As some readers may already know, in-ear stimulation of the vagus nerve can help relieve pain in other parts of the body. Thanks to new research by Austrian scientists, such treatments could soon be more effective than ever. The longest of the cranial nerves, the vagus nerve runs from the brain through the face, down to the thorax and abdomen. […]

Stick-on strain sensors that can accurately measure the flexion of joints, big and small, have turned out hard to make. Piezoresistive devices tend to have a delayed response and are not stable in the long-run, while capacitive sensors are not very sensitive and nearby electromagnetic fields tend to interfere with them. Now researchers at South Korea’s KAIST institute of technology […]

The results of a year-long trial led by researchers at UT Southwestern have homed in on how aerobic exercise can improve memory in older subjects with mild cognitive impairment. The findings suggest it is never too late to start exercising as aerobic activity improves blood flow to regions of the brain associated with memory. “We’ve shown that even when your […]

A new study, led by scientists from Harvard University, is offering more compelling evidence of a link between the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the gut microbiome. One researcher described the discovery as “remarkable”, after finding genetically identical mice displayed different health outcomes determined by their specific gut bacteria communities. Mutations in a gene called C9orf72 account for […]

In 2017, researchers from Harvard’s Wyss Institute, the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science and Boston University demonstrated a soft robotic exosuit designed to help stroke patients improve their mobility. Now an untethered version of the lightweight ankle-assisting device has been shown to increase walking speed and distance. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, […]

A new case report, published in the journal Frontiers in Oncology, describes the discovery of throat cancer in a subject using a novel saliva test designed to detect human papillomavirus virus (HPV). The patient displayed no clinical cancer symptoms, but the promising saliva screening test needs further validation before broad deployment. “The incidence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV)-driven throat cancers […]

An international team of scientists is reporting success with one of the most advanced bionic arms ever made. The system is integrated into the patient’s nerves, allowing them to control the prosthesis just by thinking about it, the way you would with the natural limb. Better yet, it feeds the sensation of touch back to the brain. Three patients have […]

Although we’ve recently seen a number of “electronic skin” sensor patches that monitor the wearer’s vital signs, the things do have their drawbacks. Scientists at MIT have therefore developed what may be a better alternative, in the form of a vitals-monitoring shirt. Electronic skin patches typically take the form of a thin sheet of silicone with electronic components embedded inside. […]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a COVID-19 assessment bot, a chatbot that people can turn to for advice about whether they may be infected with coronavirus, officially called COVID-19. The tool is available on the CDC website, by clicking on the Coronavirus Self-Checker option. The bot asks questions like the location of the patient, their […]

We’ve reported on shipping containers being used for lots of different projects before, such as swimming pools, bars, and houses, but Connected Units for Respiratory Ailment (CURA) is an example that could potentially save lives. It involves transforming the metal boxes into easily transportable intensive care units (ICU) that can be shipped worldwide to help those in need of treatment […]