Tag: Life Science

Human urine could help build astronauts’ sleeping quarters on the moon, or supply fertiliser for farming. Cattle, however, are a major contributor to greenhouse gases by passing methane front and back. According to a study by a Washington State University research team, help might come from an unlikely source: the faeces of baby kangaroos. For, in contrast to their...

Lip movements can be translated into text by smartphone. And as a research team from Taiwan recently discovered, smartphone video recordings can help analyse messages contained in our blood flow. Carotid arteries clogged up by fatty deposits restrict blood flow to the brain, potentially leading to strokes. Such reduced moving patterns, although just below the skin, cannot be detected...

Vibrating beds soothe premature babies. The desire to become a parent is not based on gender. In the course of a lifetime some females identify as male and undergo bodily changes. But the desire to be a parent can remain. This means interrupting testosterone therapy and enduring accompanying physical and psychological challenges. Now a reproductive biologist from Edinburgh University...

Windscreen-wipers aren’t just useful in cars. For doctors examining lungs, it’s equally important to have a clear view. During a feasibility study, a research team at Leeds University developed a mini-robot that can reach the lungs’ smallest bronchial tubes. Manually-operated instruments currently used in lung examinations are either too wide in diameter, or too difficult to control. The robot,...

Recently, an unusual album stormed the Australian charts. Now, an international research team has been focusing their attention on a species which, according to DNA comparisons, is remarkably similar to our own. The team analysed the sounds of pigs in happy and stressful situations, with recordings made from birth to death. Positive feelings were expressed by a short grunt;...

Repetitive, monotonous work is tiring. In test labs a quarter of the working day can be lost to such tasks. When handling liquids, precision is important. Which is why a Danish company has invented a robot to ease the burden of lab workers across Europe. The pipetting machine can process several samples at once and be paired with a...

Every second is vital. In the event of a heart attack, receiving immediate treatment can be the difference between life and death. According to a Swedish research team, defibrillators could soon be delivered by drone. In emergencies they can be on the scene quickly, irrespective of traffic or terrain. Recently, the pilotless aircraft were sent out to accident sites...

Playing an instrument requires dexterity and lots of practice. People whose arm strength has been compromised, because of a stroke, for example, are often reliant on physiotherapy. Special sensors can help retrain patients' grip. But the speed at which arm strength can be rebuilt depends on the availability and cost of appointments. A research team from Imperial College, London,...