Category Biology/Biotechnology

An Immune Molecule that Regulates Aging and a Living Organism’s Lifespan

An immune molecule that regulates aging and a living organism's lifespan
The expression of IM33 in fly brain. Blue: Dapi, which labels the nucleus of all the cells. Magenta: IM33 positive cells. Credit: Xu et al.

Aging is a natural process that affects all living organisms, prompting gradual changes in their behavior and abilities. Past studies have highlighted several physiological factors that can contribute to aging, including the body’s immune responses, an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen (i.e., free radicals) and antioxidants, and sleep disturbances.

While the link between aging and these different factors is well-document, the connection between them is still poorly understood. Researchers at Washington University in St...

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Bendy X-ray Detectors could Revolutionize Cancer Treatment

New materials developed at the University of Surrey could pave the way for a new generation of flexible X-ray detectors, with potential applications ranging from cancer treatment to better airport scanners.

Traditionally, X-ray detectors are made of heavy, rigid material such as silicon or germanium. New, flexible detectors are cheaper and can be shaped around the objects that need to be scanned, improving accuracy when screening patients and reducing risk when imaging tumors and administering radiotherapy.

Dr. Prabodhi Nanayakkara, who led the research at the University of Surrey, said, “This new material is flexible, low-cost, and sensitive. But what’s exciting is that this material is tissue equivalent...

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Some benefits of Exercise stem from the Immune System, suggests new study

Two images comparing inflammation in hindleg muscles of mice
The hind leg muscles of mice lacking Treg cells (right) showed prominent signs of inflammation after regular exercise, compared with those of mice with intact Tregs (left). The research showed that this uncontrolled inflammation negatively impacted muscle metabolism and function. Images: Kent Langston/Mathis Lab, HMS

The connection between exercise and inflammation has captivated the imagination of researchers ever since an early 20th-century study showed a spike of white cells in the blood of Boston marathon runners following the race.

Now, a new Harvard Medical School study published in Science Immunology may offer a molecular explanation behind this century-old observation.

The study, in mice, suggests that the beneficial effects of exercise may be driven, at least partly, by ...

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While Rare, why do Batteries sometimes Catch Fire and Explode?

While rare, why do batteries sometimes catch fire and explode?
3D microtomography experiments at the Advanced Light Source enabled researchers to pinpoint which particles generated current densities as high as 25 milliamps per centimeter squared inside a resting battery after fast charging. In comparison, the current density required to charge the test battery in 10 minutes was 18 milliamps per centimeter squared. Credit: Nitash Balsara and Alec S. Ho/Berkeley Lab

How likely would an electric vehicle battery self-combust and explode? The chances of that happening are actually pretty slim: Some analysts say that gasoline vehicles are nearly 30 times more likely to catch fire than electric vehicles...

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