- Researchers developed a bladder implant that wirelessly and simultaneously transmits fill data to a smartphone app, enabling patients with diseases to monitor bladder function https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2024/03/gotta-go-new-bladder-device-lets-you-know/ 5 comments technology
- AI just got 100-fold more energy efficient. Using 100-fold less energy than current technologies, the device can crunch large amounts of data and perform artificial intelligence (AI) tasks in real time without beaming data to the cloud for analysis https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2023/10/ai-just-got-100-fold-more-energy-efficient/ 24 comments science
- New research shows neurons in an area of the brain responsible for memory were significantly larger in SuperAgers compared to cognitively average peers, individuals with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease and even individuals 20 to 30 years younger than SuperAgers https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2022/09/superager-brains-contain-super-neurons/?fj=1 2 comments science
- Why ketamine is a speedster antidepressant - Northwestern Now https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2022/06/why-ketamine-is-a-speedster-antidepressant/#:~:text=Study%20is%20the%20first%20to%20identify%20how%20it,of%20an%20ongoing%20neurogenesis%20in%20the%20brain.%20Brain 43 comments science
- Nearly 1,000 mysterious strands revealed in Milky Way’s center - Stretching up to 150 light years long, the one-dimensional strands (or filaments) are found in pairs and clusters, often stacked equally spaced, side by side like strings on a harp https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2022/01/nearly-1000-mysterious-strands-revealed-in-milky-ways-center/ 48 comments space
- Nearly 1,000 mysterious strands revealed in Milky Way’s center. Stretching up to 150 light years long, the one-dimensional strands (or filaments) are found in pairs and clusters, often stacked equally spaced, side by side like strings on a harp https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2022/01/nearly-1000-mysterious-strands-revealed-in-milky-ways-center/ 291 comments science
- Understanding cobalt’s human cost. After studying the impacts of mining cobalt -- a common ingredient in lithium-ion batteries -- on communities in Africa's Democratic Republic of the Congo, researchers are calling for more data into how emerging technologies affect human health & livelihoods. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2021/12/understanding-cobalts-human-cost/ 3 comments science
- A new study supports the theory that the Ontong Java Plateau large igneous province eruptions led to oceanic anoxic event 1a, 127 to 100 million years ago. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2020/12/volcanic-eruptions-directly-triggered-ocean-acidification-during-early-cretaceous/ 5 comments science
- Northwestern University researchers have developed a highly effective, environmentally friendly method for converting ammonia into hydrogen. Outlined in a recent publication in the journal Joule, the new technique is a major step forward for enabling a zero-pollution, hydrogen-fueled economy. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2020/11/ammonia-to-green-hydrogen/#:~:text=northwestern%20university%20researchers%20have%20developed,pollution%2C%20hydrogen-fueled%20economy. 9 comments science
- A Northwestern University evaluation of a procedural justice training program involving more than 8,000 Chicago Police Department (CPD) officers shows it reduced complaints filed against police by approximately 10%. It also reduced use of force by 6% in the two years following officers’ training. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2020/04/police-training-reduced-complaints-and-use-of-force-against-civilians/ 12 comments science
- Seasonally cold and dark conditions can inhibit neurons within the fly brain that promote activity and wakefulness, particularly in the morning. Perhaps this is a clue why it’s so hard to wake up on a cold winter’s morning. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2020/05/a-clue-as-to-why-its-so-hard-to-wake-up-on-a-cold-winters-morning/ 19 comments science
- Racial discrimination in the mortgage market (loan denial and cost) has persisted over the last 40 years, yet discrimination in the housing market has decreased during the same time period. Efforts should be increased to ensure that all home seekers receive equal treatment regardless of ethnicity. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2020/01/racial-discrimination-in-mortgage-market-persistent-over-last-four-decades/ 17 comments science
- Researchers have discovered a human protein, RBBP6, that helps fight the Ebola virus and could one day lead to an effective therapy against the deadly disease, according to a new study. “If you take that protein and put it into human cells, you can block Ebola virus infection,” says researcher. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2018/december/ebola-fighting-protein-in-human-cells/ 10 comments science
- Fossilized seashells show signs of global warming, ocean acidification before dinosaur extinction. The researchers said that understanding how the Earth responded to past extreme warming and CO2 input can help us prepare for how the planet will respond to current, human-caused climate change. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2019/12/earth-was-stressed-before-dinosaur-extinction/&fj=1 39 comments science
- Research has found that toddlers with fewer spoken words have more frequent and severe temper tantrums than their peers with typical language skills. About 40% of delayed talkers will go on to have persistent language problems that can affect their academic performance https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2019/11/toddler-speech-delays-and-temper-tantrums 1009 comments science
- Researchers produce electricity by flowing water over extremely thin layers of metal https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2019/07/researchers-produce-electricity-by-flowing-water-over-extremely-thin-layers-of-metal 59 comments technology
- Americans are over-exposed to products that are high in calories, saturated fat, sugar and salt https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2019/07/us-packaged-food-supply-is-ultra-processed/ 10 comments worldnews
- Slowing metabolism can prevent detrimental effects of genetic mutations https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2019/07/slowing-metabolism-can-prevent-detrimental-effects-of-genetic-mutations/ 3 comments science
- ‘Trojan horse’ anticancer drug disguises itself as fat: Thinking the drugs are tasty fats, tumors invite the drug inside. Once there, the targeted drug activates, immediately suppressing tumor growth. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2019/07/trojan-horse-anticancer-drug-delivery-disguises-itself-as-fat/ 839 comments worldnews
- Many of the deadliest cancers receive the least amount of research funding, finds a new study. ‘Embarrassing’ or stigmatized cancers like lung and liver are underfunded. In contrast, breast cancer and pediatric cancers were all well-funded, respective to their impact on society. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2019/07/disparities-cancer-research-funding/ 184 comments science
