Scientists uncover how trans fats contribute to cell death

Trans fats, or trans fatty acids, are already known to be damaging to health, contributing to conditions like cardiovascular disease. Now we may know more about just how they cause this damage, as scientists at Tohoku University have found that certain… Continue reading Scientists uncover how trans fats contribute to cell death

Stem cell technique winds back aging in human cells

Stanford scientists may have found a way to essentially return older cells to a more youthful state. The adult cells are treated with a mix of proteins from early embryonic development, which removes many of the molecular signs of aging. The cells clos… Continue reading Stem cell technique winds back aging in human cells

Cell studies suggest statins starve cancer of nutrients

Statin drugs are commonly taken to help manage cholesterol levels, and they have a good track record of preventing heart attacks and strokes in at-risk patients. But now, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have found that they may also kill some can… Continue reading Cell studies suggest statins starve cancer of nutrients

“Forgetful” mutations may help bacteria evade antibiotics

Bacteria have a frustrating ability to return after an infection is cleared out. That’s largely thanks to small “persister” populations that are able to hide from the drugs, seeding a new colony in the aftermath. Now, scientists at the University of Su… Continue reading “Forgetful” mutations may help bacteria evade antibiotics

Mice with diabetes “functionally cured” using new stem cell therapy

Diabetes is characterized by trouble producing or managing insulin, and one emerging treatment involves converting stem cells into beta cells that secrete the hormone. Now, scientists have developed a more efficient method of doing just that, and found… Continue reading Mice with diabetes “functionally cured” using new stem cell therapy

New cancer vaccine molecules clump together to stay on target

Current cancer treatments take time, can harm healthy cells and have mixed results. Ideally, fighting cancer would be as simple as a vaccine, and scientists are taking steps towards that goal. Now, researchers at EPFL have developed a way to make vacci… Continue reading New cancer vaccine molecules clump together to stay on target

Harvard team grows cyborg mini-organs out of stem cells

Scientists could almost build a whole mini-body out of the mini-organs that have been grown over the last few years. But cell development has traditionally been tricky to study, thanks largely to the difficulty in getting sensors in there wit… Continue reading Harvard team grows cyborg mini-organs out of stem cells

Giving stem cells some support helps heal damaged hearts

Considering how important an organ it is, it’s a shame that the heart is so bad at repairing itself. One heart attack is rarely the end of the problem, as scarring prevents healing and often leads to further attacks. Stem cells are an emergin… Continue reading Giving stem cells some support helps heal damaged hearts

Artificial protein can reprogram cells to become self-regulating "smart cells"

Proteins are the workhorses of the cell, but nature sometimes has room for improvement. Now a team from the University of Washington’s Institute for Protein Design (IPD) and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) has created a new … Continue reading Artificial protein can reprogram cells to become self-regulating "smart cells"

Coating immune cells in nanoparticles helps seek and destroy rogue cancer cells

One of the main reasons cancer can be so difficult to beat is because of its ability to spread through the body, even after the primary tumor has been surgically removed. But now researchers from Vanderbilt University have developed a new tec… Continue reading Coating immune cells in nanoparticles helps seek and destroy rogue cancer cells