New weapon found in fight to combat obesity, diabetes

An international team of scientists is one step closer to unlocking the molecular mechanisms at work in fat tissue, which could ultimately lead to treatments to effortlessly ‘switch on’ calorie burning.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: Obesity, Un… Continue reading New weapon found in fight to combat obesity, diabetes

Meet the Diprotodon’s ancestor, the original big flat-footed marsupial

Scientists have identified an ancient marsupial for the first time, whose special adaptations allowed it to walk great distances across the continent now known as Australia some 3.5 million years ago. For an animal that would have weighed more than a q… Continue reading Meet the Diprotodon’s ancestor, the original big flat-footed marsupial

Brain function found to decline rapidly in years after a heart attack

Recovery from a heart attack is most often focused on lifestyle changes to support and protect cardiovascular health. But researchers out of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have sounded another alarm, finding that people who had suffere… Continue reading Brain function found to decline rapidly in years after a heart attack

New findings suggest hundreds of millions of planets may harbor life

When Meatloaf sang “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad” in 1977, we’re all but certain he was not doing the math on the potential of planets in the galaxy having the right conditions to harbor life. Because new findings suggest that two out of three are actual… Continue reading New findings suggest hundreds of millions of planets may harbor life

A poor diet may fuel age-related memory loss, but you can reverse it

We don’t have to be told a diet rich in fruit and vegetables is good for our health; it may be one of the few areas of science generally not up for debate, even if our adherence to the advice varies greatly.Continue ReadingCategory: Health & Wellbe… Continue reading A poor diet may fuel age-related memory loss, but you can reverse it

Hope for age-related hearing loss with novel gene therapy

Age-related hearing loss impacts one in three adults between the ages of 64 and 75 in the US, and around half of these numbers are down to genes.Continue ReadingCategory: Medical, ScienceTags: Hearing Impaired, Hearing, Genetics, Aging, Age-Related, ge… Continue reading Hope for age-related hearing loss with novel gene therapy

Merlin lets you easily identify almost every bird species across the world

From casual bird buddies to ornithology obsessives, you can now trek to far flung corners of the globe and identify any feathered friend you find – as long as you have a smartphone.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: Birds, Cornell Universi… Continue reading Merlin lets you easily identify almost every bird species across the world

Human trial of mRNA universal flu vaccine begins

It’s still very early days, but the race to develop the first safe and effective mRNA-based influenza vaccine is gathering momentum.Continue ReadingCategory: Medical, ScienceTags: Vaccines, RNA, Biotechnology, Influenza, Duke University, U.S. National … Continue reading Human trial of mRNA universal flu vaccine begins

Genetically modified bananas out to stop Cavendish catastrophe

It’s been more than 50 years since the lethal soil-borne Fusarium fungal species all but wiped out the dominant Gros Michel banana across the globe. Now, though, the tropical race 4 (TR4) strain of the fungus threatens to repeat history, potentially ki… Continue reading Genetically modified bananas out to stop Cavendish catastrophe

Weekend cheat meals linked to cognitive impairment and poor gut health

Bad news if you love a nice weekend cheat meal: scientists have found evidence that “diet cycling” between healthy food Monday to Friday, followed by a weekend reward of greasy takeout, could trigger cognitive impairment and poor gut health.Continue Re… Continue reading Weekend cheat meals linked to cognitive impairment and poor gut health