Exposure to formaldehyde at work linked to cognitive problems later

A variety of jobs expose people to formaldehyde, a strong-smelling gas used in manufacturing wood and chemical products, plastics and in other applications. A new study suggests that long-term exposure to formaldehyde during work may be associated with cognitive impairment later on.

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Estimating the strength of selection for new COVID-19 variants

In an effort to make sense of new COVID-19 variants, scientists have developed methods to quantify how much more or less transmissible they are, which could have far-reaching implications for public health in terms of COVID-19 risk and the vaccination levels required to obtain herd immunity.

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Innovative X-ray imaging shows COVID-19 can cause vascular damage to the heart

Researchers have detected significant changes in the heart muscle tissue of people who died from COVID-19. The study underpins the involvement of the heart in COVID-19 at the microscopic level by imaging and analyzing the affected tissue in the three dimensions.

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Your seat on public transportation determines level of exposure to exhaled droplets, study finds

In a new study, researchers developed a model with an unprecedented level of detail and focused on conditions that are more characteristic of asymptomatic transmission. The multiphysics model involved air and droplet dynamics, heat transfer, evaporation, humidity, and effects of ventilation systems. The researchers modeled various scenarios in close detail and were able to reconstruct their ventilation paths.

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How do our organs know when to stop growing?

The smallest fish in the world, the Paedocypris, measures only 7 millimeters. This is nothing compared to the 9 meters of the whale shark. The small fish shares many of the same genes and the same anatomy with the shark, but the dorsal and caudal fins, gills, stomach and heart, are thousands of times smaller! How do organs and tissues of this miniature fish stop growing very quickly, unlike those of their giant cousin? A multidisciplinary team was able to answer this fundamental question by studying its physics and using mathematical equations.

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Solar flare throws light on ancient trade between the Islamic Middle East and the Viking Age

An interdisciplinary Danish team of researchers has used new astronomical knowledge to establish an exact time anchor for the arrival of trade flows from the Middle East in Viking-age Scandinavia. The results are published in the leading international journal Nature.

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For some Greenlanders, eating sugar is healthy

A genetic variation among some Greenlanders makes sugar healthy -- significantly more than for most people. According to a new study, gut bacteria and a unique diet that has nourished Greenlanders for millennia have provided them with a genetic variation that offers an incredible advantage.

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Novel biosensors set to revolutionize brain-controlled robotics

A novel carbon-based biosensor is set to drive new innovations in brain-controlled robotics. The biosensor adheres to the skin of the face and head in order to detect electrical signals being sent by the brain. These signals can be translated into commands to control autonomous robotic systems. The sensor, made of epitaxial graphene grown onto a silicon carbide on silicon substrate, overcomes three major challenges of graphene-based biosensing: corrosion, durability and skin-contact resistance.

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People with IBD have more microplastics in their feces

Microplastics -- tiny pieces of plastic less than 5 mm in length -- are everywhere, from bottled water to food to air. According to recent estimates, people consume tens of thousands of these particles each year, with unknown health consequences. Now, researchers have found that people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have more microplastics in their feces than healthy controls, suggesting that the fragments could be related to the disease process.

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Toxoplasma parasites manipulate brain cells to survive

Researchers have discovered that Toxoplasma parasites lay dormant and undetected inside neurons (brain cells) and muscle cells by releasing proteins that switch off the cells' ability to alert the immune system.

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Brain mechanisms involved in learning also drive social conformity

Some of the same brain systems known to play a role in learning from trial and error also are engaged when people conform to social norms, scientists report in a new study. The findings are important, the researchers said, because changing one's behavior to align with one's peers can contribute to community-building or -- depending on the goals and values of the group -- societal breakdown.

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How regular exercise can protect against fatty liver associated diseases

Exercise not only trains the muscles but can also prevent the development of fatty liver. A new study shows which molecular adaptations, in particular of the liver mitochondria, can be observed in this process.

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Breakthrough infections generate 'super immunity' to COVID-19, study suggests

Breakthrough infections greatly enhance immune response to variants of the virus that causes COVID-19, according to new research. The study is the first to use live SARS-CoV-2 variants to measure cross-neutralization of blood serum from breakthrough cases, portending an eventual 'end game' to the pandemic.

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Mind-controlled robots now one step closer

Researchers teamed up to develop a machine-learning program that can be connected to a human brain and used to command a robot. The program adjusts the robot's movements based on electrical signals from the brain. The hope is that with this invention, tetraplegic patients will be able to carry out more day-to-day activities on their own.

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Greater exposure to nitrogen dioxide linked to higher levels of biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease in the brain

A study has found an association between air pollution and higher levels of deposition of beta-amyloid protein in the brain and of neurofilament light (NfL) in cerebrospinal fluid.

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Wearable biosensors can help people with complex health conditions

Remote monitoring of health-related behavior with wearable sensor technology is feasible for people with complex health conditions, shows a recent study.

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Small measures can be a big help for children of mothers with depression

Several new studies among Syrian refugee families in Turkey and families with infants in Sweden and Bhutan show that children of mothers in poor mental health risk falling behind in their cognitive development. However, very small changes can suffice to break this correlation and enable the children to return to their normal developmental level. Having plenty of people around them and an available community are two of the most important factors for helping children, in all three countries.

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Wear and tear in vulnerable brain areas lead to lesions linked to cognitive decline

As our brains age, small lesions begin to pop up in the bundles of white matter that carry messages between our neurons. The lesions can damage this white matter and lead to cognitive deficits. Now, researchers not only provide an explanation for the location of these lesions but also how they develop in the first place.

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New discovery on how omega-3 fatty acids can reduce atherosclerosis

A receptor activated by substances formed from omega-3 fatty acids plays a vital role in preventing inflammation in blood vessels and reducing atherosclerosis, a new study reports. The discovery can pave the way for new strategies for treating and preventing cardiovascular disease using omega-3 fatty acids.

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New study reveals how epithelial cells in the body naturally eliminate 'precancerous' ones

Normal epithelial cells show the ability to push out precancerous ones present in the epithelium, by means of 'cell competition.' But the exact molecular mechanism of this recognition by normal epithelial cells was unknown. Now, researchers have unraveled the interactions and cellular pathways leading to this extrusion, allowing them to identify a candidate for a therapeutic target for future cancer prevention research.

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