Scientists have uncovered the oldest known genome of the bacterium responsible for syphilis, revealing a previously unknown lineage that existed thousands of years ago in the Americas. A newly reconstructed genome from the bacterium responsible for syphilis, Treponema pallidum, is providing new clues about the long history of treponemal diseases in the Americas. The research […]
A Bad Case of COVID or Flu May Raise Lung Cancer Risk Years Later
Severe COVID or flu may quietly raise lung cancer risk—but vaccines appear to stop the damage before it starts. New research from UVA Health’s Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research and the UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center suggests that severe cases of COVID-19 and influenza may create conditions in the lungs that make cancer more […]
A Bad Case of COVID or Flu May Raise Lung Cancer Risk Years Later
Severe COVID or flu may quietly raise lung cancer risk—but vaccines appear to stop the damage before it starts. New research from UVA Health’s Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research and the UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center suggests that severe cases of COVID-19 and influenza may create conditions in the lungs that make cancer more […]
50-Year Stellar Mystery Solved With Powerful Supercomputers
New high-resolution simulations reveal that stellar rotation plays a crucial role in transporting material inside red giant stars. Recent advances in supercomputing have helped astronomers solve a long-standing mystery about red giant stars. Scientists have long wondered why the chemical makeup at the surfaces of these stars changes as they age and grow larger. For […]
Beyond Muscles: Scientists Uncover Exercise’s Secret Brain-Boosting Power
Endurance improvements from exercise depend on sustained activation of specific brain neurons after workouts. Exercise does more than build stronger muscles. It also reshapes activity in the brain. In a study published in the Cell Press journal Neuron, scientists report that the long-term boost in endurance from repeated workouts, such as being able to run […]
Beyond Muscles: Scientists Uncover Exercise’s Secret Brain-Boosting Power
Endurance improvements from exercise depend on sustained activation of specific brain neurons after workouts. Exercise does more than build stronger muscles. It also reshapes activity in the brain. In a study published in the Cell Press journal Neuron, scientists report that the long-term boost in endurance from repeated workouts, such as being able to run […]
Eating Ice Cream Regularly Linked to Surprising Health Benefits
An unexpected signal in several major dairy studies suggested that people who ate more ice cream sometimes had a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, a result scientists did not expect, and still cannot fully explain. Ice cream is rarely associated with disease prevention. With its mix of sugar, saturated fat, and calories, it is […]
Beyond mRNA: Scientists Turn DNA Origami Into a Powerful New Vaccine Platform
Scientists have developed a new DNA origami–based vaccine platform called DoriVac that could rival mRNA vaccines while being easier to manufacture and store. Early studies show it can trigger strong immune responses against viruses like SARS-CoV-2, HIV, and Ebola. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines into the spotlight of global health. After completing […]
Scientists Discover Hidden Energy Problem in the Depressed Brain
Researchers may have identified a potential new way to diagnose and treat major depression at its earliest stages, a development that could improve the chances of recovery for many patients. Scientists Investigate Energy Molecules in Depression Scientists at the University of Queensland worked with collaborators from the University of Minnesota to examine levels of adenosine […]
Scientists Discover Hidden Energy Problem in the Depressed Brain
Researchers may have identified a potential new way to diagnose and treat major depression at its earliest stages, a development that could improve the chances of recovery for many patients. Scientists Investigate Energy Molecules in Depression Scientists at the University of Queensland worked with collaborators from the University of Minnesota to examine levels of adenosine […]