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“Before I went into wood science, I worked with steel and aluminium components in the automotive industry. But metals are boring compared with living materials. Wood has character; no two logs are alike.I work with computed tomography (CT) scanning to study the mechanical properties of wood so that we can locate regions of high quality material and use each tree to its full potential. Sawmills that can afford CT scanners usually check logs to avoid certain knot patterns, but my goal is to be able to predict the features of timber beyond just the knots.In our laboratory in Skellefteå, Sweden,…

Enter anthocyanins: the vibrant plant pigments responsible for the deep blues, purples, and reds in many fruits and vegetables. Found in foods like blueberries, blackberries, red cabbage, and purple sweet potatoes, anthocyanins belong to a class of phytochemicals called flavonoids, which are known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties.

Gestational diabetes can have long-term effects on women’s health. Credit: Yui Mok/PA Images via AlamyLast week, a study involving more than nine million pregnancies reported that children whose mothers had gestational diabetes during pregnancy had a higher chance of developing attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism than did children whose mothers didn’t have the condition.The study, presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Vienna, is under review at a peer-reviewed journal. It is not the first to link gestational diabetes to neurodevelopmental disorders in children, but it is one of the largest. Researchers pooled results from…

Prime Medicine (NASDAQ: PRME) has had a lot to celebrate in recent months, explaining a surge that has seen the prime editing therapy developer’s stock more than double this year, including a 22% jump this past week. Prime’s lead candidate generated positive initial data in May—an announcement overshadowed by the company chopping 15% of its workforce. A month later, Prime basked in the glow of Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) acquiring Verve Therapeutics for up to $1.3 billion, a deal that bolstered the buyer’s cardiovascular treatment pipeline with Verve’s gene edited therapies. David R. Liu, PhD, a professor at Harvard University,…

According to one survey, 40% of people only occasionally, rarely, or never take breaks during the workday. It’s a situation that’s not hard to understand. With more and more folks working from home or on a less-structured schedule, the midday meal can tend to fall by the wayside. It’s just so easy to shovel something in while responding to emails, writing up reports, or participating in a camera-off Zoom call.

The immune system is under circadian control. Disrupting the biological clock by working night shifts can increase the susceptibility to diseases.Image credit:© iStock.com, gorodenkoffAs the streets grow quiet and the world falls asleep, some people continue their daily grind: Hospitals buzz with nurses on rounds, highways roar with truckers speeding by, and call centers hum with voices handling overseas clients.Nearly 18 percent of American and 20 percent of European laborers work alternate shift schedules, which could adversely affect their health.1,2 In fact, people who work night shifts take more sick leave compared to those who work during regular hours.3Christoph Scheiermann…

If you’re among the 21% of U.S. adults1 who struggle with chronic pain, you likely already know there are a number of interventions you can take to help manage it. But did you ever consider mindfulness meditation? According to new research published in the journal Biological Psychiatry, it might address pain better than you’d think.

Eating processed meats can increase risk of heart disease and cancer. This is believed to be due to their nitrates, nitrites, sodium and saturated fat. Plant-based sausage, tofu nuggets, grilled chicken and mushrooms are flavorful, healthy swaps. Whether it’s the sizzle of breakfast bacon on a lazy Sunday morning, the wafting aroma of hot dogs at a baseball game, or an eye-catching charcuterie board, processed meats are enticing and filled with flavor. They’re made by smoking, curing or salting meat, or by adding preservatives such as nitrites and nitrates to extend their shelf life.  Trouble is, eating too much processed meat can…

China will roll out free vaccine shots for human papillomavirus (HPV) to eligible women and girls nationwide, in the first addition to its national vaccination programme since 2008.HPV shots will be added to the government funded National Immunization Program this year, said the National Health Commission’s deputy director, Shen Hongbing, at a press conference on 11 September.The programme’s expansion was driven partly by budget savings resulting from China’s falling birth rate, local media reported.1 Policy makers also spotlighted the launch of a cheaper, local alternative to the most protective HPV jab on the market, which will help with the costs…

Pancreas, x-ray hologram. 3D rendering on dark blue background [AlexLMX/ iStock / Getty Images Plus] In recent years, blockbuster drugs, such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus), tirzepatide (Mounjaro), and liraglutide (Victoza), have received growing attention as promising drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity.  Known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), these drugs mimic the natural hormone GLP-1, which binds to and activates GLP-1 receptors in the brain and gastrointestinal tract, regulating blood sugar levels and reducing food intake.  Now, researchers at Duke University School of Medicine, in Durham, North Carolina, have discovered a new form of blood…