cancer may have met its match in century-old TB vaccine
February 22, 2024The 102-year-old tuberculosis vaccine shrank liver cancer tumors in mice, which suggests it may be replicated in a human trial. If this was the case, the vaccine might prove successful in tackling this notoriously hard-to-treat cancer. -
Bloodborne pathogens quickly ID'd by melting their DNA
February 22, 2024A new technique, which involves melting bacterial DNA found in blood samples, could deliver diagnoses of potentially fatal infections faster than ever before. Results may be obtained in a few hours, instead of days. -
Radioactive ‘fruit sugar’ lights up cancer and inflammation
February 22, 2024A radioactive form of fructose, a natural sugar found in fruit, can illuminate cancer and inflammation in medical scans. This approach has the potential to make diseases easier to spot than current techniques, leading to better early detection. -
Synthetic antibody could be key to a universal antivenom
February 21, 2024A universal snake-bite antivenom is within reach, with scientists making an antibody that protects against lethal strikes from a range of elapids. No snakes or ‘donor animals' were needed to produce the antivenom, making it sustainable and scalable. -
Cannabis may be the gateway out of drug addiction
February 19, 2024New research has found that daily users of crystal methamphetamine who turned to cannabis to manage their cravings used the stimulant drug less, especially female users. The findings suggest a new harm-reduction strategy is needed. -
Stubborn wounds meet their match in cold plasma jet-charged dressing
February 18, 2024A new type of dressing is shaping up as a way to heal chronic wounds without the need for antibiotics. Using a helium plasma jet to activate hydrogel, researchers have created a highly effective antibacterial cover that can swiftly overpower wounds. -
Inhaling graphene is safe, according to human trial
February 18, 2024It slices, it dices, it's super strong and conductive, and now an ultra-pure form of ‘wonder material’ graphene has been inhaled during a human trial without affecting lung or cardiovascular function, opening the door to a novel drug delivery mode.
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