Tag: Health

Dialysis could soon be significantly less trying. Hospital patients who take regular medication rely heavily on the nursing staff. To unburden both, an Italian startup has created an automatic pill dispenser placed directly by patients’ bedside. The wireless device is controlled through a cloud-based online portal into which electronic medication plans are imported or patient requirements manually entered. There’s...

Laser light helps to heal serious burns. A research team from Texas and Portugal has been experimenting with light to fight cancer and has discovered a new, low-cost way to protect healthy cells. The magic formula? Near infrared light from LED lamps combined with tin oxide nanoparticles. During treatment, the light causes the tin oxide particles to vibrate, thus...

Wasabi supports memory and chilli has anti-inflammatory properties. Now a research team in Japan is taking a closer look at cardamom seeds. In a study with human lung cells and a simulated viral infection, they established that an extract made with hot water could have antiviral effects. The bioactive component in the cardamom extract, known as 1.8 cineole, activates...

In London commuters can select their underground route based on air quality. Flats with mould also present a health risk for their inhabitants. Therefore, a Miami woman has created a startup enabling those affected to verify if health symptoms are related to mould toxicity and receive appropriate treatment. After answering screening questions, patients can undergo targeted tests, encompassing 30 years’...

Fungi for healthy feet? No longer a paradox thanks to DIY insoles. Now a research team in Atlanta has invented a smart inner sole to support people with walking problems. Pressure data from each foot is collected thanks to 170 thin, flexible sensors spread across the soles underneath users’ feet. Meaning each step can be analysed to determine whether...

An armband concept detects and prevents hot flushes. Meanwhile, an Irish startup is focused on females of other species. The team’s sensor recognises the start of contractions in pregnant cows and heifers, denoted by specific movements of the tail. The sensor is registered in an app and connected with two telephone numbers. 3-4 days before calving it’s attached to...

In future, milli-spinners could help treat blood clots. Now, a Canadian research team has turned its attention to kidney stones. The research team’s soft robot, made from gelatine, contains magnetic particles and the enzyme urease. Once the 1mm thin, 12mm long robot strip has entered the urinary tract via a catheter, it can be moved into place in the...

Faulty heart valves can regenerate. Tooth enamel, on the other hand, cannot. Until now. Using the knowledge that hair (from humans or sheep) contains keratin, a London-based research team has tried embedding it in dental creams and gels. The keratin combines with minerals in the saliva to form crystals. These, in turn, are fused into a scaffold, which resembles...