Researchers from the University of Adelaide, in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, University of Queensland and Monash University, have discovered that the genetic mechanism that determines sex in monotremes is different from all other mammals. Monotremes, which include echidnas and platypuses, differ in many aspects of their biology to all other mammals. Most distinctly, they lay eggs into a transient pouch rather than giving birth to live young. In almost all mammals, male sex-determination occurs via the SRY gene…

CORVALLIS, Ore. – A daily dose of almonds improved key health markers for people with metabolic syndrome in a study led by scientists at Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute and the OSU College of Health. The findings, published in Nutrition Research, showed that eating 2 ounces of almonds – about 45 nuts – daily led to signs of better cardiometabolic and gut health. The research is important because almost 40% of the U.S. adult population is estimated to have…

Among the billions of neurons in the brain, fewer than 500 are responsible for suppressing binge drinking, according to new research by Gilles E. Martin, PhD, associate professor of neurobiology. Published in Nature Neuroscience, these findings provide insights into binge drinking behavior and alcohol dependency that may lead to new therapeutic targets. “It’s really hard to comprehend how only a few neurons can have such a profound effect on behavior,” said Dr Martin, a member of the Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research…

The ingestible capsule forms a drug depot in the stomach, gradually releasing its payload and eliminating the need for patients to take medicine every day. CAMBRIDGE, MA — For many patients with schizophrenia, other psychiatric illnesses, or diseases such as hypertension and asthma, it can be difficult to take their medicine every day. To help overcome that challenge, MIT researchers have developed a pill that can be taken just once a week and gradually releases medication from within the stomach….

In a major clinical study, the tool boosted productivity by up to 40% without compromising accuracy CHICAGO — A first-of-its-kind generative AI system, developed in-house at Northwestern Medicine, is revolutionizing radiology — boosting productivity, identifying life-threatening conditions in milliseconds and offering a breakthrough solution to the global radiologist shortage, a large new study finds. The findings will be published on Thursday (June 5) in JAMA Network Open. “This is, to my knowledge, the first use of AI that demonstrably improves…

By reprogramming the behavior of brain cells, new gene therapy could stop Alzheimer’s at the source Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have developed a gene therapy for Alzheimer’s disease that could help protect the brain from damage and preserve cognitive function. Unlike existing treatments for Alzheimer’s that target unhealthy protein deposits in the brain, the new approach could help address the root cause of Alzheimer’s disease by influencing the behavior of brain cells themselves. Alzheimer’s…

New tool provides a path for a scalable, cost-effective way to assess functional decline and could help end the argument over whether aging should be categorized as a disease A team of international researchers has developed a new biological age “clock” that estimates how well someone is aging, not just how “old” they or their various organs might be. The IC Clock, which is described in a study in Nature Aging, measures intrinsic capacity (IC), the sum of six key…

A new study in Genome Biology and Evolution, published by Oxford University Press, finds that the African Swine Fever virus, currently circulating in Europe, is not the result of a recent introduction. Instead, the virus has been present in the region since 2007. Its current dramatic spread appears to be driven largely by people within Europe traveling longer distances. African Swine Fever virus is a highly virulent DNA virus that causes a severe hemorrhagic disease of the same name affecting both…

Consensus on how mindset and surroundings shape therapy outcomes is an important step toward regulatory approval for use of drugs like MDMA and psilocybin in treatment of debilitating mental health conditions As psychedelics gain traction as potential treatments for mental health disorders, an international study led by researchers at McGill University, Imperial College London, and the University of Exeter stands to improve the rigour and reliability of clinical research. Up to now, psychedelic clinical trials have had what has been widely acknowledged…

The elucidation of the biosynthetic pathway of ipecacuanha alkaloids shows how two distantly related plant species could develop the same substance independently Plants produce an enormous abundance of natural products. Many plant natural products are ancestry-specific and occur only in certain plant families, sometimes only in a single species. Interestingly, however, the same substances can sometimes be found in distantly related species. In most cases, however, only the end product is known and it is largely unclear how these substances…

Older people who use marijuana today have higher income, education levels Marijuana use among older adults in the US has reached a new high, with 7 percent of adults aged 65 and over who report using it in the past month, according to an analysis led by researchers with the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR) at the NYU School of Global Public Health. Their findings, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, also show that the profile of those…

Surprisingly, there was no association between biological circadian timing and impulsivity DARIEN, IL – A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2025 annual meeting found that adolescents who prefer to sleep and wake up later (“night owls”) reported greater impulsivity than those who prefer to sleep and wake up earlier (“morning larks”). Results show that adolescents with self-reported evening preference, or “night owl” tendencies, reported greater negative urgency and lack of perseverance, which are two aspects of impulsivity….

Study draws attention to influence of fathers in supporting healthy eating among children While moms have traditionally gotten much of the focus when it comes to children’s eating habits, a new study highlights the importance of dads in shaping a child’s relationship with food. According to the study, young children were more likely to consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables if their father ate a healthier diet during his teen years. The study is based on data from…

Rapid advances in cancer treatment have benefitted many people, but urgent change is needed in Canada’s cancer care workforce to ensure patient care, according to an analysis published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.241425. “A sea change has occurred in cancer care,” writes Dr. John Walker, an oncologist at the University of Alberta and Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, with coauthors. “Although improved understanding of the genetic and molecular basis of disease has resulted in dramatic advances in treatment…

Uncovering the genetic basis of purring in cats Kyoto, Japan — Whether you are lucky enough to have a cat companion or must merely live this experience vicariously through cat videos, Felis catus is a familiar and comforting presence in our daily lives. Unlike most other feline species, cats exhibit sociality, can live in groups, and communicate both with other cats and humans, which is why they have been humans’ trusted accomplices for millennia. Despite this intimacy, there is still…

ITHACA, N.Y. – A new material developed at Cornell University could significantly improve the delivery and effectiveness of mRNA vaccines by replacing a commonly used ingredient that may trigger unwanted immune responses in some people. Thanks to their ability to train cells to produce virus-killing proteins, mRNA vaccines have gained popularity over the last five years for their success in reducing the severity of COVID-19 infection. One method for delivering the mRNA to cells is by packaging it inside fatty…