There is not much debate anymore about the effects of cigarette smoke on health — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. and causes at least 480,000 deaths per year.
One in 68 children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with a developmental condition that falls under the umbrella of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The number of diagnosed cases of ASD is increasing over time, as is the medical community’s understanding of autism. As of now the exact mechanisms underlying the development of autism are not fully understood. However a new study has shed light on a region of the brain whose folding activity is correlated with the display of autistic symptoms.
The Modular Prosthetic Limb, developed by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab (APL), has achieved new levels of operability thanks to a pioneering surgical procedure that allows the prosthetic to be directly and biomechanically attached to the amputee’s bone.
The search for life outside of planet Earth has captivated science fiction writers, astronomers and society at large. However, the likelihood of finding such life is continually restricted by the limitations of technology and the sheer size of the universe.
Everyone knows that climate change caused by carbon emissions is harmful to the environment. It causes rising sea levels, loss of biodiversity, reduced agricultural yields, constrained water supply, unpredictable weather patterns and more. New research from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia indicates that there might be yet another consequence to worry about: drunken fish.
Osteoporosis, a disease that results from an imbalance between bone resorption and bone growth, affects millions of Americans each year. Patients who suffer from this disease have weakened bones that fracture easily under impact, causing pain and problems in mobility. The patient usually does not realize that he or she has osteoporosis until he or she experiences the onset of constant back pain or a sudden fracture. To lower the risk of osteoporosis, doctors recommend exercise and a healthy diet, but there remains no treatment for osteoporosis-related injuries once the patient has the disease.
A recent study done by the University of Sheffield’s Department of Geography discovered that water from melted giant icebergs supports extremely high levels of phytoplankton growth. This melted water contains iron and other nutrients and contributes to an activity known as carbon sequestration.
Neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins Medical School have found that compound CGP3466B successfully delivers antidepressant effects to mice within mere hours. This compound, which has previously been shown to block cocaine craving in mice, rapidly delivers antidepressant effects when compared to most drugs, which can take weeks or even months.
By MANISH PARANJPE Senior Staff Writer
By PAIGE FRANK For The News-Letter
