Breathtaking Photos of Mars Terrain Hint at a Mysterious Cyclic Past

A newly released image from a Mars satellite offers a glimpse into the complex past of the now dry and dusty world. From high above the surface of Mars, the orbiting High Resolution Imaging Experiment (HiRISE) homes in on the Danielson Crater, just north of the Mars equator. This region is intensely interesting to space … Read more

News at a glance: Hong Kong’s high COVID-19 death rate, Biden’s ‘test and treat,’ and a ResearchGate lawsuit | Science

THERAPEUTICS Big COVID-19 trial notches another effective drug The world’s largest study of COVID-19 treatments has yielded another drug that can reduce mortality. On 3 March, researchers with the United Kingdom’s Recovery trial announced that baricitinib, an oral drug that dampens an overactive immune system and is commonly used by people with rheumatoid arthritis, reduced … Read more

In Mice, a Potential New Treatment Eradicates Ovarian And Colorectal Cancer in Days

An experimental new type of cancer treatment has yielded some impressive results in mice: the eradication of advanced-stage ovarian and colorectal cancer in the animals as little as six days.   The new therapy has only been tested in mice so far, so let’s not get too excited just yet. However, the early signs are … Read more

Indoor air pollution: Cleaning products cause high levels of pollutant particles

Fragrant chemicals in scented surface cleaners react with ozone to produce pollutant particles that may be harmful to the respiratory system Health 25 February 2022 By Carissa Wong A man mopping the floor SolStock/Getty Images Scented surface cleaning products can expose you to a similar amount of pollutant particles as a busy urban road used … Read more

There’s a Reason 90% of Drugs Fail Clinical Trials, And We Can Fix It

It takes 10 to 15 years and around US$1 billion to develop one successful drug. Despite these significant investments in time and money, 90 percent of drug candidates in clinical trials fail.   Whether because they don’t adequately treat the condition they’re meant to target or the side effects are too strong, many drug candidates … Read more

Common Over-The-Counter Painkillers Can Be an Unexpected Source of Too Much Sodium

Dissolvable painkillers might bring rapid relief, but researchers are warning many of them also come with a hidden and hearty dose of salt. For each half a gram of paracetamol, or acetaminophen, that comes in a dissolvable tablet, you may also swallow around 0.4 grams of sodium, one of the main components of salt.   … Read more

Ageing: Mental speed stays high until age 60

Although people take longer to make decisions from age 20 onwards, this may not be due to a decline in the speed of information processing, a large study has found Mind 17 February 2022 By Carissa Wong People playing chess WHL/Getty Images Our ability to process information during decision-making doesn’t drop off until age 60, … Read more

A Cosmic Airburst May Have Devastated a Vast Native American Culture 1,500 Years Ago

More than 1500 years ago, a vast culture known as the Hopewell tradition (or Hopewell culture) stretched across what is today the eastern United States.  The cause of the culture’s decline has long been debated, with war and climate change two of the possibilities, but now a new avenue of inquiry has opened up: debris from a … Read more

Ovarian cancer: Cervical swabs could identify people at high risk

A DNA analysis of cervical cells taken from routine smear tests could identify people who might benefit from additional screening for ovarian cancer Health 1 February 2022 By Carissa Wong Normal cervix cells from a smear test viewed under the microscope Science Source/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Molecular clues collected from routine cervical swabs can be used … Read more

Hemp-Derived Compound Offers Benefits of THC With Less Paranoia, Study Suggests

Over the past year, you may have seen something called delta-8 THC or “delta 8” appear in convenience stores and pharmacies alongside CBD gummies, oils, and lotions. Delta-8 THC is a hemp-derived compound that’s closely related to delta-9 THC – what’s commonly called THC and which is the psychoactive component of cannabis that’s responsible for … Read more