In patients with spinal cord injury, an implanted neurotransmitter restored their ability to walk, but underlying reasons were unexpected. Researchers at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have successfully applied electrical…
Author: Carolyn Gramling
Red is the new green: Making polymers in wine
To bring down the cost of a conventional reaction, researchers are turning to green chemistry and wine to provide the right conditions. Any chemist will be familiar with green chemistry, which aims…
Ahead of COP27, scientists are pushing back against growing defeatism
As the world prepares for another global climate summit, the mood among scientists and the public appears to be one of skepticism. The climate conferences once felt like a beacon of hope,…
General-purpose ultrasound therapy also monitors brain activity in real time
Ultrasound therapy, which stimulates neural pathways, just became easier to evaluate, opening the door for better clinical data. The brain is an intricate organ that governs every process in the body, from…
Reprogramming immune cells for living cancer therapy
A new way of reprogramming the body’s immune cells to seek out and eliminate cancer cells, acting as an internal cancer therapy. Imagine that instead of requiring chemo- or radiation therapy, your…
Sensor translates sign language into audio
With the help of machine learning, a skin-like sensor internalizes different stimuli, allowing it to read and interpret hand movement. Science has afforded us with many life-changing advancements. Vaccines to help protect…
3D printing allows blind scientists to visualize data using touch
3D-printed lithophanes are helping to democratize science by making data more shareable between sighted and blind scientists. Using 3D printing and an old-fashioned art form, a team of researchers is making science…
Boosting immune memory for broader vaccines
Our bodies have adapted intricate mechanisms to defend against external pathogens. A complex network, the human immune system works to eliminate threats and keeps a record of every infection it has ever…
No, the human brain did not shrink
Researchers refute a hypothesis that the human brain shrank 3,000 years ago as a result of the transition to living in modern societies. Last year, a study was widely circulated in which…
What influences where scarab beetles roll their dung balls?
A numerical model helps scientists understand how particularities of different terrains affect the trajectory and behavior of dung beetles. Out in a sunny field scampers a black scarab beetle, making its way…