Category Biology/Biotechnology

The NLRP3 inflammasome (green) is expressed by immune cells (red) in the brains of people with Parkinson’s disease.

A promising new therapy to stop Parkinson’s disease in its tracks has been developed at The University of Queensland. UQ Faculty of Medicine researcher Associate Professor Trent Woodruff said the team found that a small molecule, MCC950, stopped the development of Parkinson’s in several animal models. “We have used this discovery to develop improved drug candidates and hope to carry out human clinical trials in 2020,” Dr Woodruff said.

“Parkinson’s disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide, with 10 million sufferers, whose control of body movements is affected.
“The disease is characterised by the loss of brain cells that produce dopamine, which ...

Integrating eye tracker into a regular pair of glasses, the system relies on NIR lights and photodiodes for eye tracking and is powered by two thin solar cells on the arms of the glasses.
Credit: Photo courtesy of DartNets Lab

Battery-free eye-tracking glasses developed at Dartmouth College could create an even more realistic experience for augmented reality enthusiasts. The new technology improves player controls for gaming and allows for more accurate image displays.

High power consumption and cost have kept eye trackers out of current augmented reality systems. By using near-infrared lights and photodiodes, Dartmouth’s DartNets Lab has created an energy-efficient, wearable system that tracks rapid eye movements and allows hands-free input of system commands.

The glasses, which can also h...

“Having a better understanding of the father’s biological role will be obviously important for the offspring, but also potentially for the mother.”

A decade of data documenting live births in the United States links babies of older fathers with a variety of increased risks at birth, including low birth weight and seizures, according to a new study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The data even suggest that the age of the father can sway the health of the mother during pregnancy, specifically her risk for developing diabetes...