In the busy waters of the northern South China Sea, scientists have been studying something unusual happening to dolphins and porpoises. They found high levels of something called organohalogen contaminants (OHCs) in these marine mammals. These OHCs can mess with the body's fatty acid (FAs) levels,
The flu is spreading rapidly across the U. S. , with the CDC predicting high case numbers for weeks to come. Dr. Sean Liu from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City describes the situation as "out of control. " The CDC reports at least 12 million flu infections, resulting in 1
You've probably heard that oil spills are bad news. But did you know that cleaning up these spills can also have hidden environmental impacts? A study in Iran's Khuzestan province looked at different ways to clean up old oil in super salty soil. They found that some methods might do more harm than g
Meet a patient who has pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and strangely high levels of vitamin B12 in their blood. This wasn't due to any supplements they were taking or any issues with their liver or blood. Doctors actually found that these high levels were caused by something called macro-B12. This
Have you ever considered that some vitamins might help fight colon cancer? A recent study in China hinted at this, showing that people with colon cancer who took vitamins B2 and B6 seemed to fare a bit better. Surprisingly, other vitamins like B12 and folate didn't show the same positive results. B
Breast cancer is a significant health concern for women worldwide, ranking second in commonality and leading in cancer-related deaths. A variety of factors influence the risk and protection against breast cancer, but the role of Vitamin D remains unclear. Studies have shown conflicting results, maki
You might be familiar with the tiny, tricky organisms called mycoplasmas. These guys can sneak into cell cultures and cause big problems. Researchers often face up to 35% contamination in their cell lines. Cleaning up these cultures with antibiotics is usually a breeze, except when it comes to bacte
When plants like Arabidopsis encounter L-glutamate at their root tips, it causes significant changes in their root structure. But how they sense this amino acid is a mystery. Scientists know that GLUTAMATE RECEPTOR-LIKE (GLR) proteins act as channels that let calcium in when they detect amino acids,
In Minnesota, some healthcare providers are noticing an increase in parents refusing the first dose of vitamin K for their newborns. But, until recently, the exact rate and the types of parents who refuse have been unknown. A recent study aimed to shed light on this trend by examining data from 2015
Did you know that China's nuclear tests could have impacted Kazakhstan? Between 1964 and 1980, China performed these tests at Lop Nor, not far from Kazakhstan. While the Soviet Union's tests were centered around Semipalatinsk, the southeast Abai oblast of Kazakhstan might have gotten radioactive fal
