Health & Science

Tiny X-ray telescope could unlock the Moon's hidden chemistry
Health & Science

Tiny X-ray telescope could unlock the Moon's hidden chemistry

A lightweight new X-ray telescope could finally give scientists something they’ve never had before: a complete chemical map of the Moon. Researchers used detailed mission simulations to show that a compact telescope orbiting the Moon could identify key elements across the entire lunar surface, helping reveal how the Moon formed and evolved.

Cohort makes data from more than 5,800 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 available to the scientific community
Health & Science

Cohort makes data from more than 5,800 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 available to the scientific community

The Biostatistics Unit at the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), in collaboration with researchers from several Catalan health care and research institutions, has published the DIVINE study database in Scientific Data. The journal specializes in publishing datasets and promotes the accessibility, proper documentation and reusability of these resources by the scientific community.

GLP-1-based meds are linked to fewer heart events in adults with obesity, autoimmune disease
Health & Science

GLP-1-based meds are linked to fewer heart events in adults with obesity, autoimmune disease

Among adults with both obesity and an autoimmune disease, those taking a glucagon-like peptide-receptor 1 agonist (GLP-1RA) medication had lower rates of emergency department visits and were less likely to experience serious cardiac events, such as stroke, pulmonary embolism or death when compared to similar adults who were not taking these medications, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. This research was presented at the American Diabetes Assoc

Clarifying the interplay between host and gut microbiota in selenium metabolism
Health & Science

Clarifying the interplay between host and gut microbiota in selenium metabolism

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace mineral found in everyday dietary items, such as seafood, meat, and whole grains. Our bodies depend on it for many biological functions, from the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes to immune system regulation. However, Se is unusual among nutrients in that the quantity window between too little and too much is quite narrow. Se deficiency has been linked to weakened immunity, while excess intake can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disorder

Researchers discover way to inhibit brain cancer's infiltration mechanism in glioblastoma
Health & Science

Researchers discover way to inhibit brain cancer's infiltration mechanism in glioblastoma

A team of experimental oncology researchers at the University of Alberta is shedding light on how the deadly brain cancer glioblastoma spreads. In newly published research, they identify a potential treatment target to slow or even stop it. Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of cancer that affects 4 in 100,000 people, according to Brain Tumor Canada, with an average survival of 12 to 18 months.

Antibody fragment prevents hemorrhages associated with new Alzheimer's treatments
Health & Science

Antibody fragment prevents hemorrhages associated with new Alzheimer's treatments

In 2025, the European Medicines Agency approved two antibodies for Alzheimer's disease: lecanemab (LeqembiTM, from Biogen) and donanemab (Kisunla, from Eli Lilly and Co.), both based on immunotherapy (the use of molecules from the immune system to treat diseases). These antibodies, obtained in the laboratory, act against the Aβ peptide, a protein fragment that accumulates in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Elimination of this protein by the immune system helps slow the character

New study highlights maternal-fetal TORCH infection risk
Health & Science

New study highlights maternal-fetal TORCH infection risk

The TORCH complex is a group of pathogens that can cause infections with mild or silent symptoms in an expecting mother, but in a developing fetus can lead to serious complications that include stillbirth, lifelong disability, or birth defects. Researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, recently assessed long-term trends in TORCH infections in a region where reliable data have been lacking. TORCH includes pathogens that cause toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomega

Early immunotherapy aids in treating potentially fatal fungal pneumonias in preclinical models
Health & Science

Early immunotherapy aids in treating potentially fatal fungal pneumonias in preclinical models

A new study led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has shown that early administration of immunotherapy with standard antifungal treatment improved outcomes and largely alleviated immune system paralysis caused by fungal lung infections in preclinical models. These findings could herald new clinically relevant strategies for treating a variety of life-threatening invasive fungal pneumonias, which disproportionately affect immunocompromised cancer patients.

Q&A: Expert discusses risks of cannabis use
Health & Science

Q&A: Expert discusses risks of cannabis use

On April 26, the United States reclassified cannabis from a Schedule I controlled substance, which lacks any medical benefits, to a Schedule III controlled substance, which has accepted medical uses and lower potential for misuse than a Schedule I substance.

Low-dose aspirin may offset premature birth risk linked to extreme heat
Health & Science

Low-dose aspirin may offset premature birth risk linked to extreme heat

Mounting evidence links extreme heat to preterm (often called premature) birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth, indicating that rising temperatures are contributing to worse health outcomes for pregnant people and newborns. Preterm birth is already a leading cause of infant illness and death worldwide, with an estimated 12 to 15 million babies born too early each year, meaning even modest increases in heat-related risk could have substantial global consequences.

Peach fuzz may hold clues to new chronic itch treatments
Health & Science

Peach fuzz may hold clues to new chronic itch treatments

Working with mouse models, research led by the University of Michigan has revealed previously hidden biology of how touch-sensitive hairs create itching sensations. This fundamental discovery opens new avenues to better understand and potentially address human health conditions characterized by persistent itchiness.