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
Biochar, a black powder produced by heating cocoa bean shells to 600 degrees Celsius in an oxygen-free environment, has the potential to address climate change by locking in greenhouse gases. The biochar industry is still in its infancy, but it provides a unique solution to remove carbon from the Earth’s atmosphere. The process captures CO2
“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)
Postnatal depression is commonly associated with women, but research shows that it affects men almost as much, with some studies estimating that up to 10% of fathers experience it. Despite this, there is a lack of information available about postnatal depression in men, which can make it difficult to recognize and seek help. This article
A recent study led by the University of Virginia has challenged the long-held understanding of how materials known as associative polymers function at the molecular level. The study, which has been published in the journal Physical Review Letters, has important implications for the many ways associative polymers are used in everyday life, ranging from engineering
A new study from Colorado State University indicates that the understanding of how and why mountains are formed may not be as thorough as previously thought. The study, led by Sean Gallen, a geosciences assistant professor at the university, utilized new data sets and techniques to reconstruct the long-term history of mountain building in southern
The field of electronics has seen significant advancements in recent years, leading to the creation of smaller and more sophisticated devices such as wearable technologies, biosensors, medical implants, and soft robots. The majority of these technologies rely on stretchy materials with electronic properties. However, many of the flexible materials used in these devices are fragile
A new population of filaments has been discovered in the space surrounding the heart of the Milky Way. These magnetized strands are aligned along the galactic plane and point towards the galactic center. According to astrophysicist Farhad Yusef-Zadeh of Northwestern University, these filaments are likely the remnants of an outflow from the supermassive black hole
Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking proposed a theory that black holes gradually lose mass over time through a strange form of radiation, as the event horizon disrupts surrounding quantum fields. This radiation, known as Hawking radiation, is thought to occur due to the complex mix of fluctuations within the quantum fields being interfered with by the event
A new study conducted by researchers from The Ohio State University and the University of Michigan in the US has found that the crash of conflicting beliefs jousting inside your head could leave you with more than just an aching brain. It could cause physical pain in your neck and back. Volunteers were asked to
Cutting boards are an essential tool found in most homes and restaurant kitchens. However, according to a small-scale study conducted by researchers from Environmental Science & Technology, they are also an overlooked source of micrometer-sized particles. The study claims that chopping up carrots on wood and plastic boards could produce tens of millions of microparticles
Researchers have made significant progress in developing better catalysts to convert methane into a less harmful chemical. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that is being released into the atmosphere at an increasing rate due to livestock farming and the melting of permafrost. The transformation of methane into a less harmful and useful chemical could
Researchers worldwide are working diligently to discover ways to combat bacteria that can resist current antibiotics to prevent a global health crisis. One potential target for the development of improved antibiotics is riboswitches, which are small RNA segments that regulate the production of proteins by bacterial cells. Riboswitches are almost exclusively found in bacteria, making
A recent study conducted by the University of Maryland (UMD), Northern Arizona University, the University of Arizona, Conservation International, and more has uncovered that protected forests across the globe store an additional 9.65 billion metric tons of carbon in their aboveground biomass in comparison to similar unprotected areas. The study highlights the significance of protected
