News
Second pregnancy leaves distinct and lasting changes in the maternal brain
Researchers at Amsterdam UMC have discovered that a second pregnancy alters the female brain. Previous research from the same group had already demonstrated the impact of a first pregnancy on the female brain. The research demonstrates that both a first and a second pregnancy have a strong and unique impact on mothers' brains.
Mayo Clinic Study Identifies Mechanism Behind Immunotherapy Resistance in Lung Cancer
Mayo Clinic researchers and collaborators have identified a previously unrecognized way lung tumors weaken the immune system, helping explain why many patients do not respond to immunotherapy and pointing to a potential new approach to make those treatments more effective.
Cognitive speed training over weeks may delay the diagnosis of dementia over decades
A study that followed adults age 65 and older over 20 years has linked a specific cognitive training regimen to reduced diagnoses of Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD). While the authors assessed three different kinds of training, only one, which challenged participants with rapid object detection tasks, was associated with a 25% lower rate of dementia diagnosis, as indicated by Medicare claims data.
Onset of "the munchies" after cannabis use could offer clues to help people with appetite loss
The urgent onset of "the munchies" after cannabis use isn't imaginary – it's a cognitive response that occurs regardless of sex, age, weight or recent food consumption.
Forensic Scientists Exposed to Illicit Drugs in Crime Laboratory, NIOSH Finds
Forensic scientists working in a police department crime laboratory were exposed to small but detectable amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin during routine evidence handling, according to a health hazard evaluation conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The investigation identified airborne, surface, and dermal contamination pathways, including one instance in which a scientist’s occupational exposure to fentanyl exceeded an occupational exposure limit established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH).
Electric Eel Biology Inspires Powerful Gel Battery
Power sources used in devices found in or around biological tissue must be flexible and non-toxic, while still powerful enough to support demanding technologies such as medical devices or soft robotics. To achieve this balance, researchers at Penn State are taking inspiration from a “shocking” place: electric eels.
In a first, researchers film treetops glowing during thunderstorms
In James Cameron’s movie Avatar, trees glow with a mesmerizing bluish hue. For half a century, researchers suspected treetops on Earth might also glow—albeit because of thunderstorms, not Pandoran bioluminescence. But the phenomenon, an electric outburst called a corona, had only ever been spotted in the lab.
Unlocking Leadership Potential Within Your Staff
In many laboratories, leadership is associated with hierarchy. Titles signal authority, reporting lines define responsibility, and decisions move along established chains. Yet leadership potential in laboratories often emerges long before a promotion. It shows up when a scientist stays late to untangle a stalled method and then shares the fix with colleagues the next morning. It appears when a technician reorganizes sample flow to prevent recurring errors. It surfaces when someone asks a difficult question in a meeting that others hesitate to raise. These actions rarely carry formal authority. Yet they often reveal who is already influencing outcomes. For lab managers, the challenge is not finding leadership potential. It is recognizing it early and creating the conditions for developing leadership within staff before a formal role is assigned.
The Future of Companion Diagnostics: A Multi-Omics Revolution
Historically, CDx have followed a straightforward paradigm: one drug paired with one biomarker. While this approach proved instrumental in the early success of targeted therapies, particularly in cancer care, its limitations have become increasingly apparent. Today, advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) and high-throughput technologies are breaking down these constraints, enabling simultaneous assessment of dozens or even hundreds of biomarkers in a single assay.
Tiny protein region unlocks secrets to healthy heartbeat
Researchers have found a region of a protein called leiomodin that is critical in maintaining the length of tiny filaments that control a person's heartbeat.
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