Skin-like sensor can track body movement and electrical signals inside and out
A new skin-like sensor developed by an international team led by researchers at Penn State could help doctors monitor vital signs more accurately, track healing after surgery and even help patients with bladder control issues.
AI and open-source software promise faster, easier biomedical imaging
Two new open-source tools are set to make fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy—or FLIM—faster, simpler and more accessible. Developed by Ph.D. student Sofia Kapsiani in Professor Gabi Kaminski Schierle’s Molecular Neuroscience Group, the tools tackle long-standing technical and practical barriers in biomedical imaging.
Verbal response time reveals hidden sleepiness in older adults
A new study led by UCLA investigators shows that Verbal Reaction Time (VRT), the amount of time it takes a person to respond verbally, can be a marker of sleepiness in older adults. The study, which measured participants’ voice data through standardized cognitive assessments, shows how VRT can passively detect excessive sleepiness, especially among older individuals using sedative medications.
Study shows sexual pleasure remains important for women across menopause transition
Although there is a lot of discussion around negative aspects of aging and sexual problems, a new nationally representative study of 1,500 U.S. women aged 40–65 reveals that despite reporting masturbating less often, most postmenopausal women continue to experience orgasm at the same frequency and quality as their younger peers.
Lemurs show no age-related inflammation, challenging assumptions about human aging
What can lemurs tell us about inflammation and aging, aka “inflammaging” in humans? That’s the question Elaine Guevara, a biological anthropologist who studies the evolution of life history and aging in primates, set out to understand.
Lemurs show no age-related inflammation, challenging assumptions about human aging
What can lemurs tell us about inflammation and aging, aka “inflammaging” in humans? That’s the question Elaine Guevara, a biological anthropologist who studies the evolution of life history and aging in primates, set out to understand.
Bats replay flight memories in fixed time packets, providing new clues into how memories are stored
Every day, our brain takes countless fleeting experiences—from walks on the beach to presentations at work—and transforms them into long-term memories. How exactly this works remains a mystery, but neuroscientists believe that it involves a phenomenon called neural replay, in which neurons rapidly recreate the same activation sequences that occurred during the original experience. Surprisingly, neural replays can happen both before and after an experience, suggesting they help in both memory storage and also future planning.
Green spaces boost children’s cognitive skills and strengthen family well-being
Access to nature promotes physical and mental health, and it is vital for children’s social and emotional development. Outdoor activities also influence family dynamics, helping to reduce stress and encourage connections.
Breathing dirty air may raise the risk of a common brain tumor
People exposed to higher levels of air pollution may be more likely to develop meningioma, a typically noncancerous brain tumor, according to a large study published in Neurology. This common type of brain tumor forms in the lining of the brain and spinal cord. The findings do not prove that air pollution causes meningioma; they only show a link between the two.
Chromosomal abnormality scores unlock path to personalized immunotherapy
In a newly published article in Nature Genetics, researchers from the University of Chicago have identified tumor aneuploidy—an imbalance in the number of chromosomes—as a powerful biomarker associated with resistance to immunotherapy across cancer types. The study emphasizes how combining immunotherapy with radiation may help overcome the issue of therapy resistance, offering a new framework for predicting treatment response and personalizing cancer therapy.