Health

a head of lettuce on a colorful background

Insulin grown in lettuce can be taken orally

New synthetic insulin harvested from lettuce plants can be made cheaply, taken orally, and transported at room temperature.

Kristin Houser

Brain

Cancer med appears to prevent brain aneurysms

Japanese researchers have discovered that the cancer drug sunitinib can prevent the formation of brain aneurysms in mice.

Kristin Houser

“Nature’s own Ozempic” or berberine is all over social media

Does berberine work as well as Ozempic to help people lose weight? Social media seems to think so, but it’s not likely.

Rebecca Roubin and Nial Wheate and Tina Hinton

Coronavirus

Pfizer’s shot is the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine

Pfizer’s shot has become the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, making the transition from emergency use authorization on August 23.

Kristin Houser

Public Health

Beyond Sunday Service: How one Montgomery church is bringing health equity to their community

4:03

In partnership with Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

A grassroots approach to vaccine education is happening in the heart of the civil rights movement in Alabama. Does this church hold the key to overcoming medical mistrust?

Stephen Johnson

Healthcare

How a brain implant can stop pain instantly (in rats)

A new brain implant can instantly detect pain signals and provide bursts of stimulation that are pain-relieving. Researchers have shown it to be successful in rodents.

Teresa Carey

Fertility

Scientists grew healthy mice from artificial eggs cells and ovaries

For the first time, researchers have created mice from egg cells and ovaries grown from stem cells.

Teresa Carey

Surgery

Wasps inspire a new surgical needle

The next new surgical tool may come from an odd place: parasitic wasps whose eggs eat their hosts inside-out.

B. David Zarley

Surgery

New organ coating could help prevent transplant rejection

A coating for donor organs that minimized the chance of transplant rejection in mice might one day eliminate the need for immunosuppressants.

Kristin Houser

Climate Crisis

Using body bags to treat heatstroke

The Pacific Northwest heat wave crushed hospitals with heatstroke victims. Doctors turned to body bags to save lives.

B. David Zarley

Brain

Fecal transplants reverse aging in brains of old mice

Fecal transplants from younger to older mice appear to reverse aging in the brains of the seniors, improving their memories and cognition.

Kristin Houser

Coronavirus

New treatment may prevent heart damage from COVID-19

An experimental drug that stopped the coronavirus from entering cells in heart organoids may be able to prevent heart damage from COVID-19.

Kristin Houser

Neuroscience

Already-approved ALS drug may help Alzheimer’s patients

A small phase 2 study has found evidence that ALS medication riluzole may have potential as a drug for Alzheimer’s.

B. David Zarley

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