ScienceNews

Scientists have identified how the #hearts of grizzly #bears change when they #hibernate. A researcher says that this discovery may lead to developing improved drugs for people with heart failure. #sciencenewsdk Julien Ochala

Chronic lung #diseases that accelerate with age can make breathing difficult. Scientists have now examined the natural metabolite NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), which helps the body repair cells and reduce #inflammation. A new study has tested a #dietary supplement that can increase the amount of NAD+, and the results show signs of less irritation in the lungs and stronger cells. This could pave the way for new methods to improve lung #health. #sciencenewsdk Morten Scheibye-Knudsen

A new #technology enables researchers to determine what happens in the skeletal muscle when it is insulin resistant and how #exercise increases insulin action, which protects against the development of type 2 diabetes. The study identifies hundreds of potential drug targets for #prevention and #treatment of type 2 #diabetes and #insulin resistance. #sciencenewsdk Jørgen Frank Pind Wojtaszewski

Researchers have developed genetically engineered #bacteria that can detect #chemicals. A researcher involved says that the bacteria can monitor chemicals in laboratory #experiments or unwanted chemicals in the #environment. #sciencenewsdk Daniel Volke

Male #infertility is a growing global problem, and new research has revealed that phosphate may affect reproductive #health. Phosphate deficiency appears to be associated with poor sperm motility – an important factor in #fertility. This discovery opens new #treatment options that focus on increasing phosphate concentrations to improve sperm quality and help men with infertility. #sciencenewsdk Martin Blomberg Jensen

Several studies have gradually established that the properties of glacial rock flour from #Greenland make it especially useful in enhancing the #fertility of agricultural #soil in #Africa. However, a new study shows that adding glacial rock flour does not improve the ability of soil to retain water, and another explanation is therefore needed. #sciencenewsdk Rosing, Minik

Gut #bacteria and especially their composition affect #health and the risk of developing many diseases. Now a new study shows that the composition of gut bacteria very much depends on the #physiological and #environmental conditions in the gut. A researcher says that this increases awareness of the links between environmental factors in the human body, bacteria and health. #sciencenewsdk Henrik Munch Roager

Mitochondria, often referred to as the powerhouses of the cell, are essential for maintaining the human body’s energy balance. However, when mitochondria malfunction, the effects can be devastating, contributing to many severe #diseases. Researchers have now uncovered how cells attempt to combat the harmful effects of mitochondrial mutations and revealed that the body’s natural responses may inadvertently do more harm than good. These findings open the door to potential new #treatments for many conditions tied to mitochondrial #dysfunction. #sciencenewsdk Anna Wredenberg

Intrinsically disordered #proteins are a special type of proteins that challenge scientists’ understanding of what proteins can and cannot do. Researchers have now discovered more about them, providing new insight into the origins of life. The proteins also open the possibility of designing more effective drugs in a novel way. #sciencenewsdk Birthe B. Kragelund

#Biomanufacturing, which uses living cells to produce life-saving #medicines, faces a major hurdle: lactic acid build-up. This waste product limits cell growth and reduces #production efficiency. Now, researchers have developed a groundbreaking genetic technique that stops cells from producing lactic acid, improving the speed, cost and efficiency of drug production. This innovation opens new doors for scientific exploration, with potential to revolutionise #healthcare and understanding of cellular processes. #sciencenewsdk Hooman Hefzi Nathan Lewis