A recent study conducted by researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has shed some light on the effects of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, on the brain. By scanning the brains of seven healthy participants before, during, and after ingesting psilocybin, the researchers found that the connections within
Health
Recently, a 58-year-old man in the United States made history by becoming the first person in the world to receive a temporary, titanium blood-pumper as a replacement for his failing heart. This innovative device, designed by the medical company BiVACOR, is a game-changer in the field of artificial heart technology. Unlike traditional artificial hearts, BiVACOR’s
Dementia is a debilitating condition affecting millions of individuals worldwide. It is characterized by progressive memory loss, cognitive decline, and a loss of independence. Recent studies have suggested that a significant number of dementia cases could potentially be prevented by addressing various risk factors. However, experts caution that while risk reduction measures are crucial, they
Artificial intelligence has long been met with skepticism when it comes to storytelling and filmmaking, but recent studies have shown that AI has a significant impact on the field of science. A study conducted by the University of Cambridge in the UK has revealed that AI algorithms have the ability to outperform clinical tests in
Bacteria are often viewed as a significant threat due to the diseases they cause and their ability to develop resistance to antibiotics. The search for new antibiotics is ongoing, as traditional antibiotics are becoming less effective against evolving superbugs. In response to this challenge, researchers are exploring combination therapies to target multiple bacterial escape pathways
Engaging in extreme exercise, such as running 10 hours a week for more than 120 km (75 miles), is often considered to be pushing the limits of the human body. However, a recent study has challenged the notion that such rigorous exercise is detrimental to one’s health. In fact, the study suggests that Olympic-level professional
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released a warning regarding a significant increase in accidental overdoses from compounded versions of the weight-loss drug semaglutide, found in popular medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. The surge in dosing mistakes has raised concerns among patients, health providers, and compounding pharmacies in the US. Symptoms of these overdoses
The idea of using a parasite like Toxoplasma gondii for delivering therapeutic proteins to the brain is both intriguing and controversial. While it opens up new possibilities for treating conditions that are currently hard to access, such as neurological disorders, the use of a parasite raises ethical concerns and safety issues that cannot be ignored.
The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease has long been a challenging and complex process, often relying on a combination of expensive scans, spinal fluid samples, and cognitive tests. However, recent research conducted by scientists at Lund University in Sweden has revealed a groundbreaking development in the form of a clinically available blood test that can accurately
A recent study conducted by the National Institutes of Health has revealed a disturbing trend in the increase of hospital-acquired infections and the rise of antibiotic resistance. The data collected from 120 U.S. hospitals over the course of five years, including the tumultuous period of the COVID-19 pandemic, has shed light on the gravity of
Recent studies have shown a growing trend of people waiting longer to have children due to various reasons. However, for women over the age of 35, fertility can become a challenge as their reproductive capabilities start to decline. This is where a potential solution comes in the form of rapamycin. A drug commonly used in
As researchers continue to delve into the complexities of long COVID, a recent discovery in fruit flies has unveiled a crucial process that connects inflammation with impaired motor function. This finding opens up a potential target for treating the persistent muscle fatigue that plagues many individuals post-infection. The debilitating nature of long COVID symptoms, particularly
Opioids have a significant impact on the brain, yet there is still much to learn about how these drugs actually function within the nervous system. A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California Davis has introduced a novel method for observing the real-time response of the nervous system to the activation of
In recent years, there has been a decrease in the consumption of sugary soft drinks, which is a positive development for public health. However, this decline in sugar intake has been accompanied by a rise in the consumption of diet soft drinks. As a result, these artificially sweetened beverages are now commonly found in wastewater,
Viruses have a sneaky way of leaving parts of themselves behind when they pay us a visit. These fragments of foreign DNA can lay dormant in our genomes, only to resurface later on. Previously viewed as inactive, researchers have discovered that these remnants, known as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), can be reactivated and play a role