New Atlas

Medical Audio available

Dual studies highlight ketamine’s potential to treat anxiety and addiction

Rich Haridy January 10, 2019

Two new studies suggest the psychiatric benefits of ketamine treatment may extend beyond just the targeting of depression. The research demonstrates ketamine may be helpful in targeting both anxiety- and substance abuse-related depression.

New evidence suggests ketamine can reduce anxiety related to major depression, and substance abuse depression

Science

Promising new Alzheimer’s treatment unexpectedly found in old antibiotic

Rich Haridy January 2, 2019

Fascinating new research from a team at Yale has described a promising new Alzheimer’s treatment, developed from a half-century old antibiotic. The research suggests a drinkable cocktail composed of newly discovered polymers may disrupt the early stages of the neurodegenerative disease.

A drinkable cocktail composed of newly discovered polymers may disrupt the early stages of Alzheimer's

Robotics

Multipurpose robotic skins bring stuffed animals to life

Michael Irving September 19, 2018

In an effort to make robots that are more adaptable, Yale researchers have developed “robotic skins” that can be fitted over a range of everyday objects, like soft toys or pieces of foam, to turn them into robots programmed for different tasks.

Robotics

Yale study finds autonomous robots help improve social skills of autistic children

Rich Haridy August 22, 2018

A Yale University study has found that children with autism spectrum disorder can significantly improve social communication skills after just one month of daily interventions with an autonomous social robot.

After just 30 minutes a day for one month, the children with ASD displayed significant improvements ...

Environment

The Internet of Animals: Using tagged wildlife as a global network of environmental sensors

Nick Lavars August 18, 2018

The final pieces are now in place for an international effort to take wildlife tracking to a new level. The ICARUS program seeks to attach tiny transmitters to creatures in unprecedented numbers, with astronauts this week installing the necessary antenna on the International Space Station.

The ICARUS program plans to uses tagged animals to learn more about biodiversity, plus much more

Science

Nature's first known beak belonged to this dinosaur

James Holloway May 3, 2018

Scientists have pieced together what they think is the first bird beak ever to have evolved. It belongs to Ichthyornis dispar, which lived in North America nearly 100 million years ago. It's thought that its beak evolved as a surrogate hand to compensate for its forelimbs having evolved into wings.

Scientists think that the beak of Ichthyornis dispar evolved as a surrogate hand

Materials

Scientists spot the telltale tick of a time crystal in a kid's toy

Michael Irving May 3, 2018

A time crystal sounds like a sci-fi concept, but they’re very real, and as new research reveals, you might have some in your home already. Scientists at Yale University have now spotted the signature of a time crystal in a common crystal that crops up in off-the-shelf crystal-growing kits for kids.

A monoammonium phosphate crystal, where Yale researchers have now found the telltale tick of a time ...

Space

Astronomers find galaxy with no dark matter – and why that really matters

Michael Irving March 28, 2018

Now there’s a new wrinkle to the story of dark matter, as scientists at Yale University have for the first time discovered a galaxy that appears to have no dark matter at all. Ironically, the find may just turn out to be the exception that proves the rule.

A snap of the galaxy NGC1052–DF2, taken with the Hubble Space Telescope

Health & Wellbeing

Comprehensive study suggests biological aging is slowing down

Michael Irving March 15, 2018

How well are our anti-aging efforts paying off? A comprehensive new study from Yale University and the University of Southern California (USC) has found that Americans seem to be aging more slowly now than they were 20 years ago.

A comprehensive new study shows that Americans are biologically aging more slowly now than 20 years ...

Medical

Yale study reveals gut bacteria can spread to other organs to trigger autoimmune disease

Rich Haridy March 8, 2018

A study has discovered that a certain type of gut bacteria can migrate from the gut to other parts of the body, triggering autoimmune diseases. The research revealed that certain autoimmune conditions could potentially be treated with an antibiotic or vaccine that attacks the specific bacteria.

Orange dots represent the gut bacterium known to cause an autoimmune disease in liver tissue