Human Quirks: Health & Medicine

November 8, 2025

Top Headlines

Rare Desert Berry Could Transform Diabetes Treatment

Nov. 7, 2025 — An extract from a desert berry used in traditional Chinese medicine restored insulin function and stabilized metabolism in diabetic mice. The findings hint at a powerful natural alternative for holistic diabetes ...

Mini Llama Proteins Show Promise for Alzheimer’s Treatment

Nov. 6, 2025 — Miniature antibodies from camels and llamas can slip into the brain more easily than conventional drugs, offering a new way to treat disorders like Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia. Researchers say these “nanobodies” could reshape the future of ...

Scientists Just Found a Hidden Genetic Flaw That Slowly Steals Strength

Nov. 6, 2025 — A newly identified disorder, MINA syndrome, results from a mutation in the NAMPT protein that deprives motor neurons of energy, leading to severe movement problems. The discovery not only deepens understanding of nerve cell metabolism but also ...

Sunflowers May Be the Future of "Vegan Meat"

Nov. 4, 2025 — A collaboration between Brazilian and German researchers has led to a sunflower-based meat substitute that’s high in protein and minerals. The new ingredient, made from refined sunflower flour, delivers excellent nutritional value and a mild ...

Your Pumpkin Might Be Hiding a Toxic Secret

Oct. 30, 2025 — Researchers in Japan have revealed how some gourds draw pollutants into their fruits. The secret lies in a protein that carries contaminants through the plant sap. By manipulating this protein’s structure, scientists hope to breed crops that ...

It Sounds Creepy, but These Scientific Breakthroughs Could Save Lives

Oct. 30, 2025 — From mini-brains to spider-inspired gloves and wolf apple coatings, scientists are turning eerie-sounding experiments into real innovations that could revolutionize health and sustainability. Lab-grown brain organoids may replace animal testing, ...

Your IQ May Determine How Well You Hear in a Crowd

Oct. 29, 2025 — New research reveals that intelligence plays a key role in how well people process speech in noisy environments. The study compared neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals and found that cognitive ability predicted performance across all groups. ...

Bananas Could Be Ruining Your Smoothie’s Health Benefits

Oct. 27, 2025 — Researchers at UC Davis discovered that adding a banana to your smoothie may drastically reduce the absorption of flavanols — powerful compounds linked to heart and brain health. The culprit is polyphenol oxidase (PPO), an enzyme abundant in ...

Snake Pee Might Hold the Secret to Ending Gout Pain and Kidney Stones

Oct. 25, 2025 — Reptiles don’t just pee, they crystallize their waste. Researchers found that snakes and other reptiles form tiny uric acid spheres, a water-saving evolutionary trick. This discovery could illuminate how to prevent gout and kidney stones in ...

Your Gut Microbes Might Be Turning Fiber Into Extra Calories

Oct. 24, 2025 — ASU scientists found that people whose gut microbes make more methane extract more calories from fiber-rich foods. Methanogens help the microbiome turn fiber into energy by consuming hydrogen and producing methane. Using advanced metabolic chambers, ...

Forget Fiber. Science Just Found the Foods That Really Help Constipation

Oct. 22, 2025 — Researchers at King’s College London have created the first evidence-based dietary guidelines for chronic constipation, finding real relief may come from kiwifruit, rye bread, and mineral water. Psyllium, probiotics, and magnesium oxide also ...

Stanford’s Tiny Eye Chip Helps the Blind See Again

Oct. 22, 2025 — A wireless eye implant developed at Stanford Medicine has restored reading ability to people with advanced macular degeneration. The PRIMA chip works with smart glasses to replace lost photoreceptors using infrared light. Most trial participants ...

Latest Headlines

updated 11:08am EST

“Immortal” Flatworm Rewrites the Science of Healing

Oct. 29, 2025 — Flatworms can rebuild themselves from just a small fragment, and now scientists know why. Their stem cells ignore nearby instructions and respond to long-distance signals from other tissues. This ...

