Research Stories
Look Over Here! Owls Teach Us About Brain Processing
Did you know that your attention is controlled in two ways in your brain? An extreme of either method can lead to mental disorders, including ADHD & schizophrenia. Johns Hopkins University is examining brain activity in owls to shed light these disorders and our thought process in general.
The Farm-Animal Fix for Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C has no vaccine or cure. Current treatments are costly, inaccessible, and can lead to deadly side effects. Researchers may have just found the furry, farm-dwelling answer to this lack of options: alpacas.
Pesticide Exposure Suspect In ADHD Blame Game
A can of pesticide can hurt more than just pests. Most pesticides today are based on a class of substances called pyrethroids, which have typically been considered safer than the alternative of organic phosphates. However, in his research, Dr. Jason Richardson discovered a startling link between pyrethroids and ADHD.
Spicing Up Tumor Treatment With Silibinin
A different application of the same substance can yield amazing results. Silibinin, an extract of the milk thistle plant, has long been used as a supplemental treatment for liver disease. Research at the University of Colorado, however, is showing that silibinin can be used for so much more—in particular, to treat tumors, both cancerous and otherwise.
Crayfish Get Anxious Too!
Humans are not the only ones to feel stress; simple creatures like crayfish also respond to stress in ways similar to humans. By running crayfish in a maze, Dr. Cattaert found that stressed crayfish tend to remain in dark areas with a higher level of blood glucose in their bodies.
A New Breakthrough in Breast Cancer Therapy: Wasp Venom
Spanish scientists are using the poison in wasp venom to develop a new weapon in the battle against breast cancer. Other researchers are exploring ways to incorporate wasp venom in a new class of anticancer drugs designed to attack different parts of cancer cells at the same time.
Talking Animals, Wild Teachers
Crows are known for their intelligence, particularly their use of tools. A recent study showed just how smart these birds are. After being trained to match items that look the same, the crows spontaneously learned to match items by similarity and difference.
Turn Back The Clock! – Did Scientists Just Discover The New Fountain of Youth?
Dr. John Ramunas and his team of scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine may have just found the microscopic Fountain of Youth by elongating telomeres, or DNA "handles," expanding the life span of cells. The implications of this? Combatting aging, cancer, grafts, transplants, and more. Take that, Ponce de Leon.
Who Let The Bugs Out? Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Could Stop Zika
Oxitec, a British biotech company, is combatting the spread of Zika virus, dengue fever, yellow fever and chikungunya, by reducing the mosquito population through genetic engineering. Or rather, letting the bugs limit themselves. Fewer mosquitos? Fewer diseases spread.
Eye-Opening Research on Shut-Eye Deficiency
More than 12 million people in the U.S. stop breathing periodically at night due to a serious sleep disorder called Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Even more concerning, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine estimates that 80 to 90 percent of adults with OSA are currently undiagnosed. Rutgers-based scientist Dr. Judith Neubauer and her team are working tirelessly to solve the mysteries of OSA and develop a treatment for this potentially life-threatening condition.