New Atlas

Biology Audio available

The cons of probiotics: Evolution could turn good bacteria bad in the gut

Michael Irving March 26, 2019

Probiotics have long been thought a force for good in the body, but there may be a gray area between good and bad bacteria. A mouse study conducted at Washington University in St. Louis has now found that probiotics can evolve in the gut, becoming less effective or even turning against the host.

A new study has shown that probiotics can evolve in the gut and potentially turn against ...

Biology

Turning stem cells into insulin-producing cells could lead to "functional" diabetes cure

Michael Irving January 17, 2019

A possible diabetes cure could be found by replenishing a patient’s own supply of beta cells, which naturally produce insulin. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are a step closer to that kind of treatment, after tweaking the recipe for turning stem cells into beta cells.

Created from induced pluripotent stem cells, these new beta cells are already producing insulin, which could ...

Materials Audio available

Traitor bacteria help build graphene water filter that kills other bacteria

Michael Irving January 17, 2019

Water filters get less effective as bacteria builds up on their surface. Now, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a new type of membrane that reduces such biofouling by actively killing bacteria with graphene – and in an interesting twist, it’s built by bacteria.

Researchers have used bacteria to build a new water filter that kills other bacteria

Medical

Kinect measures body thickness to lessen radiation exposure from X-rays

Nick Lavars December 1, 2015

Scientists claim to have expanded the applications for Microsoft's Kinect to include a more precise approach to X-ray imaging, which they say can limit exposure to radiation by measuring the thickness of a subject's body parts.

Blurred X-ray images such as this one, which result in retakes and more exposure to radiation, ...

Medical

Implantable device hits targeted brain cells with light and drugs when triggered remotely

Nick Lavars July 17, 2015

Optogenetics, where brains cells are made to behave differently when exposed to light, has wide-ranging potential. With one eye on this area of neuroscience, scientists have developed a device the width of a human hair that can be planted in the brain to deliver light or drugs only where needed.

Tiny, implantable devices capable of delivering light or drugs to specific areas of the brain have ...

Medical

Protein shown to slow progress of Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis

Nick Lavars March 2, 2015

Researchers have identified a promising new target in the battle against certain neurological diseases. A protein known as TREM2 has been proven effective in clearing away unwanted debris in the brain, the unchecked buildup of which can lead to both Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis (MS).

Brain plaques (seen in blue) and other debris are normally swept away by cells called microglia ...

Medical

Protein that wakes up the brain could provide target for Alzheimer's prevention

Nick Lavars November 24, 2014

In recent years, research has linked sleep problems to Alzheimer’s disease. New research shows that removing orexin in mice, a protein that regulates arousal, wakefulness and appetite, enables them to sleep longer, suggesting it could be targeted to hinder development of the disease.

Research suggests that targeting a protein in the brain could help prevent the development of Alzheimer's ...