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Untreatable bacteria identified in the US

A strain of E. coli resistant to last-resort antibiotics has been identified on United States soil for the first time. Health officials say this could be the end of the road for antibiotics, leaving us virtually helpless in fighting future infections.

Decade-long study shows how air pollution is killing you

A decade-long study of thousands of Americans has found direct evidence of how air pollution causes heart disease. The link between the two has been established a long time ago, but it's only now that the biological mechanisms have been explained thoroughly.

Humans got smarter to care for needy infants, making them more helpless in the process

University of Rochester researchers developed a new evolutionary model that suggests human intelligence developed to meet the demands of our infants, in a self-reinforcing cycle: bigger brains led to shorter pregnancies, requiring parents to have even bigger brains.

Canadian clay kills antibiotic-resistant bacteria on contact

Canadian aboriginals have been using clay to treat their ailments for centuries.

8 out of 10 internet users might be suffering from Cyberchondria aka 'seeing Dr. Google'

Almost all doctors we've spoken to advise against "internet diagnoses", and this infographic is telling in this respect.

Just 5% of terminally-ill cancer patients understand the depth of their situation

Only a fraction of the cancer patients in the terminal stages of their illness fully understand their prognosis. The findings suggest many patients are "kept in the dark", even though they only have a couple months to live anymore.

Scientists cut HIV genes from live animals using genetic scissors

For the first time in history, scientists have cut out HIV genes from live animals.

Got an exam coming up? Better start sketching

A new study found that drawing information you need to remember is a very efficient way to enhance your memory. The researchers believe that the act of drawing helps create a more cohesive memory as it integrates visual, motor and semantic information. “We pitted drawing against a number of other known encoding strategies, but drawing […]

These five genes code your nose's shape, among other things

We now know which genes are responsible for blue eyes, red hair and now, thanks to the efforts of a team at University College London, those which code nose shape.

Man 3-D prints his wife's tumor and saves her life

ZME Science has reported extensively on how 3-D printing is being implemented in the medical sector with some fantastic results. Yet, the real revolutionary thing about 3D printing – whether used for product prototyping, printing prostheses or spare parts on the International Space Station – is that anyone can use it. Such is the story […]

Cheap home urine test scans for diseases

Stanford University invented a new low-cost tech that diagnoses diseases from a urine sample.

Why giraffes have long necks: first genome sequencing offers some clues

Researchers have sequenced the genomes of the tallest mammal on Earth, as well as it's unlikely closest cousin, the okapi. By comparing the genomes of the two species, we now have a firmer grasp of the evolutionary timeline in which the split from a common ancestor took place.

Synthetic wine can mimic classic vintages, for a fraction of the time and price

Ava Winery, a start-up based in San Francisco, wants to let you enjoy the best of wines for a fraction of their current cost. To this end, they'll bypass the costly growing and fermentation processes; in fact, they won't use grapes at all. Their wines will be synthetically produced, by combining aromatic compounds with ethanol.

Magic mushrooms show promise for 'untreatable depression'

A new study published in the Lancet Psychiatry reports that "magic mushrooms" could help in otherwise "untreatable" cases of depression.

Vaccines work: only 15 polio cases in 2016. In 2020 it should be eradicated

The wild poliovirus is about to go extinct. In 2015, only 74 new cases were reported or 80 percent less than in 2015. Furthermore, these cases were contained in two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Man receives first penis transplant in the United States

A man recovering from penile cancer is the first American citizen to receive a penis transplant. The operation, a first in the United States, was performed by doctors at the at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. According to the doctors involved, more transplants will occur in the coming years. This is still, however, an experimental procedure at the forefront of medicine.

If you like hamburgers, you should read this

If you like burgers - and let's face it, you do - then we have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that most of the burgers in America are OK - a molecular analysis showed that there is nothing wrong in terms of nutritional content and ingredients. But a small minority was not OK.

THC blood tests can't predict impaired driving and should be scrapped, AAA says

The AAA Foundation for traffic safety ordered a handful of studies that assess the effects marijuana legalization had on driving safety. The studies arrived at a number of worrisome conclusions. Fatal crashes involving drivers who used marijuana doubled since the state lifted the ban. Also, researchers found the marijuana blood limit allowed for driving, known as per se limits, is arbitrary and not based on actual science.

