Thirteen biotech companies are working on new treatments for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease with no cure. Recent advancements include the approval of tofersen, a personalized treatment for ALS, and the development of new therapies targeting various aspects of the disease. Companies like Alchemab Therapeutics, Annexon Biosciences, and Ionis Pharmaceuticals are leveraging…
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Researchers have discovered the remains of an ancient glacier in the Canadian Arctic, which could be over a million years old. The glacier’s icy layers contain trapped gases, compounds, and particulates that can provide valuable information about the atmospheres and climates of bygone millennia. This rare find could offer insights into the climate of the…
Physicists have made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize our understanding of the universe. Researchers have found that permanent distortions in spacetime caused by the passage of gravitational waves, known as “gravitational memory,” could be detectable from Earth. This phenomenon is predicted to occur most prominently when the core of a supernova collapses, providing a…
A recent survey of almost 100 authors found that researchers who made honest mistakes in their papers, leading to retractions, experienced extreme stress. The study, published in Royal Society Open Science, identified 18 types of data-handling mistakes, with incorrect data processing and analysis being the most common. This highlights the emotional toll of retractions on…
A groundbreaking study has shed new light on the social and political standing of Celtic women in Iron Age England. DNA analysis of skeletal remains has revealed a pattern of matrilocality, where married women stayed in their home communities while their partners came from outside the area. This female-centered marriage pattern is associated with greater…
A team of researchers at Newcastle University in the UK has developed a novel MRI technique that can quantify lung function, providing a more accurate and sensitive assessment of respiratory diseases. The technique uses inhaled perfluoropropane to visualize lung ventilation and has shown promising results in detecting early changes in lung function, even in patients…
A group of 58 researchers has proposed a revised definition of obesity, shifting the focus from body mass index (BMI) to excess body fat and its impact on the body. This new approach aims to improve clinical care, public-health policies, and societal attitudes toward obesity, which affects over 1 billion people worldwide and is linked…
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology and the University of Southern California have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of biomedical engineering. They have designed a hydrogel-based, image-guided, bioresorbable acoustic microrobot (BAM) that can deliver targeted doses of cancer-fighting drugs to destroy malignant tumors while sparing healthy bodily tissues. The microrobots use a…
A recent study by Paul Jensen, a microbial-systems biologist at the University of Michigan, has revealed that just ten bacterial species account for half of all publications, while nearly three-quarters of all named bacteria don’t have a single paper devoted to them. This bias towards a small number of model organisms has significant implications for…
Researchers at New York University have made a groundbreaking discovery in the physics of Hula-Hooping. By experimenting with gyrating robots, they found that the shape of the robot’s body is crucial in keeping a Hula-Hoop aloft. The key factors are a “hip” slope that provides upward force and a “waist” curvature that keeps the hoop…
