AI comes to the Operating Room
(Denise Grady/ The New York Times) — Brain surgeons are bringing artificial intelligence and new imaging techniques into the operating room, to diagnose tumors as accurately as pathologists, and much faster, according to a report in the journal Nature Medicine. The new approach streamlines the standard practice of analyzing tissue samples while the patient is […]
FIND OUT MORE
Scientists develop superbug-resistant, self-cleaning plastic wrap
(Amy Woodyatt/ CNN Health) — Researchers have developed a self-cleaning plastic wrap that repels bacteria — and could be used to prevent the transfer of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, and other forms of dangerous bacteria. A team of scientists from Canada’s McMaster University used a combination of nano-scale surface engineering and chemistry to develop a plastic surface […]
FIND OUT MORE
Scientists find caffeine, Xanax, and cough medicines in donor blood
(Tom Hale/ IFL Science) — If you receive a blood transfusion, you might also be receiving a free dose of caffeine, Xanax, and cough medicine. While the tainted blood is nothing to worry about for most people, it does give surprisingly accurate insights into the stresses and strains of 21st-century living. Researchers from Oregon State […]
FIND OUT MORE
Your brain on sugar: What the science actually says
(Amy Reichelt/ The Conversation) — We love sweet treats. But too much sugar in our diets can lead to weight gain and obesity, Type 2 diabetes and dental decay. We know we shouldn’t be eating candy, ice cream, cookies, cakes and drinking sugary sodas, but sometimes they are so hard to resist. It’s as if […]
FIND OUT MORE
AI can spot disease as accurately as medical professionals, study says
(Tyler MacDonald/ Inquistr) — A new study in The Lancet Digital Health reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) might be able to detect diseases from medical imaging as accurately as humans, Newsweek reports. According to the study, which reviewed 14 existing studies that compared AI and human performance between January 2012 and June 2019, deep learning […]
FIND OUT MORE
French researchers build massive new scanner to tackle brain disease
(Reuters) — French researchers are developing what they say is the most powerful Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner in the world which will use a supermagnet the weight of a blue whale and should allow earlier diagnosis of diseases such as Parkinson’s. “We can potentially detect the disease in its earlier stages and, consequently, monitor […]
FIND OUT MORE
Designing a blood test that can predict lifespan
(Tim Newman/ Medical News Today) — The ability to predict how long someone is likely to live would help doctors tailor treatment plans. A new study looking at biomarkers in the blood concludes that more accurately estimating mortality might soon be possible. Researchers analyze blood in the search for markers of mortality risk. As it […]
FIND OUT MORE
Newly discovered organ may be lurking under your skin
(National Geographic) — Most people who’ve been jabbed by a needle know the drill: First the pierce, then the sharp, searing pain and an urge to pull away, or at least wince. While the exact circuitry behind this nearly universal reaction is not fully understood, scientists may have just found an important piece of the […]
FIND OUT MORE
Scientists develop 3D printed pill that samples bacteria found in the gut
(Angela Betsaida B. Laguipo/ Medical Life Science News) — The gut microbiome is made up of trillions of living microbes, and more than a thousand species of bacteria. It has been known that the gut plays major roles in the body’s health. A team of university engineers may have developed a way to study and […]
FIND OUT MORE
Are our brains addicted to information?
(Maria Cohut/ Medical News Today) — According to new research, human brains really are hungry for information, and this hunger can devolve into unhealthful snacking-like behaviors now that we have unfettered access to random information. Humans are naturally curious beings. We constantly seek to learn, explore, and understand. However, curiosity may not always be a […]
FIND OUT MORE