ScienceDaily: Health - May 08, 2025
Top health research news
Scientists map tongue's sweet sensor, may lead to new ways to curb sugar cravings
Scientists have mapped the 3-D structure of the human sweet taste receptor, the molecular machine that allows us to taste sweet things. This could lead to the discovery of new regulators of the receptor that would significantly alter our attraction to and appetite for sugar.
Researchers have discovered distinct roles for two dopamine receptors located on nerve cells within the portion of the brain that controls approach vs. avoidance behavior.
Insights on preventing organ transplant rejection
Researchers identified a natural 'brake' within the innate immune system: the inhibitory receptor Siglec-E (SigE) and its human counterparts, Siglec-7 and Siglec-9. This receptor helps prevent overactivation of immune cells that drive rejection. When this brake is missing, inflammation worsens, leading to faster rejection in preclinical models. Importantly, transplant patients with higher levels of Siglec-7 and Siglec-9 showed better graft survival, highlighting this pathway as a promising target for new therapies.
Dual-action approach targeting inflammation shows potential as Type 1 diabetes treatment
A new strategy may help prevent or slow the progression of Type 1 diabetes.
Warming climate making fine particulate matter from wildfires more deadly and expensive
Scientists say human-caused climate change led to 15,000 additional early deaths from wildfire air pollution in the continental United States during the 15-year period ending in 2020.
Are you curious? It might help you stay sharp as you age
Psychology literature has shown that curiosity tends to decline with age. Psychologists shows one type of curiosity can increase well into old age, contradicting prior research. Older adults who maintain curiosity and want to learn new things relevant to their interests may be able to offset or even prevent Alzheimer's disease. Conversely, those who show muted curiosity and disinterest may be at risk for dementia.
A pipette that can activate individual neurons
Researchers have developed a new type of pipette that can deliver ions to individual neurons without affecting the sensitive extracellular milieu. Controlling the concentration of different ions can provide important insights into how individual brain cells are affected, and how cells work together. The pipette could also be used for treatments.
Transforming hospital sanitation: Autonomous robots for wiping and UV-C disinfection
A research team develops disinfection robot combining physical wiping and UV-C sterilization.
Groundbreaking device instantly detects dangerous street drugs, offering hope for harm reduction
Groundbreaking device instantly detects dangerous street drugs, offering hope for harm reduction A portable device that instantly detects illicit street drugs at very low concentrations, thereby highlighting the risks they pose. The device has the potential to address the growing global problem of people unknowingly taking drugs that have been mixed with undeclared substances, including synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and nitazenes.
Viruses under the super microscope: How influenza viruses communicate with cells
Influenza viruses are among the most likely triggers of future pandemics. A research team has developed a method that can be used to study the interaction of viruses with host cells in unprecedented detail. With the help of their new development, they have also analyzed how novel influenza viruses use alternative receptors to enter target cells.
New algorithms can help GPs predict which of their patients have undiagnosed cancer
Two new advanced predictive algorithms use information about a person's health conditions and simple blood tests to accurately predict a patient's chances of having a currently undiagnosed cancer, including hard to diagnose liver and oral cancers. The new models could revolutionize how cancer is detected in primary care, and make it easier for patients to get treatment at much earlier stages.
Losing a parent may increase children's risk of being bullied
A new study surveyed 21,000 children in China and found that the association between parental bereavement and school bullying varied by sex of the child and deceased parent, age when the death occurred, and geographical area. Adolescents in rural areas, girls, and older youth (ages 13-17) were at higher risk of bullying after either parent died.
Scientists discover the genes that influence when babies start walking
The age at which babies take their first steps is strongly influenced by their genes, according to new research. Scientists analyzed the genetic information of more than 70,000 infants. They identified 11 genetic markers influencing when babies start walking, thus offering multiple targets for future in-depth biological investigation.
Knowing your Alzheimer's risk may ease anxiety but reduce motivation for healthy habits
Learning about one's risk for Alzheimer's disease may not lead to emotional distress, but motivation to maintain healthy lifestyle changes tends to fade over time, even in people at high risk, according to a new study.
Klotho: A protein that promotes healthy aging and improves longevity
An international study has shown that increasing levels of the Klotho protein in mice extends lifespan and improves both physical and cognitive health when aging.
