heat News and Research

RSS

Air humidity significantly increases physiological strain during sauna bathing

A newly published Finnish study demonstrates that, in addition to temperature, air humidity is a significant determinant of physiological strain during sauna bathing.

3 Aug 2026

Study reveals widening inequality in leisure-time physical activity

A ten-year study of residents of the city of São Paulo, Brazil, revealed that leisure-time physical activity is highly unequal and that the gap between social strata is widening.

30 Jul 2026

Low-fat diet lowers dietary glycation compounds for years in postmenopausal women

Researchers analyzing dietary data from 40,209 postmenopausal women found that a low-fat pattern emphasizing fruits, vegetables, and grains was associated with sustained reductions in estimated dietary advanced glycation end-product intake over approximately seven years. The findings suggest broad dietary changes may lower dAGE intake without specific cooking instructions, although the study did not measure biological AGE exposure or determine whether the reductions influenced breast cancer outcomes.

29 Jul 2026

Climate change shifts malaria risk across sub-Saharan Africa

Malaria is the deadliest climate-sensitive infectious disease. Yet, researchers and public health officials have long argued over how climate change has shaped its spread.

29 Jul 2026

Heatwave exposure associated with accelerated biological aging in middle-aged and older adults

As global climate change intensifies, heatwaves are becoming more frequent, longer, and more severe, emerging as an important environmental stressor for human health.

28 Jul 2026

Global database strengthens monitoring of coastal microbial health risks

A new global database brings together information on disease-causing microorganisms, antibiotic resistance genes, and virulence factors in coastal waters, giving researchers and public health professionals a practical tool for assessing biological risks in estuaries and other nearshore environments.

24 Jul 2026

Two microscopic parasites cause widespread diarrheal illness across America

You've seen the alarming headlines about parasites causing "explosive diarrhea" across the U.S. Two microscopic parasites – cyclospora cayetanensis and cryptosporidium – can both cause prolonged gastrointestinal illness, including watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, and dehydration.

24 Jul 2026

Two heart nerve cell types sustain cardiac stability in mice

Researchers identified two major intrinsic cardiac neuron populations in mice: Npy-positive neurons regulate parasympathetic heart rate control and support coronary perfusion, while Ddah1-positive neurons help maintain electrical stability during extreme stress. Removing Npy-positive neurons caused fatal cardiac failure, whereas loss of Ddah1-positive neurons increased susceptibility to malignant arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrest under stress.

23 Jul 2026

New imaging platform tracks hundreds of neurons at unprecedented depths

The brain is a vast, densely interconnected network of neurons computing in parallel. Watching these computations unfold in real time could reveal how the brain processes sensation and guides behavior.

23 Jul 2026

New photothermal therapy overcomes major cancer treatment barriers

In a promising development for cancer treatment, a collaborative research team has overcome two issues that have prevented photo thermal therapy, a much less invasive treatment option than surgery and/or radiation, from becoming more common.

22 Jul 2026

Corn-based foods linked to higher mycotoxin exposure in pregnancy

Consuming common foods such as corn chips and popcorn may put pregnant women at risk of being exposed to mycotoxins – harmful substances produced by mold – according to Rutgers researchers.

22 Jul 2026

Smarter hospital design could save $100 million in the long-term

A modeling study reveals that smarter hospital design can generate $100 million in long-term savings while fostering healthier healthcare environments.

20 Jul 2026

New study quantifies how future climate change threatens mental health

A new study has, for the first time in the world, quantitatively projected how climate change will affect mental health at a multi-country level.

14 Jul 2026

Study shows postoperative nerve blocks do not cause hyper-sensitization

Nerve blocks – local anesthetic injections that block pain signals – are a valuable opioid-sparing technique for controlling pain after surgery.

14 Jul 2026

Engineered ribozyme repairs broken RNA to explain origins of life

In most modern cells, DNA stores the genetic blueprint, and relies on proteins to replicate, repair and build from those blueprints.

13 Jul 2026

Gum disease bacteria linked to calcific aortic valve stenosis

Gum disease bacteria may spur calcium buildup in the heart's aortic valve, leading to a common and serious heart valve disease, according to preliminary, independent research presented at the American Heart Association's Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions 2026.

12 Jul 2026

New bionic skin wound dressing accelerates infected tissue healing

Dressings face a critical limitation: no single product has successfully integrated protective function, wearing comfort, and efficient antibacterial activity.

11 Jul 2026

Older adults face greater risk of mental health hospitalizations during extreme heatwaves

As the US recovers from its 4 July heatwave, a new study in Nature Health warns of an impending uptick in people attending hospitals for mental health and behavioral disorders, according to the first multi-country study of heatwave-related mental health hospitalization, led by Monash University in Australia.

10 Jul 2026

New study explains why some people are more sensitive to low-frequency noise

Some people are more sensitive to low-frequency noise, such as from ventilation systems, heat pumps, wind turbines and transformers. Why is that?

9 Jul 2026

New microparticles improve biofilm removal from wounds and surgical instruments

Newly developed microparticles can infiltrate stubborn bacterial matrices and release tiny oxygen bubbles to clean surfaces and wounds more efficiently than hydrogen peroxide or other cleaning agents alone, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign report.

9 Jul 2026