The coronavirus pandemic has left the world devastated in many ways. Besides the deaths the pandemic has caused, COVID-19 has lead to a serious economic slowdown around the world. Millions of people have lost their jobs. While there are vaccines being tested for this virus, there are uncertainties about future pandemics. Scientists are now worried about the possibility of another […]

In people with liver disease or other metabolic disorders, blood ammonia levels can quickly climb to dangerous levels. And unfortunately, checking those levels is not a fast and easy process. A newly developed device, however, could change that. A byproduct of the digestive process, ammonia is converted into urea by the liver, then passed out of the body in the […]

If you regularly use the computer, are a musician, or train in a particular sport, you’ll know the discomfort that can be caused by continuous motions of your hands and wrists. With three distinctive color-coded bands based on the resistance level — yellow for light, red for medium, and blue for heavy — these compact bands bring you exercises based […]

New research has systematically screened thousands of “filler” ingredients previously thought to be inert that are added to common drugs. The findings reveal several dozen of these compounds may actually be biologically active and cause unintended physiological effects. Most pharmaceutical drugs contain a number of other ingredients serving various purposes, from simply bulking up the tiny active molecule so it […]

Looking to replicate the experience of a boxing class in the comfort of the home, startup Liteboxer has launched a fitness platform that recreates the punching bag for the connected era. The system uses a combination of lights, music and force sensors to offer tailored boxing programs for users of all levels, along with the ability to challenge friends and […]

Capturing the complexities of the human hand is a difficult task – just ask any artist or animator. Now, engineers at Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a new wearable system that uses thermal sensors to accurately predict hand positions, with potential applications in VR, robotics and translating sign language. The device is dubbed FingerTrak, and it’s […]

A landmark study, led by researchers from Massachusetts Eye and Ear, presents a novel hypothesis to explain age-related hearing loss, challenging the prevailing view that has dominated over half a century of medical science. The new research offers evidence to suggest age-related hearing loss is primarily caused by accumulated damage to inner ear sensory hair cells, and hair-regeneration technologies may […]

In the advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease, some people develop a condition known as “gait freeze,” in which they temporarily lose the ability to step forward while walking. The NexStride device is designed to help, though, by giving them a laser target for their feet. Gait freeze is obviously quite frustrating and debilitating, but it can also be hazardous. This […]

Although robotic prosthetic legs do have some advantages over their conventional counterparts, they also have some drawbacks that keep them from entering wider use. A new prototype prosthesis, however, addresses some of those shortcomings. When utilizing a regular non-robotic prosthetic leg, users typically have to lift and swing their hip with each step, in order to lift the leg off […]

A large gene study has discovered several genomic regions linked to longer and healthier lives are also involved in metabolizing iron in the blood. The research suggests abnormal blood iron levels may fundamentally underpin many age-related diseases. Iron is essential to the functioning of a healthy human body. However, too much iron or too little can rapidly lead to wide […]