Disease

A protein found in our cells has emerged as a secret weapon against biological aging, acting like a glue to repair damaged DNA and ward off neurological degeneration including that seen in motor neuron, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

If you have an aversion to the bitterness of foods like cabbage or broccoli, you might be a "super-taster," carrying a specific genetic code that dials up taste sensitivity. It may also put you at higher risk of kidney disease and bipolar disorder.

Wearing face masks and maintaining social distances were a significant part of the world's reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, new research says the practices are not only effective at saving human lives, but chimp lives as well.

Animals that produce their own light source, through an internal chemical reaction, are a true wonder of nature – and something biotechnology scientists have been working hard to replicate and adapt for human use. They've now made a huge breakthrough.

Taking a vitamin D supplement can knock years off your biological aging, according to the results of a large, long-term study. This may not seem like a lot, but it's a significant amount as you become increasingly susceptible to disease as you age.

Antibiotics can be literal lifesavers, but they are particularly hard on the gut thanks to their indiscriminate destruction of both good and bad bacteria in the body. New research shows a possible way to fight their negative effects based on diet.

The world's largest study into the long-term health impact of floods has found that there are surges in hospitalizations for months after an event – and current responses are inadequate when it comes to treating cancer, diabetes, mental health and more.

A long-term trial has found that a discontinued drug halved the onset of a genetic form Alzheimer's, from all but 100% to 50%. Buoyed by the results, scientists are now trialing anti-amyloid medication as a preventative for all types of the disease.

The US has recorded its first death due to avian influenza. The man had been infected by a H5N1 variant with a genetic mutation, helping it target upper respiratory tract receptors – one also seen in the Canadian teen who fell critically ill last year.

Mosquitoes looking to mate in Australia are about to have the worst sex of their lives – thanks to genetic modifications turning their semen toxic. That could kill females swiftly, and greatly reduce their ability to spread deadly diseases.

There's been a significant rise in people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in recent years, with some 61.8 million cases worldwide. Experts are calling for better access to medical support as it moves into the top 10 of non-fatal health burdens.

The hugely ambitious project of mapping the estimated 37.2 trillion cells of the human body is close to reaching a historic milestone – the first draft of the 'atlas.' We got a glimpse at what's in store from this unprecedented biological guidebook.