An official website of the United States government
News
Oral antiviral drug effective against COVID-19 in hamsters
An oral antiviral drug called MK-4482 inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in hamsters. It is currently being tested in people.
News
Targeted treatments for small-cell lung cancer
A rapid screening process identified a two-drug combination that shrank small-cell lung tumors, which are often fatal within weeks of recurrence.
News
Lack of sleep in middle age may increase dementia risk
People who slept six hours or less per night in their 50s and 60s were more likely to develop dementia later in life.
More Stories
November 19, 2025 Edition
Effects of repeated head trauma in young athletes
Repeated head trauma from contact sports may lead to brain changes earlier than previously thought.
Acupuncture for chronic low back pain in older adults
Older adults with chronic low back pain had pain relief and improved mobility after receiving acupuncture treatment.
A new way cells generate heat
Findings in mice hint at a way to promote weight loss by increasing heat generation in brown fat cells.
September 23, 2025 Edition
Benefits of treating opioid use disorder in county jails
Providing medications for opioid use disorder in jails led to lower rates of overdose, death, and reincarceration after release.
Overactive immune responses in ME/CFS
Scientists found signs of overactive immune responses in people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
Dietary fatty acids may lead to a severe form of asthma
Scientists found preliminary evidence that dietary changes could be a potential approach to prevent a severe form of asthma, called neutrophilic asthma.
September 16, 2025 Edition
Urban design affects walking levels
A large study that analyzed smartphone data found that moving to different communities can affect how much you walk.
Protein-based blood test detects early signs of ALS
Researchers found proteins in blood that can accurately detect amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) long before symptoms appear.
Two-dose treatment for staph bloodstream infections
Scientists found that the long-acting drug dalbavancin can be an effective, less burdensome alternative to traditional antibiotics for treating complicated blood Staph infections.
September 9, 2025 Edition
Lithium levels tied to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
New research suggests that lithium replacement could be a potential approach to prevent and treat mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.
Decoding inner speech from brain signals
Scientists designed a brain-computer interface to decode inner speech in real time from activity in the brain’s motor cortex.
Progress toward a broad-spectrum antiviral
Small molecules that bind to carbohydrates on viral surfaces blocked infections of cells and mice by a wide range of viruses.
August 19, 2025 Edition
DASH-style diet helps control blood glucose
Compared to a typical American diet, a DASH-style eating plan for people with diabetes led to more time with blood glucose in the recommended range.
Floss-based vaccine shows early promise
A dental floss-based vaccine stimulated strong immune responses in mice against influenza and also successfully delivered a dye to gum tissue in people.
Respiratory viruses may trigger dormant cancers
A study in mice showed how respiratory viruses could awaken dormant cancer cells.
August 5, 2025 Edition
Compounds may help treat certain neurological disorders
An experimental small molecule alleviated CoQ10 deficiency and reversed associated brain damage in a boy with a rare disease.
Scientists create organoids with specialized blood vessels
Scientists made mini-lungs and intestines, called organoids, that generate their own specialized blood vessels.
Neurons can tap into fat for fuel
Researchers found that neurons in the brain can use fat droplets as a source of energy.
July 22, 2025 Edition
Research in Context
Mitochondria and health
Your cells’ mitochondria produce almost all the energy your body needs to survive. They also play a role in many other vital cellular functions. This feature looks at how insights about these cellular powerhouses might lead to new ways to help preven...
July 15, 2025 Edition
Factors linked to lung cancer in never-smokers
A study linked fine-particle air pollution and other environmental factors to genetic changes in people with lung cancer who never smoked.
Engineering immune cells within the body
A new method to engineer T cells within living organisms could make CAR T cell therapies more accessible for treating cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Measuring aging with brain scans
Researchers developed a way to measure how fast a person is aging from a single brain scan.
July 1, 2025 Edition
Home test kits boost screening for cervical cancer
Women who used at-home test kits were more than twice as likely to complete screening for cervical cancer than women who received only telephone reminders.
Education levels may affect mortality trends
Mortality rates in 2023 were higher than expected based on earlier trends, especially among those who did not graduate from college.
How exercise can protect against Alzheimer’s
Mouse studies give insights into how exercise might help protect against Alzheimer’s disease.