Specialized face mask can detect kidney disease with just your breath
Surgical face masks help prevent the spread of airborne pathogens and therefore were ubiquitous during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, a modified mask could also protect a wearer by detecting health conditions, including chronic kidney disease. Researchers incorporated a specialized breath sensor within the fabric of a face mask to detect metabolites associated with the disease. In initial tests, the sensor correctly identified people with the condition most of the time.
Risk groups for type 2 diabetes can also be identified at an older age
A recent study found that six cardiometabolic risk groups previously identified in middle-aged individuals can also be applied to older adults without diabetes. Using data from the KORA F4/FF4 study of people aged 61 to 82, researchers identified clusters with varying risks of developing type 2 diabetes and related complications. One cluster, marked by high inflammatory load and insulin-resistant fatty liver, showed particularly high risk. The study highlights the importance of personalized risk assessment and early prevention strategies even in older age.
Junk food for thought: Landmark study directly links ultra-processed foods to poor health
A landmark study exploring consumption of chips, frozen pizzas, breakfast cereals and other ultra-processed foods typically loaded with fat, sugar and additives has confirmed these foods are directly and significantly linked to poor health outcomes.
AI-human task-sharing could cut mammography screening costs by up to 30%
The most effective way to harness the power of artificial intelligence when screening for breast cancer may be through collaboration with human radiologists -- not by wholesale replacing them, says new research.
NFL players more likely to injure knee after shorter rest period
National Football League (NFL) players may be more likely to sustain a specific type of knee injury if they have a shorter period of rest between games.
Smart lactation pads can monitor safety of breast milk in real time
Scientists have developed a lactation pad equipped with sensing technology that allows parents of newborns to monitor breast milk in real time. The device is capable of ensuring that breast milk contains safe levels of the painkiller acetaminophen, which is often prescribed after childbirth and can be transferred to breastfeeding infants.
Piecing together the brain puzzle
Our brain is a complex organ. Billions of nerve cells are wired in an intricate network, constantly processing signals, enabling us to recall memories or to move our bodies. Making sense of this complicated network requires a precise look into how these nerve cells are arranged and connected. A new method makes use of off-the-shelf light microscopes, hydrogel and deep learning.
Birds form bonds that look a lot like friendship
A study of starlings in Africa shows that they form long-term social bonds similar to human friendships.
Climate change: Future of today's young people
Climate scientists reveal that millions of today's young people will live through unprecedented lifetime exposure to heatwaves, crop failures, river floods, droughts, wildfires and tropical storms under current climate policies. If global temperatures rise by 3.5 C by 2100, 92% of children born in 2020 will experience unprecedented heatwave exposure over their lifetime, affecting 111 million children. Meeting the Paris Agreement's 1.5 C target could protect 49 million children from this risk. This is only for one birth year; when instead taking into account all children who are between 5 and 18 years old today, this adds up to 1.5 billion children affected under a 3.5 C scenario, and with 654 million children that can be protected by remaining under the 1.5 C threshold.
Teens driving older vehicles have increased risk for fatal crashes
Researchers reviewed US national fatal crash data (2016-2021) and examined the vehicle age and driver assistance technologies of vehicles driven by teen and middle-aged drivers, and their associations with driver deaths during fatal crashes.
AI model improves delirium prediction, leading to better health outcomes for hospitalized patients
An artificial intelligence (AI) model improved outcomes in hospitalized patients by quadrupling the rate of detection and treatment of delirium. The model identifies patients at high risk for delirium and alerts a specially-trained team to assess the patient and create a treatment plan, if needed.
Childhood brain tumors develop early in highly specialized nerve cells
Medulloblastomas, brain tumors in children, are thought to develop between the first trimester of pregnancy and the end of the first year of life. Researchers have now analyzed the genetic changes of each individual cancer cell in tumor samples in order to reconstruct which genetic changes occur first during tumor development and when.
A new class of molecules against cancer cells refractory to standard treatments
A new class of molecules capable of killing the cancer cells that are refractory to standard treatments and responsible for recurrence has just been developed. This crucial advance in the fight against metastatic cancer is based on identifying the cellular site for ferroptosis initiation, a natural process, catalyzed by iron, that sparks the oxidative degradation of cell membranes.
