To avoid the need for repeated surgery, scientists are developing durable artificial heart valves from regenerated tissue. The heart is an incredible organ. Through a coordinated effort, the heart’s four chambers and…
New inhalable mRNA therapy treats lethal lung scarring
A new experimental mRNA therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has done what no current treatment options can do. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lethal respiratory disease in which the lungs become…
Tiny batteries are powering computer miniaturization
Using tiny batteries, researchers hope to power ever-smaller computers and advance the Internet of Things and ubiquitous computing. There was once a time when the world’s most advanced computers occupied whole rooms….
Vaccine misinformation moderately curbed by new Facebook policy
New study provides evidence that social media companies have the tools to reduce the impact of vaccine misinformation on their platforms. Social media platforms have a misinformation problem — this is nothing…
Universal donor lungs could shorten transplant waiting times
By changing the blood type in a set of donor lungs, researchers hope to one day create universal donor organs. In a major breakthrough, researchers have developed a way to create universal…
Waning immunity and COVID-19 boosters modeled in digital town
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, mathematical modeling has played an important role in assisting policy decision making by providing forecasts for the outcomes of different public health measures, such as…
Recyclable hydrogels for fast prototyping
Researchers have created stiff, recyclable hydrogels that can be broken down into their base components and reshaped on demand. Hydrogels have found extensive use in materials, biomedicine, and tissue engineering. Made from…
Emmett Chappelle, lighting up biology
Biochemist and astrobiologist Emmett Chappelle created a simple means of identifying life and opened a new world for fluorescence testing. February is Black History Month, and as such, this edition of Pioneers…
Urea-powered microrobots bust up bacterial films
Hybrid microrobots harvest chemical energy from their environment for self-propulsion while releasing reactive species to kill bacteria. Urinary-tract infections affect millions of people worldwide. While not inherently serious, if left untreated they…
Nuclear fusion record broken by UK scientists
In a major breakthrough, scientists have demonstrated sustained nuclear fusion energy, providing hope for future large-scale projects. Scientists working at the Joint European Torus (JET) have just broken a record for sustained…