Scientists Just Found a Surprising Link Between Gray Hair and Cancer

Oct. 25, 2025 — Japanese researchers discovered that hair graying and melanoma share a surprising cellular origin. When DNA damage strikes melanocyte stem cells, they may undergo a protective process called ...

Scientists Discover a Hidden Gene Mutation That Causes Deafness—and a Way to Fix It

Oct. 25, 2025 — Scientists have identified mutations in the CPD gene as a key cause of a rare congenital hearing loss, revealing how disruptions in arginine and ...

This Simple Neck Measurement Might Reveal Hidden Heart Risks

Oct. 20, 2025 — Neck size is proving to be a powerful indicator of hidden health risks. Larger neck circumferences are associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and sleep apnea, even among those with normal ...

Eating Ultra-Processed Foods May Rewire the Brain and Drive Overeating

Oct. 20, 2025 — A massive brain imaging study of nearly 30,000 people has uncovered striking connections between eating ultra-processed foods and measurable changes in brain structure. These changes may be tied to ...

Scientists Create LED Light That Kills Cancer Cells Without Harming Healthy Ones

Oct. 20, 2025 — A new light-driven cancer therapy uses LEDs and tin nanoflakes to kill tumors safely and affordably. Developed by teams in Texas and Portugal, it ...

Tiny AI-Powered Eye Implant Helps the Blind See Again

Oct. 20, 2025 — A groundbreaking retinal implant called PRIMA has enabled blind patients with dry AMD to read again. The chip, powered by light and paired with AR glasses, sends visual data directly to the brain. In ...

How This Odd-Looking Animal Outsmarted Aging

Oct. 20, 2025 — Naked mole-rats seem to have found nature’s cheat code for longevity. Scientists discovered that small tweaks in one of their proteins make it better at fixing DNA damage, helping the animals ...

Stanford Scientists Grow Thousands of Mini Human Brains Using Common Food Additive

Oct. 18, 2025 — Stanford scientists have solved a long-standing challenge in growing brain organoids by using a simple food additive to keep them from sticking ...

Scientists Just Debunked the Calcium and Dementia Myth

Oct. 18, 2025 — A long-term Australian study found that calcium supplements do not raise dementia risk in older women, countering previous fears. The research followed more than 1,400 participants for nearly 15 ...

Can Ozempic Help You Cut Back on Alcohol? Researchers Think So

Oct. 18, 2025 — Semaglutide, tirzepatide, and other GLP-1 drugs appear to slow alcohol absorption and blunt its intoxicating effects, according to new research. The study found participants on these medications felt ...

From Poison to Power: How Lead Exposure Helped Shape Human Intelligence

Oct. 16, 2025 — Long before humans built cities or wrote words, our ancestors may have faced a hidden threat that shaped who we became. Scientists studying ancient teeth found that early humans, great apes, and even ...

Tiny Brain Nanotubes Found by Johns Hopkins May Spread Alzheimer’s

Oct. 16, 2025 — Johns Hopkins scientists uncovered microscopic “nanotube” channels that neurons use to transfer toxic molecules. While this process clears waste, it can also spread harmful proteins like ...

Your Skin Could Warn of Hidden Mental Health Trouble

Oct. 13, 2025 — People experiencing their first psychotic episode who also have skin conditions such as rashes or itching are at greater risk of depression and suicidal thoughts, according to new research presented ...

Scientists Finally Read the Hidden DNA Code That Shapes Disease

Oct. 18, 2025 — EMBL researchers created SDR-seq, a next-generation tool that decodes both DNA and RNA from the same cell. It finally opens access to non-coding regions, where most disease-associated genetic ...

A Sweet Fix for Baldness? Stevia Compound Boosts Hair Growth

Oct. 10, 2025 — Researchers discovered that stevioside, a compound from the Stevia plant, enhances the skin absorption of minoxidil, the main treatment for pattern baldness. In mice, a stevioside-infused patch ...

