New Atlas

Health & Wellbeing Audio available

Wireless sensors may make for happier preemies

Ben Coxworth March 1, 2019

Prematurely-born babies usually have at least five or six hard-wired sensors attached to their bodies, tracking vital stats such as breathing, blood pressure, blood oxygen and heartbeat. Thanks to newly-developed technology, however, all those cumbersome wires may soon become a thing of the past.

While the sensors can be sterilized and reused, they can also simply be discarded, as they ...

Biology Audio available

Incredibly rare "semi-identical" twins born in Australia

Michael Irving February 27, 2019

Twins born in Queensland, Australia have been found to belong to an extremely rare in-between type known as “semi-identical” twins. This is only the second known case in the world, and the first time it was identified during pregnancy using genetic testing.

Semi-identical twins born in Australia mark only the second known case in the world

Health & Wellbeing Audio available

Cheap supplement helps produce bigger babies

Ben Coxworth February 11, 2019

Low birth weight is one of the leading causes of infant mortality, and it's more common in impoverished regions where pregnant women may not receive enough nutrition. A recent study, however, suggests that an inexpensive dietary supplement could be used to address the problem.

Each daily dose of the Women First supplement weighs less than an ounce

Science

Potential advantages in attention for babies in bilingual households

Rich Haridy January 30, 2019

A new study has demonstrated that six-month-old babies raised in a bilingual environment tend to display better attentional control than their monolingual exposed counterparts. The results suggest cognitive benefits from bilingual exposure can manifest before infants are even capable of speech.

New research suggests babies exposed to more than one language display attentional improvements as early as ...

Science Audio available

Chinese official investigation condemns scientist behind gene-edited babies

Michael Irving January 21, 2019

Preliminary results of an investigation by the Chinese government into the ethics of experiments that led to the birth of the world's first gene-edited babies have now been released. The report condemns the actions of He and confirming some of the questions previously raised about this strange case.

An investigation by the Chinese government has condemned the actions of He Jiankui, the scientist behind ...

Medical

Compelling link between vitamin D deficiency in newborns and schizophrenia discovered

Rich Haridy December 6, 2018

A new study has revealed an intriguing link between babies born with a vitamin D deficiency and an increased risk of developing schizophrenia later in life. Although the discovery stems from observational research, the scientists suggest vitamin D plays a major role in fetal brain development.

A new study has found that vitamin D deficiency at birth could increase the risk of ...

Medical Audio available

First baby born from the uterus of a deceased donor

Michael Irving December 4, 2018

Uterus donors are so far limited to willing volunteers, which has made the procedure possible in only a handful of cases. Now, scientists have reported the first successful birth of a child after a uterus transplant from a deceased donor.

Researchers have reported the first successful birth after a mother received a uterus transplant from a ...

Children Audio available

Payton's Charm sounds the alarm on kids in hot cars

Ben Coxworth December 4, 2018

While we may think that it's only irresponsible, negligent people who leave infants or pets in hot cars, it can also sometimes happen to preoccupied folks who simply forget that they've got an extra passenger on board. Payton's Charm is designed to alert them, should that happen.

VI Enterprises has taken to Kickstarter in order to raise production funds for Payton's Charm

Biology

Tiny kicks and punches in the womb help babies understand their new bodies

Anthony Wood November 30, 2018

Researchers measuring the brainwaves of newborn babies have discovered that a baby’s kicks are likely a way for the infant to map and begin to understand its body. The study could help doctors develop better techniques for looking after premature babies.

Nineteen newborns were analyzed in the study

Science Audio available

Scientist behind world's first genetically modified babies is "proud" of his work

Rich Haridy November 29, 2018

On Wednesday Chinese scientist He Jiankui took to the stage amidst a maelstrom of controversy surrounding his recent revelation of creating the world’s first genetically edited babies. As He announced pride in his work, the Chinese government called it “shocking and unacceptable.”

He Jiankui presenting his research on Wednesday in Hong Kong