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Exploring exercise's physiological response to fight diabetes

Don't love the gym? Neither does exercise scientist Ryan Montalvo. But he goes anyway. While any workout can seem daunting, the physical stress of exercise often affords long-term benefits. One advantage is that it triggers a physiological response that allows our cells to adjust to meet future energy demand in what's known as a hormetic response.

3 Oct 2025

Mathematical model recreates swallowing and reveals causes of dysphagia

For most people, swallowing is second nature, but how does it occur, and why do some people have difficulty with it? Researchers at Kyushu University in Japan have started to tackle these questions by developing a mathematical model that recreates the muscle movements of the esophagus that occur during swallowing.

16 Sep 2025

Do warm-ups improve muscle strength?

Increasing muscle temperature through warm-ups enhances contractile function and power, but maximum force remains unchanged, highlighting methodological limits.

11 Sep 2025

Creatine increases muscle strength in Alzheimer’s patients

Research indicates that creatine may enhance muscle strength and size in Alzheimer's patients, suggesting a viable approach for mitigating muscle loss.

8 Sep 2025

Study shows brain keeps internal body map intact after amputation

Researchers tracked brain activity before and after arm amputation and found that hand and lip maps in the cortex remained remarkably stable for up to five years. This challenges decades-old assumptions of large-scale remapping and supports the idea of a resilient internal body model.

24 Aug 2025

Researchers capture first 3D real-time images of human embryo implantation

Researchers at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) in collaboration with the Dexeus University Hospital have captured unparalleled images of a human embryo implanting.

18 Aug 2025

Leg movement variability provides reliable marker of dystonia in pediatric cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy affects around one in 345 children in the U.S., and more than half of them experience a problem called dystonia - involuntary and often painful muscle contractions, most commonly in the legs, that lead to abnormal movement and postures and make regular activities such as walking difficult.

14 Aug 2025

Plant-based protein blends can match whey for muscle recovery

Recent research reveals effective plant-based protein blends for muscle recovery, highlighting the need for higher doses to match whey's benefits.

12 Aug 2025

Heart cells adapt and stretch to shape a healthy beating heart

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have discovered that the heart's own contractions trigger biological signals that guide the formation of a functional beating heart.

6 Aug 2025

Doulas, once a luxury, are increasingly covered by Medicaid — even in GOP states

As a postpartum doula, Dawn Oliver does her best work in the middle of the night.

10 Jul 2025

Uncovering how a key inflammatory molecule causes esophageal smooth muscle contractions

A research group led by Dr. Keisuke Obara, Dr. Kento Yoshioka, and Professor Yoshio Tanaka from the Department of Chemical Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, has uncovered important details about how platelet-activating factor (PAF)-a powerful molecule involved in inflammation and allergic reactions-triggers contractions in the smooth muscles of the esophagus.

9 Jul 2025

Spaceflight research sheds light on age-related muscle decline

Sarcopenia, which is a progressive and extensive decline in muscle mass and strength, is common with aging and estimated to affect up to 50% of people aged 80 and older.

27 Jun 2025

Study reveals intercellular flow as crucial factor in tissue mechanics

Water makes up around 60 percent of the human body. More than half of this water sloshes around inside the cells that make up organs and tissues. Much of the remaining water flows in the nooks and crannies between cells, much like seawater between grains of sand.

21 Jun 2025

Breakthrough soft robotics could redefine artificial heart technology

The Hybrid Heart, a soft robotic total artificial heart, offers a breakthrough in treating end-stage heart failure with improved biocompatibility and function.

5 Jun 2025

Early heart ultrasound may predict birth complications in babies

An echocardiography of the baby's little heart soon after the onset of labour can predict the outcome of the birth and in particular whether the baby will adequately tolerate the contractions or will be more likely to go into distress, necessitating a caesarean section or an operative delivery.

5 Jun 2025