medicine
A New Study Helps Untangle the Role of Tau in Dementia
Understanding the protein’s role in the cell shows what's happening in neurodegenerative diseases before symptoms emerge.
Your Medical History Might Someday Include ‘Climate Change’
Last summer, a doctor wrote “climate change” in his patient’s chart. But is medicine really ready to address systemic health impacts?
When It Comes to Health Care, AI Has a Long Way to Go
Medical information is more complex and less available than the web data that many algorithms were trained on, so results can be misleading.
How Do You Design a Better Hospital? Start With the Light
A new trend in patient-centered design focuses on making environments more comfortable and less scary.
Predicting Death Could Change the Value of a Life
New technology promises to forecast the length of your life. But for disabled people, measuring mortality can prove fatal.
Antibodies Are Being Created to Fight Disease in New Ways
Targeting cancers and viruses, better knowledge of the human immune system is leading to new medicines.
Some Cancer Studies Fail to Replicate. That Might Be OK
A years-long effort to validate key cancer biology hit roadblocks and found problems. But maybe this will incentivize scientists to share data.
Who Are We If Not Our Faces?
Undergoing dozens of operations to treat Crouzon syndrome made me look more “normal.” It also made me question my identity.
An AI Finds Superbug-Killing Potential in Human Proteins
A team scoured the human proteome for antimicrobial molecules and found thousands, plus a surprise about how animals evolved to fight infections.
It's Time To Fear the Fungi
Humans have long been protected from fungal infections, thanks to our nice, warm blood. Climate change could ruin that.
Researchers Want to Restore ‘Good Noise’ in Older Brains
Aging people lose variation in brain oxygen levels—a sign of declining cognitive flexibility. A new drug study probes whether that loss can be reversed.
That Glowing Patient Testimonial May Not Be What It Seems
People receiving medical treatment shouldn’t have to drum up new business for their doctors—it's time to hold the industry to a higher standard.
E-Cigarettes Could Be the New Nicotine Patch
England will allow doctors to prescribe vaping devices to people who want to quit smoking—if manufacturers can develop a product that works.
The Long Search for a Computer That Speaks Your Mind
The trick is to use data from the brain to synthesize speech in real time so users can practice and the machine can learn. New brain computer interface systems are getting there.
Merck’s Antiviral Could Be Just What Covid Was Waiting For
The pharmaceutical giant is making its oral antiviral drug widely available for all the world. But could Covid outsmart it?
This Protein Predicts a Brain’s Future After Traumatic Injury
A blood test of “NfL” proteins answers questions about damage severity that doctors—and families—desperately need.
The Malaria Vaccine Is a Big Deal, but Not a Silver Bullet
RTS,S proves that shots can work against parasites. But to eradicate this disease, scientists say we need more than just one tool.
Very Little Is Keeping Doctors From Using Racist Formulas
If nothing in medicine changes, it’s just a matter of time before yet another race-based risk calculator harms people of color.
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Alcohol Is the Breast Cancer Risk No One Wants to Talk About
As companies roll out the pink beer in October to raise awareness of the disease, one group is urging young women to think twice.
The Llama, the Hamster, and a New Path for Covid Treatment
A set of papers shows that llama-derived antibodies protect the rodent against the virus—which bodes well for making a version for people.
A New Formula May Help Black Patients’ Access to Kidney Care
The prior algorithm adjusted calculations for Black patients—making it harder for them to qualify for transplants and other treatments.
Why Does Asthma Get Worse at Night?
The question has plagued scientists for centuries. A new study offers some answers.
‘Neurograins’ Could be the Next Brain-Computer Interfaces
Dozens of microchips scattered over the cortical surface might allow researchers to listen in on thousands of neurons at the same time.
A Stroke Study Reveals the Future of Human Augmentation
A successful clinical trial on stimulating the vagus nerve shows that it could change everything from medical treatment to Olympic training. Are we ready?