Red blood cells

Your morning coffee might do more than wake you up – it could weaken donated blood. A large new study shows caffeine lowers red blood cell quality, making transfusions less effective, especially in patients who need them most.

An engineered protein that acts like a molecular sponge can hunt down CO molecules in the bloodstream and safely flush them out of the body in just minutes, without the risk of short- or long-term organ damage that comes with current oxygen treatment.

Researchers have identified a previously unknown biological process that causes tissue damage in conditions where oxygen is low, such as heart attacks and strokes. The study suggests that bursting red blood cells, not blood clots, are the culprits.