Babies born via C-section miss out on the bacteria from their mother’s vagina. This can have an impact on the newborn’s microbiome, which may or may not impact their future health and development. To rebalance gut bacteria following a C-section, a small new study undertaken by researchers from Southern Medical University in China suggests the
Health
Our skin is more than just a protective barrier; it is also a canvas for a unique and intricate pattern that is invisible to the naked eye. These patterns are known as Blaschko lines, and they are believed to trace the paths our cells took during embryonic development to form the skin we have today.
Rice is a staple food in many parts of Asia and Africa and is also used extensively in dishes all over the world. One question that plagues many cooks is whether or not to wash rice before cooking. Some culinary experts claim that washing rice reduces the amount of starch in it, while others believe
The start of the working week is not enjoyed by many people, and now there is another reason to dread Mondays: it is the day when the most severe type of heart attack is most likely to happen. Based on an analysis of 10,528 patients in Ireland and Northern Ireland admitted to hospital between 2013
One of the most shared ‘science’ posts on the internet is a gif of a protein molecule walking along a filament while carrying a large sphere on its shoulders. The animation has been trending online since at least 2014 and continues to receive attention whenever it is shared again. Many have speculated that the gif
Scientists have discovered that a shortage of the amino acid taurine causes animals to age more quickly. However, researchers have also found that oral taurine supplements can delay the aging process and increase the healthy lifespan of animals. This discovery is significant because scientists have been searching for ways to increase health span, the length
Sleeping sickness, also known as Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), is a neglected tropical disease that plagues sub-Saharan Africa. It is caused by Trypanosoma, a microscopic parasite that enters the bloodstream through the bite of a tsetse fly. For months or even years, the parasite produces few to no symptoms, allowing it to prepare for its
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Despite extensive research, the cause and mechanism of IBS are still not fully understood. However, gastroenterologist Brennan Spiegel of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles has put forth a new hypothesis in his paper published in The American Journal of
Getting into a regular exercise routine has numerous benefits for both mental and physical health. A recent study has found that regular physical activity can increase an individual’s threshold for pain tolerance. The research was carried out by institutions in Norway and involved 10,732 adults, with two sets of data collected seven to eight years
Researchers from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel conducted a clinical trial to investigate the impact of a Mediterranean diet on brain aging. Their findings, published in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging, revealed that consuming a diet rich in fresh vegetables, seafood, and whole grains, and low in processed foods, can slow
Secretly held documents from DuPont and 3M, two of the most prominent manufacturers of ‘forever chemicals,’ reveal that company leaders knew of the harmful health effects of some per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) long before they informed the public. In internal research, two of their most popular chemicals, called PFOS and PFOA, were found to
Recent studies have shown that the hallucinogenic and antidepressant effects of psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocin are driven by separate mechanisms. European researchers led by the University of Helsinki in Finland found that these drugs may have the potential to be used as antidepressants and plasticity-promoting agents without triggering the psychedelic trips that they
Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, has been gaining recognition as a safe and effective treatment for intractable depression. A new randomized trial conducted in the United States has shown that ketamine injections are as effective as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) when treating non-psychotic forms of major depression. This development is significant as ECT has remained the standard
“Blue balls” is a term familiar to most people, including healthcare providers. It refers to the discomfort or pain experienced in the scrotum due to prolonged sexual arousal without orgasm. While the exact cause of the pain is unknown, it is believed that the slowed drainage of blood from the testicles in the absence of
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine in the United States have repurposed human stomach cells into tissues that release insulin in response to rising blood sugar levels. This discovery has the potential to provide an effective way to manage conditions such as type 1 diabetes. The experiment involved transplanting gastric insulin-secreting (GINS)