Carrot genome explains why these are orange

Carrots are the richest source of vitamin A in the American diet, which is why you hear "they're good for your eyes". But did you know carrots were initially yellow and purple? Even further back, before humans domesticated carrots, the wild variety was white. Scientists know this by sequencing the DNA of the carrot, and a recent study deciphered its full genetic code. We now know what genes trigger the production of carrots' most important nutrients, but also what teaking is required to improve the crops.

The cost of sequencing the human genome has dropped from $100M in 2001 to under $1,000 in 2016

The price was just under $10 million at the end of 2007, to being under $10,000 in 2011! In a mere four years, the price decreased by a factor of a thousand and today, you could sequence your genome for around $1,000.

Ancient recipes: Pullum Numidicum (Numidian Chicken)

Perhaps one of the most underappreciated aspects of archaeology is cooking. We know surprisingly little about how people used to cook in ancient times, although a few delicious recipes managed to slip through the cracks and remain recorded. Such is the case with Pullum Numidicum (Numidian Chicken), a simple, delicious and authentic Roman recipe. The dish […]

'Second skin' hides signs of aging, while also improving skin health

Developed by researchers at MIT for over a decade, the 'second skin' is a transparent, silicone-based polymer that can be layered over the human skin. Flexible and strong, the novel material can return to its original size after being stretched to over 250%, which is actually better than human skin which can only stretch to 180%.

Nestlé wants to sell you diabetes pills alongside sugary snacks

Sweets as we know them wouldn’t exist without Nestle. The company revolutionized how we eat, they made sugar a vital part of any meal and to an extent, they made the world fatter. They sell in 189 out of the 195 sovereign states, they’re Europe’s biggest company and by far the biggest food company. Their […]

Novices learn faster after being zapped with expert brain wave patterns

In the movie, The Matrix, Neo masters over a dozen martial arts in a fraction of a second as the necessary skills are uploaded straight into his consciousness. Given our current understanding of how the brain works, this is quite preposterous in real life but you'll be surprised to hear some scientists have tested a similar 'skill upload' system with remarkable results.

If you're left-handed, you may be a bit better at math

If you’re left-handed, some of the simplest and most mundane things can be an ordeal. Scissors are awful, musical instruments are a drag and house appliances can be quite challenging. But according to a new study, being a leftie is associated with better math skills, at least for teenage boys. The link between handedness was […]

This robot sutures surgical incisions like a STAR: it's better than doctors

Thanks to robots, surgery has gone a long way since these have been introduced in the '80s making operations safer and less invasive. Now, surgical robots are starting to migrate from assistant to leading roles, which is where experts say they will really shine.

New packaging keeps food fresh way longer, without any plastic

The unlikely ally is silk.

Medical errors ranked as the third leading cause of death in the United States

When researchers at John Hopkins factored human errors they found this was the third leading cause of death in the United States, surpassing respiratory diseases.

Your mouth is full of bacteria - and it's kind of beautiful

There are entire “cities” of bacteria inside your mouth and researchers want to map them all. This is what they look like: Gary Borisy wants to map out colonies of microbes much like neighborhoods and cities. But there’s a problem. “You don’t have the addresses. You don’t have a GPS. You don’t know where they are,” […]

We still don't know which gut bacteria is beneficial, but scientists have some good hints

There's good bacteria and bad bacteria, but the gut seems to be so diverse in its bacterial offering from person to person that scientists have always found it difficult to say "hey, this is what a healthy microbiome should look like." Analyzing thousands of bacteria species in your guy is challenging and we're still not there, but a recent effort involving 4,000 participants has some good hints as to what makes a healthy gut.

Denmark considers red meat tax to help the planet's climate

Cutting our meat consumption is crucial for a sustainable future.

Scientists make the smallest thermometer from programmable DNA

This remarkable research could open the doors for biological thermometers at the nanoscale which might tell us a thing or two about how our bodies function at the smallest level.

You don't need a brain to learn, scientists found

A new study from the University of Toulouse found that intelligence and learning aren't limited to organisms with brains. By studying the mold P. polycephalum they found it can, over time, learn to navigate even irritating environments.