- Death rates due to heart failure are now increasing, and this increase is most prominent among younger adults under 65, research finds. The rise in deaths comes despite significant advances in medical and surgical treatments for heart failure in the past decade. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2019/05/heart-failure-deaths-rising-in-younger-adults/ 15 comments science
- Methane-consuming bacteria could be the future of fuel, with new discovery in journal Science illuminating how they turn methane gas into liquid methanol, removing a harmful greenhouse gas while also generating a sustainable fuel at room temperature, compared to current processes at 1,300 Celsius. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2019/05/methane-consuming-bacteria-could-be-the-future-of-fuel/ 823 comments science
- Study identifies key factors that influenced whether transitioning transgender youth pursued fertility preservation. Findings highlight the need for better training for primary care doctors when counseling transgender patients as they consider medical/surgical gender transition. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2019/04/transgender-fertility-preservation/ 24 comments science
- Poverty leaves a mark on our genes, suggests a new study, which found that lower socioeconomic status is associated with levels of DNA methylation (DNAm) at more than 2,500 sites, across more than 1,500 genes. In other words, poverty leaves a mark on nearly 10 percent of the genes in the genome. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2019/04/poverty-leaves-a-mark-on-our-genes/ 323 comments science
- Brain region discovered that only processes spoken, not written words https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2019/03/ppa-visual-auditory/ 34 comments linguistics
- Only 13 percent of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions considered appropriate, finds a new study that demonstrates the scale of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in the U.S. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2019/01/antibiotic-prescriptions-appropriateness/ 7 comments science
- Bitterness is a natural warning system to protect us from harmful substances, but weirdly, the more sensitive people are to the bitter taste of caffeine due to genetics, the more coffee they drink, reports a new study, which may be due to the learned positive reinforcement elicited by caffeine. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2018/november/bitter-coffee/ 850 comments science
- Much of the published medical research goes unread by the general public and medical community. A new study has found that social media editors lack established best practices and support from their journals and home institutions, making it difficult for them to successfully promote new research. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2018/october/social-media-medical-journals/ 4 comments science
- Diabetes risk higher among LGBQ teens than heterosexual teens, study finds https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2018/july/diabetes-obesity-lgbq-teens/ 24 comments science
- Climate change linked to potential population decline in bees. A new study finds that warmer temperatures push bees to their physiological limits, and may drive local extinction of mason bees in Arizona and other naturally warm climates. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2018/june/climate-change-linked-to-potential-population-decline-in-bees/ 7 comments science
- Scientists found that food allergy happens when a mix of factors coexist at once, including genetics, use of infant cleansing wipes that leave soap on the skin, exposure to dust and exposure to food from those providing infant care, finds a new study using a neonatal mouse model. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2018/april/food-allergy-is-linked-to-skin-exposure-and-genetics/ 16 comments science
- Being in a relationship buffers lesbian and gay youth against effects of bullying and victimization, and they show lower levels of psychological distress. Prior research has not found a protective effect like this for support from parents and friends. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2018/february/romantic-relationships-buffer-gay-and-lesbian-youth-from-psychological-distress/ 38 comments science
- Study tracking long-term risk of bariatric surgery reports that obese, middle-age men and women who had undergone the procedure had half the death rate of those who had traditional medical treatment over a 10-year period. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2018/january/bariatric-surgery-prolongs-lifespan-in-obese/ 7 comments science
- A 30-minute daily or alternate-day facial exercise program sustained over 20 weeks improved the facial appearance of middle-aged women, resulting in a younger appearance with fuller upper and lower cheeks, report researchers. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2018/january/facial-exercises-help-middle-aged-women-appear-more-youthful/ 8 comments science
- Positive, warm, trusting friendships may be key to slower decline in memory & cognitive functioning. SuperAgers, 80+ year olds who have cognitive ability at least as good as people in their 50s or 60s, report more satisfying, high-quality relationships compared to cognitively average, same-age peers https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2017/november/close-friends-superager-memory/ 6 comments science
- Research finds that certain small RNA molecules can trigger a mechanism hidden in every cell that forces it to self-destruct. This failsafe may protect us from cancer. The mechanism could potentially become a novel form of cancer therapy, the study authors say. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2017/october/suicide-molecules-kill-any-cancer-cell/ 98 comments science
- Northwestern Medicine scientists showed for the first time that non-invasive brain stimulation can be used like a scalpel, rather than like a hammer, to cause a specific improvement in precise memory. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2017/01/brain-stimulation-used-like-a-scalpel-to-improve-memory/ 4 comments technology
- Study shows that non-invasive brain stimulation using electromagnets can be used to cause a specific improvement in precise memory. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2017/01/brain-stimulation-used-like-a-scalpel-to-improve-memory/ 39 comments science
- Scientists discover concussion biomarker. Discovery takes guesswork out of concussion diagnosis and management. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2016/12/science-discover-concussion-biomarker-diagnosis-management/ 480 comments science
- The rhythm of breathing creates electrical activity in the human brain that enhances emotional judgments and memory recall, which depend critically on whether you inhale or exhale and whether you breathe through the nose or mouth, Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered for the first time. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2016/12/rhythm-of-breathing-affects-memory-and-fear/ 1443 comments science