New Atlas

Health & Wellbeing Audio available

Sleep study finds pros and cons to afternoon nap for teenage brain health

Rich Haridy February 24, 2019

New research has revealed that a short night sleep with an afternoon nap is better for a teenager's mood and cognition than a longer, continuous night’s sleep. On the other hand, the split sleep students reported higher glucose levels, a marker that points to increased diabetes risk.

The study found 5 hours sleep plus a 90 minute afternoon nap was better for a ...

Medical Audio available

New 3D-printed electrodes may boost "jab-less" blood glucose monitoring

Ben Coxworth December 7, 2018

Daily finger-prick blood glucose tests are an unpleasant part of life for diabetics, which is why various groups have developed non-invasive glucose-monitoring sensors. Such devices may be becoming more effective and affordable, thanks to a project presently underway at Washington State University.

The research is being led by Asst. Prof. Arda Gozen (pictured) and Prof. Yuehe Lin

Medical

Cancer researchers unexpectedly discover natural anti-obesity protein

Rich Haridy October 29, 2018

While investigating a protein whose production is known to be elevated in a wide range of cancers, a team of researchers has inadvertently discovered a powerful new metabolic regulator that in early mouse experiments has reduced the animal's fat levels by a third.

Mice administered a natural protein were found to lose over one third of their fat with ...

Medical

A “biochemical cigarette”: How smoking inspired a potential new anti-obesity treatment

Rich Haridy October 23, 2018

An international team of researchers has harnessed two known metabolic modulators, tobacco smoking and exposure to cold, to create a potential anti-obesity treatment that in early mouse experiments has successfully lowered body weight and corrected glucose intolerance.

A new proposed anti-obesity treatment incorporates the appetite-suppressing element of nicotine with the energy-burning effects of ...

Science

How cancer grows by parasitically altering its host's gut microbiome

Rich Haridy September 30, 2018

A compelling new study is comparing cancer cell populations to parasites, describing how it can alter the body's ability to metabolize glucose to create more energy sources that help tumors grow.

Cancer cells were found to hijack glucose from other cells to speed its own growth

Health & Wellbeing

For older adults, a little bit of sugar can improve memory and engagement

Rich Haridy July 18, 2018

Good news older readers, a small sugary treat can boost your memory and performance when faced with a difficult task. A long-standing body of research has been bolstered by a new study that has concluded that sugar does indeed improve memory and motivation in older adults.

In over-60s, sugar was found to increase engagement in difficult tasks and enhance cognitive performance

Health & Wellbeing

Glucose-monitoring patch could mean no more finger-pricking for diabetics

Ben Coxworth April 9, 2018

For millions of diabetics, performing finger-prick blood tests to monitor blood glucose levels is an unpleasant part of daily life. If a new glucose-monitoring adhesive skin patch reaches commercialization, however, such jabs may become a thing of the past.

The patch incorporates an array of miniature sensors

Health & Wellbeing

This smartphone case analyzes blood

Ben Coxworth December 7, 2017

What do cameras, audio recorders and music players have in common? They're all things that we no longer have to carry around, as they're built into smartphones. Diabetics may soon be able to add blood glucose-measuring kits to that list, as scientists have created a phone case that does the job.

The GPhone is still in the proof-of-concept phase

Medical

Yale study discovers how very low calorie diets could reverse type 2 diabetes

Rich Haridy November 9, 2017

For some time there have been claims that not only can type 2 diabetes be controlled by diet, but it can also be reversed, effectively curing the disease. Researchers have now uncovered key mechanisms that could explain how a very low calorie diet can reverse type 2 diabetes

The study identified three metabolic mechanisms that are stimulated by a very low calorie diet and ...

Medical

Artificial pancreas learns your behavior and regulates insulin through a smartphone

Rich Haridy October 16, 2017

Last year the FDA approved the first artificial pancreas for general use, designed to automatically monitor and inject insulin in patients with type 1 diabetes. Now a team at Harvard has developed an even more sophisticated system than connects to a patient’s smartphone and learns their habits.

A new artificial pancreas system connects to your smartphone and uses an algorithm to learn when ...