Research
A portable device that can instantly detect dangerous street drugs at extremely low concentrations has been developed by researchers in the UK. The device, which is being trialled by drug-checking services in the UK, Norway and New Zealand, can identify substances such as benzodiazepines and synthetic opioids that are difficult to detect with existing mobile [...]
Regular chats with friends, time spent in nature and mentally engaging activities are strongly linked to better mental health, according to new Curtin University research that highlights the power of simple, everyday behaviours to improve well-being. The study surveyed more than 600 Western Australian adults and found people who chatted with others daily scored 10 [...]
Researchers in Germany have developed a method to predict early-stage kidney damage caused by certain cancer treatments. The kidneys begin to shrink slightly after some cancer treatments—months before any measurable decline in kidney function occurs. The researchers identified this trend using CT scans analysed by an AI-powered algorithm. They also observed similar changes in the [...]
By Martin Sandhu, healthtech founder & technology consultant The last global crisis changed clinical trials forever. When COVID-19 closed physical sites and restricted movement, the industry had no choice but to evolve. Decentralised clinical trials (DCTs)—once an emerging trend—became a necessity. The shift wasn’t seamless or universal. Smaller firms struggled with infrastructure, and many trials [...]
By Thierry Marchal, programme director and chief technologist (EMEA healthcare), at Ansys Cardiovascular disease remains the world's leading killer, claiming nearly a third of all global deaths according to the World Health Organisation. While traditional research methods have made significant strides, we are now entering an era where understanding the complex mechanics of the human [...]
A new brain-inspired algorithm developed by US researchers could help hearing aids tune out interference and isolate single talkers in a crowd of voices. In testing, researchers found it could improve word recognition accuracy by 40 percentage points relative to current hearing aid algorithms. Kamal Sen is the algorithm’s developer and a Boston University (BU) [...]
There is no difference over time in the spatial working memory of older people who have autistic traits and those who are neurotypical, new research has found. The new research is the first study to explore age-related rate of decline in spatial working memory in older people who may be autistic. Spatial working memory helps [...]
Interactions between immune and brain cells drive fear responses, but treatment with psychedelics like MDMA and psilocybin may reverse these effects, US researchers have discovered. A new study suggests that fear and the immune system are connected in previously unknown ways. Researchers at Mass General Brigham found that the immune system can influence stress and [...]
Researchers have uncovered the molecular mechanism behind why heart attacks can vary in severity depending on the time of day, potentially paving the way for innovative treatments that align with the natural circadian rhythm. Previous research has shown that the severity of heart damage after an acute myocardial infarction, or heart attack, varies depending on [...]
A team of US researchers hopes to launch human clinical trials in their quest for a vaccine to prevent the buildup of pathological tau – a protein in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s dementia. In a new paper, the researchers found that the experimental vaccine generated a robust immune response in both mice and non-human [...]
