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Bivalent boosters provide better protection against severe COVID-19
Bivalent booster vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 were 37% more effective than older booster shots at reducing the risk of severe COVID-19.
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Comparing heart failure drugs
A comparison of two diuretic drugs used to treat heart failure suggested either could be used to treat people hospitalized with heart failure.
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Probiotic blocks staph bacteria from colonizing people
A probiotic reduced the amount of Staphylococcus aureus, or “staph,” bacteria in the human gut and nose without harming beneficial gut microbes.
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August 30, 2022 Edition
Children's sleep linked to brain development
Pre-teens who slept less than nine hours daily had differences in brain structure and more problems with mood and thinking compared to those who got sufficient sleep.
Racial segregation makes consequences of lead exposure worse
Racial segregation and lead exposure amplified each other’s detrimental effects on reading scores in children.
Measuring placental health noninvasively
An experimental system used laser light and ultrasound to measure changes in oxygen levels in the placenta.
August 23, 2022 Edition
Antibody treatment protects adults against malaria
A single low dose of an experimental monoclonal antibody safely and effectively prevented malaria infection in a small clinical trial.
Customized drug to kill brain cancer cells
Researchers designed a new type of drug that causes lethal DNA damage in a type of brain cancer called glioblastoma, but not in normal cells.
Learning to control microglia using CRISPR
Researchers used CRISPR tools to identify genes controlling cells in the brain called microglia, which are involved in Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders.
August 16, 2022 Edition
Ultrasound imaging gets small and wearable
Scientists created a wearable ultrasound device—about the size of a postage stamp—that can continuously image inside the body for at least two days.
Fighting current and future coronaviruses with a single vaccine
An experimental vaccine produced an immune response to a range of different coronaviruses in mice and monkeys, including SARS-CoV-2.
Restoring cell and organ function after the heart stops
Researchers restored cellular function in a pig’s organs more than an hour after its heart stopped.
July 26, 2022 Edition
Understanding how sound suppresses pain
Scientists used mice to identify brain circuits through which sound can blunt pain.
Tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater
A system that combined advanced sample preparation with powerful computer analysis was able to identify individual SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater.
Diagnosing hidden hearing loss
Researchers developed a method, based on word recognition, to estimate a loss of nerve functioning in the inner ear that can cause hearing problems.
July 12, 2022 Edition
Cyberbullying linked with suicidal thoughts and attempts in young adolescents
Young adolescents who experienced cyberbullying had an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or attempts.
Aging insights from reptiles and amphibians
Researchers identified patterns in the aging rates and longevity of reptiles and amphibians that suggest how these traits evolved.
Exercise-induced molecule reduces obesity in mice
Researchers found that a molecule produced during exercise by various mammals, including people, reduces food consumption and obesity in mice.
June 28, 2022 Edition
Brain cells that control sickness symptoms
Researchers identified a group of neurons in mice that trigger sickness symptoms, such as fever and loss of appetite, in response to infections.
Long COVID symptoms linked to inflammation
Prolonged inflammation after SARS-CoV-2 infections caused permanent damage to lungs and kidneys, affected the brain, and correlated with behavioral changes in hamsters, suggesting a mechanism for the symptoms of Long COVID in people.
Using viruses to treat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections
In several patients, treatment of bacterial lung infections with viruses called phages eliminated the infection.
June 14, 2022 Edition
Improved dietary supplement for age-related macular degeneration
Replacing a component of a dietary supplement for treating age-related macular degeneration improved its safety and efficacy over a 10-year period.
Combination antibody treatment for HIV
A combination of anti-HIV antibodies suppressed the virus for several months without the need for daily antiretroviral therapy.
Priming the brain to learn
After people were incidentally exposed to new objects, they learned to categorize them faster when explicitly taught to recognize them later.
June 7, 2022 Edition
How mosquitoes distinguish people from animals
Scientists found that human and animal odors evoke activity in different areas of the mosquito brain.
Role of brain development in hereditary autism spectrum disorder
Autistic traits in older siblings correlated with changes to visual processing areas in the brains of younger siblings who later developed autism spectrum disorder.
T cells protect against COVID-19 in absence of antibody response
In studies of mice, immune cells called T cells protected animals against COVID-19 even in the absence of antibodies targeting the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
May 24, 2022 Edition
Antioxidant effects on dementia risk may differ
Higher blood levels of some antioxidants, but not others, were associated with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.
Health benefits of dietary fibers vary
Different dietary fiber supplements were associated with different health benefits, such as decreased cholesterol and increased numbers of beneficial bacteria.
How the nervous system perceives pleasant touch
Researchers identified a signaling pathway in the spine that’s needed for the nervous system to process the sensation of pleasant touch.