'Cool' light improves learning and academic performance. 'Yellow light' better for relaxing

A new research investigated various light intensity scenarios and reported their findings. For optimal learning performance, "cool" light is better while "yellow" or "warm" light is the most relaxing.

England's doctors go on first-ever all-out strike after disgraceful government measures

Thousands of junior doctors (the rough equivalent of a resident in the US) walked out of hospitals and emergency wards to protest against borderline inhuman measures implemented by the government. It’s the first time in English history since an all-out strike was carried out. The NHS said “military level” contingency planning had been carried out […]

Cannabis use in pregnancy linked to low birthweight and intensive care

Just don't do it.

Our best bet at stopping food waste is to be more responsible, not more efficient

Humans are throwing away an insane quantity of food, both in the developed and in developing countries. While in the latter case this can be attributed to economic and technological constrains, the former is primarily consumer-driven. And the sum of individual choices adds up to major impacts on a global scale, a new study finds.

Can't get any rest when sleeping in a new place? It's just your brain keeping you safe

A new study offers insight into why you might have a hard time sleeping on the first night in a new place: half of your brain stays awake to watch out for potential dangers.

High-fat diets make you feel sleepy during daytime, ruin sleep at night

Men who consume high-fat diets are far likelier to feel sleepy during the day and sleep poorly at night, researchers at University of Adelaide, Australia report.

Genetics determines when you'll lose your virginity

In a novel study, researchers have identified for the first time the heritable components that influence how early or how late people lose their virginity.

Ravens score on par with chimps on key cognitive test

Is size all there is to it? As far as the brain is concerned, a recent study that assessed corvid intelligence suggests the answer seems no. The researchers found crows, ravens and other corvids score the same on an important cognitive test as the big-brained chimps.

Human limbs might have evolved from shark gills

Flap your hands like a shark.

Each city might have its own, unique microbes

Each city has its own distinct germ cloud comprised of a unique microbial population and distribution, according to scientists at Northern Arizona University.

Georgetown University team found you can literally zap creativity into your brain

Electrically stimulating the frontopolar cortex can enhance creativity, a new study from Georgetown University found.

Why you feel like crap when you're sick

Nothing seems to work when you're sick. When I'm down with the flu, for instance, my muscles ache, my eyes are bloodshot and I don't feel like doing anything. It's pretty bad, and if you ever wondered who you have to thank, a team of scientists has singled out a prime suspect: a signaling protein called interferon-β.

WHO endorses first Dengue Fever vaccine

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially endorsed the world's first Dengue fever vaccine, a disease that infects 390 million people each year.

Wrongfully accused: replacing butter with vegetable oils doesn't cut health risk

No matter who you ask, they’ll tell you the same thing: butter isn’t good for you, just use vegetable oil. But while butter may not be the healthiest of foods, new research has found that replacing it with vegetable oils does not decrease risk of heart disease. The main culprit is linoleic acid – a polyunsaturated […]

For the first time in history, researchers restore voluntary finger movement for a paralyzed man

Using two sets of electrodes, scientists have successfully restored finger movement in a paralyzed patient for the first time in history. The results could be the starting point to developing methods that would allow people around the planet to regain limb mobility.

Humans gave Neanderthals herpes, tapeworms and a slew of tropical diseases

Westerners are horror-struck by the prospect of an Ebola or Zika pandemic in their very own neighbourhood. Media panic aside, that's extremely unlikely thanks to modern medical science. Our close cousins, the Neanderthals, weren't so lucky tens of thousands of years ago when they first met us, humans. British researchers analyzed ancient bone DNA and sequenced pathogens and found some infectious diseases are far older than we thought. They argue that it's very likely that humans passed many diseases to Neandertals, the two species having interbred, like tapeworm, tuberculosis, stomach ulcers and types of herpes.

Consciousness comes in "slices" roughly 400 milliseconds long

This is the first time a two-stage model has been proposed for how consciousness arises, and it offers a more complete picture than the purely continuous or discrete models. It also provides useful insight into the the way our brain processes time and relates it to our perception of the world.
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