University of Sao Paulo

​It goes without saying that the greater the number of organs available for transplant, the better for patients in need of them. A newly-developed technique could help, as it uses light to kill viruses and bacteria that might otherwise make donated organs unsuitable for use.

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.

As far as most laypeople know, all amoebas are soft-bodied creatures. In fact, though, amoebas of the Thecamoeba genus have a hard outer carapace. In the case of a recently-described new species of Thecamoeba, that shell resembles the wizard's hat worn by Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings.

​As much as some people fear getting dental fillings or root canals, what many of them are really afraid of is the needle that delivers the anesthetic into the mouth tissue. Before long, however, a shot of electricity could make those needles unnecessary.​

Scientists from Brazil's University of São Paulo have created what they claim is a better acoustic levitator – a device that can suspend small objects in mid-air. It's less fussy about the exact orientation of its components, making it more feasible for use in practical applications.