Author Archives: Nick Lavars

Single-gene treatment cures mice of Parkinson’s within three months

Posted on by

Mouse astrocytes (green) before reprogramming on the left, and on the right after being converted into neurons

While there are ways to alleviate some symptoms, there is currently no way to prevent or cure Parkinson’s disease, so the prospect of a one-off treatment that completely eliminates it is certainly an exciting one. While such a therapy remains a while off, scientists have demonstrated an exciting proof of concept in mice, whereby inhibiting a single gene as a one-time treatment eradicated the disease entirely, and kept it at bay for the remainder of their lives.

Continue Reading

Category: Medical, Science

Tags: , , ,

Continue reading Single-gene treatment cures mice of Parkinson’s within three months→

Arctic Circle records 100 degree temperature amid Siberian heatwave

Posted on by

With sea ice coverage that continues to sink to record lows and temperatures that continue to hit record highs, the Arctic is one part of the world that is already feeling the brunt of global warming. New observations from a weather station in Siberia … Continue reading Arctic Circle records 100 degree temperature amid Siberian heatwave→

Protein pair form entry tunnel for bad cholesterol to enter cells

Posted on by

While some cholesterol is a healthy thing for properly functioning cells, too much of it can cause blockages in the arteries and heart trouble, along with a host of other negative health outcomes. Scientists have discovered a new mechanism by which a “… Continue reading Protein pair form entry tunnel for bad cholesterol to enter cells→

AI algorithm enables autonomous drones to do barrel rolls and flips

Posted on by

Most autonomous drones are capable of taking off and landing and flying in straight lines, but scientists at the University of Zurich have developed a new navigation algorithm that enables unmanned quadcopters to pull off some impressive acrobatics, a … Continue reading AI algorithm enables autonomous drones to do barrel rolls and flips→

Study shows nanoplastics can build up in plants and stunt their growth

Posted on by

Such is the magnitude of our plastic pollution problem that tiny particles of the stuff continue to turn up in all kinds of unexpected places, from snowfall in the Arctic to the sea ice in the Antarctic. That tiny fragments also exist in the soil is pe… Continue reading Study shows nanoplastics can build up in plants and stunt their growth→

Virgin Galactic to organize private passenger trips to ISS for NASA

Posted on by

Virgin Galactic is further expanding its scope of space-faring services, today signing a new agreement with NASA that will see it organize private trips to the International Space Station. The deal is hoped to help usher in the era of space tourism and… Continue reading Virgin Galactic to organize private passenger trips to ISS for NASA→

Pre-loaded silicon anodes boost lithium battery density by 25 percent

Posted on by

The pursuit of next-generation battery architectures have scientists exploring all kinds of alternative materials, and one that has been seen as a great candidate for some time is silicon. Using the plentiful element as a lithium-ion battery’s anode co… Continue reading Pre-loaded silicon anodes boost lithium battery density by 25 percent→

Coronavirus evident in Italy’s sewage months before its first case

Posted on by

One of the lesser-known but potentially powerful ways authorities may be able to track the spread of the novel coronavirus is by analyzing the sewage of their communities. Scientists employing this approach in Italy have uncovered evidence of the virus… Continue reading Coronavirus evident in Italy’s sewage months before its first case→

Parkinson’s linked to overabundance of opportunistic gut pathogens

Posted on by

Research continues to shine a light on the role gut bacteria might play in Parkinson's disease

As a disease without a cure or means of prevention, there is a lot we don’t know about Parkinson’s and the way it takes hold in the human body. One school of thought is that it actually begins in the gut, and a new study has strengthened these ties by identifying a type of overabundant pathogen in the guts of Parkinson’s disease patients, a novel finding that opens up new lines of enquiry in understanding the root causes of the condition.

Continue Reading

Category: Medical, Science

Tags: , , ,

Continue reading Parkinson’s linked to overabundance of opportunistic gut pathogens→