Microprocessors can be powered using photosynthetic microorganisms in ambient light without the need for an external power source, new research shows. Led by Emre Ozer from Arm and Christopher Howe from the University of Cambridge, researchers in the UK, Italy and Norway introduced cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 into an aluminium–air battery to create a biophotovoltaic […]

Scientists have revived light-sensing neuron cells in organ donor eyes and restored communication between them as part of a series of discoveries that stand to transform brain and vision research. Billions of neurons in the central nervous system transmit sensory information as electrical signals; in the eye, specialized neurons known as photoreceptors sense light. Publishing […]

Neurodegenerative diseases damage and destroy neurons, ravaging both mental and physical health. Parkinson’s disease, which affects over 10 million people worldwide, is no exception. The most obvious symptoms of Parkinson’s disease arise after the illness damages a specific class of neuron located in the midbrain. The effect is to rob the brain of dopamine—a key […]

The old adage says that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but new research from the University of Cincinnati shows the potential benefit of a different fruit for your health. Researchers led by UC’s Robert Krikorian, PhD, found that adding blueberries to the daily diets of certain middle-aged populations may lower the chances […]

Researchers have shown for the first time in mice that heart problems associated with the flu are not caused by raging inflammation in the lungs, as has long been predicted. Instead, the Ohio State University study revealed, the electrical malfunctions and heart scarring seen in some of the sickest flu patients are caused by direct […]

The movement of herders and livestock into the eastern steppe is of great interest to researchers, but few scholars have linked the introduction of herds and horses to the rise of complex societies. Now, a new study in the journal PLOS ONE provides interdisciplinary support for connections between livestock dairying and the rise of social […]

Providing information in multiple languages can help extend the reach of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s (NIAAA) resources. Many visitors to NIAAA’s website come from countries where languages such as Spanish, Tagalog, Japanese, and Chinese are spoken. In addition, Executive Order 13166, issued in 2000, called for all federal agencies to provide individuals with […]

Healthy adults who eat a diverse diet with at least 8-10 grams of soluble fiber a day have fewer antibiotic-resistant microbes in their guts, according to a study published by Agricultural Research Service scientists and their colleagues in mBio. Microbes that have resistance to various commonly used antibiotics such as tetracycline and aminoglycoside are a significant […]

Rising levels of income inequality in the United States may be one reason that the health of Americans has been declining in recent decades, new research suggests. The study found that the level of income inequality that Americans experienced as children was linked to adult markers of health such as chronic inflammation and lung function, […]

Deer, caribou, bison and other similar animals are often infected by a range of internal parasites, including worms called helminths. Although many of these infections are not lethal, they can still impact health or animal behavior. For example, infected animals can eat less grass or other vegetation than they normally would. In an interesting twist, […]