Scientists Discover Brain Circuit That Can Switch Off Chronic Pain

Oct. 10, 2025 — Scientists have pinpointed Y1 receptor neurons in the brain that can override chronic pain signals when survival instincts like hunger or fear take precedence. Acting like a neural switchboard, these ...

Would You Eat Yogurt Made With Ants? Scientists Did

Oct. 5, 2025 — In a remarkable blend of science and tradition, researchers have revived an old Balkan and Turkish yogurt-making technique that uses ants as natural fermenters. The ants’ bacteria, acids, and ...

A Single Dose of Psilocybin May Rewire the Brain for Lasting Relief

Oct. 2, 2025 — Penn researchers found that psilocybin can calm brain circuits tied to pain and mood, easing both physical suffering and emotional distress in animal studies. The compound works in the anterior ...

A Little Stress Could Be the Secret to Healthy Aging

Oct. 15, 2025 — Scientists discovered that specific nutrients in nematodes' diets activate stress defenses that keep their cells healthier over time. These RNAs prevent toxic protein buildup, promoting ...

A Flu Test You Can Chew

Oct. 2, 2025 — Flu detection could soon be as simple as chewing gum. Scientists have created a molecular sensor that releases a thyme-like flavor when it encounters influenza, offering a low-tech, taste-based ...

Black Mamba Venom Has a Deadly Hidden Second Strike

Sep. 30, 2025 — Scientists have uncovered a dangerous hidden feature in Black Mamba venom that explains why antivenoms sometimes fail. The study revealed that several mamba species launch a dual neurological attack, ...

Millions Could Be Living With Hidden Smell Loss After COVID Without Knowing

Oct. 2, 2025 — A massive NIH-backed study reveals that COVID-19’s toll on smell may be more widespread and lasting than most realize. Even patients without noticeable symptoms often performed poorly on scent ...

Scientists Finally Explain the Real Reason Pregnant Women Get Morning Sickness

Sep. 29, 2025 — Morning sickness isn’t just random misery—it’s a biological defense system shaped by evolution to protect the fetus. By linking immune responses to nausea and food aversions, UCLA researchers ...

Hidden Bacterial Molecules in the Brain Reveal New Secrets of Sleep

Sep. 25, 2025 — New studies show that a bacterial molecule, peptidoglycan, is present in the brain and fluctuates with sleep patterns. This challenges the idea that sleep is solely brain-driven, instead suggesting ...

Mushrooms Evolved Psychedelics Twice, Baffling Scientists

Sep. 24, 2025 — Researchers found that magic mushrooms and fiber caps independently evolved different biochemical pathways to create psilocybin. This convergence shows nature’s ingenuity, but the reason why ...

AI-Powered Smart Bandage Heals Wounds 25% Faster

Sep. 24, 2025 — A new wearable device, a-Heal, combines AI, imaging, and bioelectronics to speed up wound recovery. It continuously monitors wounds, diagnoses healing stages, and applies personalized treatments like ...

AI Breakthrough Finds Life-Saving Insights in Everyday Bloodwork

Sep. 23, 2025 — AI-powered analysis of routine blood tests can reveal hidden patterns that predict recovery and survival after spinal cord injuries. This breakthrough could make life-saving predictions affordable ...

Nanotech Transforms Vinegar Into a Lifesaving Superbug Killer

Oct. 6, 2025 — Researchers have enhanced vinegar’s antibacterial properties by infusing it with cobalt-based carbon nanoparticles. This nano-boosted solution kills harmful bacteria from both inside and outside ...

Sneezing from Cats or Dust? Safe UV Light May Neutralize Allergens in Minutes

Sep. 22, 2025 — Sneezing from cats, dust mites, or mold may one day be preventable with a flip of a switch. Researchers at CU Boulder found that UV222 light can alter allergen proteins, reducing allergic reactions ...