Mindfulness gets spherical: The shape-shifting ball that mimics your breath
From University of Bath 01/09/23 A soft ball that ‘personifies’ breath, expanding and contracting in synchronicity with a person’s inhalations and exhalations, has been invented by a PhD student at the University of Bath in the UK. The ball is designed to support mental health, giving users a tangible representation of their breath to keep […]
New tool predicts irregular heartbeat condition, reducing stroke risk
From University of East Anglia 28/08/23 Researchers at the University of East Anglia have developed a new way of identifying patients at risk of an irregular heartbeat, known as ‘atrial fibrillation’. While not life threatening, the condition increases people’s risk of having a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or stroke by up to five times. A […]
Engineered bacteria can detect tumor DNA
From University of California – San Diego 28/08/23 Pushing into a new chapter of technologically advanced biological sensors, scientists from the University of California San Diego and their colleagues in Australia have engineered bacteria that can detect the presence of tumor DNA in a live organism. Their innovation, which detected cancer in the colons of […]
Paper drinking straws may be worse for the environment than plastic versions – innovation opp.
From Taylor & Francis Group 25/08/23 Long-lasting “forever chemicals”, which can cause damaging health issues, found in 18/20 brands of paper straws “Eco-friendly” paper drinking straws contain long-lasting and potentially toxic chemicals, a new study has concluded. In the first analysis of its kind in Europe, and only the second in the world, Belgian researchers […]
AI spots brain disorders by listening to someone talk
From Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences 25/08/23 A research team led by Prof. LI Hai from Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) concluded their research in AI-powered language assessment for cognitive and motor disorders field in a series of paper recently. Acoustic and linguistic features in […]
Micrometres-thin battery charged by saline solution could power smart contact lenses
From Nanyang Technological University 25/08/23 Scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed a flexible battery as thin as a human cornea, which stores electricity when it is immersed in saline solution, and which could one day power smart contact lenses. Smart contact lenses are high-tech contact lenses capable of displaying visible information […]
Do digital hugs work?
From Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University 24/08/23 Research shows the way to cultivate meaningful social connections online At first glance, the term “digital hug” might seem paradoxical. After all, how does the physical act of embracing one another have anything to do with the digital world in which we are so […]
Longevity gene from naked mole rats extends lifespan of mice – humans are next
From University of Rochester 24/08/23 In a groundbreaking endeavor, researchers at the University of Rochester have successfully transferred a longevity gene from naked mole rats to mice, resulting in improved health and an extension of the mouse’s lifespan. Naked mole rats, known for their long lifespans and exceptional resistance to age-related diseases, have long captured […]
Brain-Computer Interface and AI enable paralysed woman to talk again
From University of California – San Francisco 24/08/23 Researchers at UC San Francisco and UC Berkeley have developed a brain-computer interface (BCI) that has enabled a woman with severe paralysis from a brainstem stroke to speak through a digital avatar. It is the first time that either speech or facial expressions have been synthesized from […]
Space travel depletes red blood cells and bone, but bone marrow fat may come to the rescue
From The Ottawa Hospital 22/08/23 A study of 14 astronauts suggests that while space travel depletes red blood cells and bone, the body can eventually replenish them back on Earth with the help of fat stored in the bone marrow. The study, published in Nature Communications, has important implications for health in space and on […]