Frailty is a serious concern for those who smoke, even if their lung function seems fine. A study known as COPDGene shed light on this issue by following smokers aged 45 to 80 over a decade. The findings revealed that 15% of participants were frail, while 51% were in a prefrail state. This means a s
Plants are getting creative to survive droughts. As the world heats up, dry spells are becoming more common and harsher. Scientists are studying how plants handle these tough times. They're looking at how plants use their inner workings to stay alive when water is scarce. One big focus is on the pl
Enkephalins are like the brain's own painkillers. They help with pain relief, reward, and dealing with stress. But tracking them in real-time has been tough because they appear and disappear quickly and are present in tiny amounts. Scientists have come up with a clever way to study these enkephalin
Teeth aren't just for chewing. They have a living part inside called pulp. As people get older, this pulp changes. It's not as lively as it used to be. There are fewer cells and blood vessels. This makes it harder for teeth to heal when they get damaged. The pulp also gets tougher. It makes more co
Brain tumors, specifically glioma, are a big deal. They're the most common type of nasty tumor that can grow in the brain. Scientists have been digging into the role of super-enhancers, which are like the brain's way of turning genes on and off. These super-enhancers are crucial because they control
The hollyhock plant, a favorite in gardens worldwide, has had its genetic blueprint mapped out in stunning detail. Scientists have put together a complete set of instructions for this plant, known as its genome, which is about 1. 01 billion pieces of information long. This is like having a very deta
Premature babies often face serious lung problems. One big issue is bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which happens when there's too much oxygen. Scientists are trying to understand how this happens at a tiny level, focusing on something called epigenetics. Epigenetics is like a switch that turns g
Droughts are becoming more common and severe. This is bad news for watermelons, which need plenty of water to grow. Farmers are struggling to keep their crops healthy and productive in these harsh conditions. Scientists are looking for ways to help. One promising solution is a gene called ClTCP4. T
Parents of children with rare neurological disorders have a lot to think about when it comes to clinical genetic testing (CGT). A recent study asked 101 parents about their thoughts on this topic. The children involved had conditions like cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and developmental delays. Most par
Fathers' past struggles might influence how their babies see faces. This isn't about pointing fingers. It's about seeing how tough times can ripple through generations. A recent study involved 239 dads and their 8-month-old babies. The dads talked about their childhood hardships. The babies' eye mov
