Seed-shooting plant could inspire better jumping robots

The witch hazel plant has quite a unique skill – it’s able to shoot out its seeds at a speed of 30 feet (9 m) per second. Scientists now know how the plant does it, and believe that their findings could be applied to human technology.Continue ReadingCa… Continue reading Seed-shooting plant could inspire better jumping robots

Novel ‘fast, tenacious’ molecule can KO drug-resistant superbugs

Decades of work has seemingly paid off with scientists developing a potent new synthetic molecule that swiftly knocked out 285 strains of bacteria it was tested on, setting it up as a valuable ally in our fight against a looming superbug infection cris… Continue reading Novel ‘fast, tenacious’ molecule can KO drug-resistant superbugs

Anti-aging benefits for old mice that surgically share blood with young

In a glimpse of what could become a future Black Mirror episode, scientists have hooked the circulatory systems of old mice to young mice, and found that it slows the aging process in the older animals and increases their lifespan by up to 10%.Continue… Continue reading Anti-aging benefits for old mice that surgically share blood with young

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

Technique reverses heart attack damage by reprogramming scar cells

For all they do for us, our hearts aren’t very good at repairing themselves. So when a person suffers a heart attack, their blood pump is left with a large amount of scar tissue, which can impede the organ’s flexibility and thereby its function. Inspir… Continue reading Technique reverses heart attack damage by reprogramming scar cells

Scans that are 64 million times clearer give a new look at the brain

Fifty years on from American chemist Pal Laterbur detailing the first magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), scientists have marked this historic medical anniversary with the sharpest-ever scans of a mouse brain.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: Duke U… Continue reading Scans that are 64 million times clearer give a new look at the brain

Scans that are 64 million times clearer give a new look at the brain

Fifty years on from American chemist Pal Laterbur detailing the first magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), scientists have marked this historic medical anniversary with the sharpest-ever scans of a mouse brain.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: Duke U… Continue reading Scans that are 64 million times clearer give a new look at the brain

Alexa vs Roomba: How children think we should treat intelligent tech

With AI already a big part of everyday life and its involvement only bound to increase, researchers have turned to four- to 11-year-olds to ask how they think we should treat intelligent technology.Continue ReadingCategory: TechnologyTags: Artificial I… Continue reading Alexa vs Roomba: How children think we should treat intelligent tech

Gigapixel microscope captures 3D images and video in stunning detail

Scientists at Duke University have developed an incredibly powerful new camera that combines dozens of lenses to capture images and video at resolutions of thousands of megapixels, in three dimensions.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: Camera, Came… Continue reading Gigapixel microscope captures 3D images and video in stunning detail

Lab-grown ancient nose receptors reveal how our ancestors smelled

Our ancestors probably didn’t smell good, but did they smell well? A new study has grown odor receptors from Neanderthals and Denisovans, and tested their sensitivities to different smells compared to modern humans.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, Sc… Continue reading Lab-grown ancient nose receptors reveal how our ancestors smelled