Neuroscientists pinpoint where (and how) brain circuits are reshaped as we learn new movements
Brain researchers have identified a bridge between the thalamus and the cortex as the key area that is modified during motor learning functions. They found that such learning does much more than adjust activity levels, it sculpts the circuit's wiring, refining the conversation between brain regions.
A culturally adapted obesity prevention for Latino families
A research team has adapted an intervention for childhood obesity prevention to better serve Latina mothers, non-maternal caregivers, and families of low-income backgrounds in Inland Southern California. The study could make significant contributions to public health by ensuring that early childhood obesity prevention strategies begin in infancy with infant feeding and are culturally and linguistically relevant for immigrant communities.
Researchers restore antibiotic effect in the event of resistance
Bacterial resistance negates the effect of antibiotics in the treatment of infection. Using mouse models, researchers now show that if antibiotics are administered with an enzyme called endolysin, the combined effect protects against infection by resistant bacteria in all bodily organs -- including the brain, which antibiotics alone have difficulty reaching.
Eating a healthy diet as a child is linked to girls having their first menstrual period at an older age than those who consumed a less healthy diet, according to a new study. The findings remained unaltered by the girls' body mass index or height, both of which have been associated with the earlier onset of periods. The study has implications for health in later life as it is well known that women who started their periods at an early age may be at higher risk for diabetes, obesity, breast cancer and diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
Study suggests we don't just hear music, but 'become it'
Psychologists suggest our brains and bodies don't just understand music, they physically resonate with it. These discoveries, based on findings in neuroscience, music, and psychology, support Neural Resonance Theory (NRT).
Accelerating drug discovery with a single carbon atom
A research team has pioneered a groundbreaking method that could accelerate drug discovery and reduce pharmaceutical development costs. Their work introduces a safe, sustainable way to insert a single carbon atom into drug molecules at room temperature.
Breakthrough discovery uses gut bacteria and AI to diagnose a chronic pain syndrome
Researchers have developed AI technology that can detect patterns in gut bacteria to identify complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) with remarkable accuracy, potentially transforming how CRPS is diagnosed and treated.
How AI tools can improve manufacturing worker safety, product quality
Recent artificial intelligence advances have largely focused on text, but AI increasingly shows promise in other contexts, including manufacturing and the service industry. In these sectors, targeted AI improvements can improve product quality and worker safety, according to a new study.
Most people say they want to know their risk for Alzheimer's dementia, fewer follow through
A new study examines the choices healthy research volunteers make when given the opportunity to learn their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease dementia. The researchers found a large discrepancy between the percentage of participants who said they would like to learn their risk if such estimates became available and the percentage who followed through to learn those results when given the actual opportunity.
New chronic pain therapy retrains the brain to process emotions
Researchers have created an effective therapy for chronic pain that reduces pain intensity by focusing on emotional regulation.
Food as medicine: How diet shapes gut microbiome health
Researchers show how mice fed a Western-style diet are not able to rebuild a 'healthy,' diverse gut microbiome following antibiotic treatment. These mice were also more susceptible to infection by pathogens like Salmonella. However, mice given food loosely mimicking a Mediterranean diet -- high in plant-based fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains -- were able to quickly restore a healthy and resilient gut microbiome after antibiotics.
Research advances on 'displacing' antibiotic resistance gene from bacteria
Scientists have identified essential genetic code for a method called plasmid curing, which aims to 'displace' antibiotic resistance genes from bacteria.
Social drinking also a well-worn path to alcohol use disorder
When picturing a 'typical' alcoholic, people tend to imagine a person drinking at home alone. But that focus overlooks the social origins of many serious alcohol problems.
Parent coaching sparks major communication growth in infants with social and communication delays
A study found that targeted coaching for caregivers of infants as young as 8 months significantly enhances babies' communication and cognitive development.
Cutting greenhouse gases will reduce number of deaths from poor air quality
Up to 250,000 deaths from poor air quality could be prevented annually in central and western Europe by 2050 if greenhouse gas emissions are drastically reduced, say researchers.
Scientists say they have determined that low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, may promote a breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier, an important boundary that regulates the flow of nutrients, waste and water in and out of the retina.
