Collaborate Disseminate
The EctoLife Artificial Womb Facility envisages a controversial new way to be pregnant, with the baby growing in an idealized, but completely inhuman environment: transparent “growth pods” arranged by their hundreds in human baby farming operations.Con… Continue reading Womb with a view: EctoLife baby farm eliminates pregnancy and labor
A striking meta-study published in 2017 reported a 50% decline in the average male sperm count since the 1970s. A newly published follow-up investigation, including more data from more countries, is suggesting that decline in sperm counts may be accele… Continue reading Experts divided over new study claiming global sperm counts are plummeting
As many couples trying to conceive will attest, much can go wrong during that fateful meeting of sperm and egg. Now, scientists have identified a new protein eggs use to draw in sperm, which could one day lead to new fertility treatments and contracept… Continue reading Protein that draws sperm to eggs could unlock new fertility treatments
When performing artificial insemination, the better the motility of the sperm, the greater the chances of a successful pregnancy. That’s where a new microfluidic chip comes in, as it selects only the most vigorous, “highly-motivated” sperm from the her… Continue reading Chip selects best-performing sperm by getting them to swim upstream
The leading cause of miscarriage is that human eggs are surprisingly bad at managing the number of chromosomes in them. But now, researchers at the Max Planck Institute have identified a motor protein that helps this process function smoothly, leading … Continue reading Restoring a deficient “motor” protein could improve fertility success
Contraceptives like the pill may be effective, but messing with hormones has a range of unpleasant side effects. Now researchers are experimenting with a new non-hormonal contraceptive based on antibodies, which stops sperm swimming through mucus.Conti… Continue reading Non-hormonal contraceptive supercharges antibodies against sperm
Contraceptives like the pill may be effective, but messing with hormones has a range of unpleasant side effects. Now researchers are experimenting with a new non-hormonal contraceptive based on antibodies, which stops sperm swimming through mucus.Conti… Continue reading Non-hormonal contraceptive supercharges antibodies against sperm
A massive global study tracking birth data from 165 countries has found more twins are being born than ever before. The study reveals twinning rates rose by a third over the past 40 years but the researchers suggest this trend may have reached a natura… Continue reading Twin births hit record high
For decades, women have largely carried the responsibility for contraception thanks to the pill, but a male equivalent has long eluded scientists. Now a new breakthrough could lead to a safe, effective and reversible male contraceptive pill, as a compo… Continue reading Breakthrough male contraceptive pill derived from Chinese medicine
A novel proof-of-concept study is suggesting epigenetic biomarkers in a father’s sperm can potentially predict how susceptible their offspring will be to developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The research is still in preliminary stages so requires… Continue reading Biomarkers in fathers’ sperm linked to autism risk in children