New Atlas

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 Audio available

New-and-improved protein-rich rice has higher yields

Ben Coxworth January 23, 2019

According to the ASA, it's an unfortunate fact that many people in developing nations don't get enough protein in their diets. What they often do get a lot of, however, is rice. So, scientists have improved upon a type of rice that has over 50 percent more protein than regular varieties.

Prof. Herry Utomo evaluates the growth of new generations of high-protein rice lines

Science

Scientists may have uncovered exactly how eating certain vegetables can prevent colon cancer

Rich Haridy August 15, 2018

Newsflash - eating vegetables is good for you! OK, so this may not exactly be new information, but a new study has revealed for the first time one of the key biological mechanisms at play explaining how chemicals produced by some vegetables can prevent cancer and colon inflammation.

When we eat vegetables from the Brassica genus, our guts produce a chemical now identified as ...

Health & Wellbeing

A handful of nuts a day found to improve sperm count and motility

Rich Haridy July 4, 2018

The results of a small study from a team of Spanish researchers is suggesting that adding a moderate volume of nuts to a diet could improve both sperm count and motility. The study follows on from a growing body of research finding male fertility rates are dropping in Western countries.

A small study is suggesting eating nuts can improve the health and motility of a man's ...

Health & Wellbeing

Australian scientists brew up broccoli latte

Michael Irving June 5, 2018

Getting your daily dose of vegetables can be tricky. But now it may be a bit easier to hide broccoli in other foods, as Australian scientists have developed a nutritious broccoli powder that can be sprinkled through meals or, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, used to make a broccoli latte.

Australian scientists have developed a nutritious broccoli powder, which could be used to brew up a ...

Science

When it comes to nutrition, this potato has the golden touch

Ben Coxworth November 9, 2017

In many developing nations, vitamin A deficiencies are common … as are potatoes, which typically constitute much of the local diet. That's why scientists have developed a "golden potato." It's rich in provitamin A (which the body converts into vitamin A), along with vitamin E to boot.

Examples of the golden potato (middle and right), as compared to a regular white potato (left)

Health & Wellbeing

Want to feel fuller longer? Eat your mushrooms, says new study

Michael Franco October 19, 2017

Mushrooms can fuel batteries, inspire tiny homes, be grown in diapers and even create building "sausages," which just might help construct the homes of tomorrow. Now they can also help with weight loss, according to a new study published in the journal Appetite.

They might not look as good as steak, but eating mushrooms instead of meat might make ...

Health & Wellbeing

Need another reason to eat your broccoli? Science just found one

Michael Franco October 13, 2017

A plate of broccoli has nothing on a bowl of pasta. But before you brush them aside, science has found yet another reason why consuming vegetables is good for us. The information is compelling enough that some people might want to add more green to their plates to help protect their guts.

It might not be your favorite thing on the dinner plate, but broccoli's disease-fighting powers just ...

Science

Golden banana may save many lives

Ben Coxworth July 7, 2017

The East African Highland cooking banana is the major staple food in Uganda, but it has little in the way of micronutrients such as pro-vitamin A. Prof. James Dale decided to do something about it, and over the past decade has created a vitamin A-rich "golden banana."

One of the golden bananas (top), along with a regular Cavendish banana

Biology

Chinese scientists genetically engineer purple rice rich in antioxidants

Michael Irving June 28, 2017

Plain white rice is pretty nutritionally empty, so if you want something a little healthier, stick to black or red rice. But there soon may be another option after Chinese scientists genetically engineered purple rice that is rich in antioxidants and may reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.

Chinese scientists have genetically engineered purple rice, which is rich in antioxidants