Evidence review raises concern about cannabis use in pregnancy
A systematic evidence review finds that consuming cannabis while pregnant appears to increase the odds of preterm birth, low birth weight and infant death.
Shingles vaccine lowers the risk of heart disease for up to eight years
People who are given a vaccine for shingles have a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events, including stroke, heart failure, and coronary heart disease, according to a recent study of more than a million people. The protective effect of the vaccine lasts for up to eight years and is particularly pronounced for men, people under the age of 60 and those with unhealthy lifestyles.
A long and ongoing look at the secrets of human longevity and healthy aging
It's notable when a scientific study reaches the decade mark, but when the topic is the healthy aging of people who have lived 10 times as long, it just means there's still a lot more to learn.
Study finds one protein that mitigates Huntington's disease, and one that exacerbates it
Researchers found that inhibiting GSK-3 led to less defects in the axonal transport process and less neuronal cell death, while inhibiting ERK1 led to more transport problems and more cell death.
Neighborhood stress may impact kids' brains -- and increase depression risk
Children who grow up in disadvantaged neighborhoods -- areas with higher levels of crime and deprivation, and lower access to community resources -- are at risk of developing depression, and new research may help to explain why.
Topical gel relieved ear infections in animals after just one dose
Ear infections are a common and painful occurrence in infants and toddlers. Oral antibiotics are often prescribed for a week to treat the condition, but these drugs can trigger side effects that disrupt treatment, which can lead to infection recurrence and antibiotic resistance. Now, researchers report a topical antibiotic gel that, applied once, cured middle ear infection within 24 hours in chinchillas.
Research led by VCU and Rutgers University provides new insights into how the people we love affect our health.
Structural barriers may prevent cancer care for people living with HIV
People living with HIV are less likely to receive potentially lifesaving cancer treatment if they live in communities with lower income levels and educational attainment, according to a new US national study.
Gorilla study reveals complex pros and cons of friendship
Friendship comes with complex pros and cons -- possibly explaining why some individuals are less sociable, according to a new study of gorillas.
Ancient Andes society used hallucinogens to strengthen social order
Snuff tubes uncovered at Chavin de Huantar in Peru reveal how leaders used mystical experiences to cement their power.
Biological 'clocks' key to muscle health and accelerated aging in shift workers
Muscle cells contain their own circadian clocks and disrupting them with shift work can have a profound impact on aging, according to new research.
New molecular label could lead to simpler, faster tuberculosis tests
Chemists found a way to identify a complex sugar molecule in the cell walls of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the world's deadliest pathogen. This labeling could lead to simpler, faster TB tests.
Children as young as five can navigate a 'tiny town'
Neuroscientists are developing methods to map the brain systems that allow us to recognize and get around our world.
PTSD patients show long-term benefits with vagus nerve stimulation
In a recent clinical study, patients with treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder were symptom-free up to six months after completing traditional therapy paired with vagus nerve stimulation.
Making virtual reality more accessible
Researchers have created a method that makes virtual reality (VR) more accessible to people with mobility limitations.
Black tea and berries could contribute to healthier aging
Higher intakes of black tea, berries, citrus fruits and apples could help to promote healthy aging, new research has found.
Every headline in today’s ScienceDaily health digest feels like a gentle nudge toward the same holistic truth: our everyday environments—from the food aisles to the night-shift schedule to the chemicals in our gear—are shaping the trajectories of our hearts, cells, and collective future. Ultra-processed snacks inch blood pressure and cancer risk upward with every extra 100 g we casually consume . Just two or three short-sleep nights can already flip molecular switches tied to cardiovascular disease . Meanwhile, the very professions sworn to protect us—health-care workers and firefighters—carry higher PFAS loads, revealing an invisible occupational cost we must urgently address .
Yet hope threads through the research: biological age metrics are getting precise enough to out-predict the calendar for heart-risk planning , AI models are helping scientists pre-build vaccines for viruses not yet born , and innate-immune “brakes” like Siglec-7/-9 hint at softer ways to prevent transplant rejection without blanket immunosuppression . The path is clear: empower people to choose nourishing foods and restorative sleep, invest in cleaner work environments, and accelerate frontier science that heals without harm. Health, like karma, ripples—when one strand strengthens, the whole fabric lifts. Let’s keep weaving.