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Study examines the effectiveness of urine testing as a screening tool for alcohol use in pregnancy

Previous reports have indicated that between 20 and 60 per cent of pregnant women in Ireland consume alcohol during pregnancy.

18 Feb 2026

Study reveals poxvirus's unique DNA clamp for gene activation

A research team at the University of Würzburg has deciphered another aspect of poxviral gene activation.

18 Feb 2026

Scientists uncover nanoplastics in brain tissue and question their role in neurological disease

Emerging evidence suggests nanoplastics accumulate in human tissues including the brain and may contribute to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative disease pathways. However, causality, exposure routes, and long-term health effects remain uncertain and require coordinated research.

17 Feb 2026

Oxygen-delivering gel heals chronic wounds in mice

As aging populations and rising diabetes rates drive an increase in chronic wounds, more patients face the risk of amputations.

17 Feb 2026

Short-duration psychedelic therapy shows promise for major depression treatment

A phase IIa randomized trial found that intravenous dimethyltryptamine (DMT) with structured psychological support produced rapid reductions in depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder. Improvements were statistically significant versus placebo at two weeks, with mostly mild-to-moderate adverse events and the need for larger confirmatory studies emphasized.

17 Feb 2026

New gene editing approach offers hope for cystic fibrosis patients

UCLA researchers have developed a lipid nanoparticle-based gene-editing approach capable of inserting an entire healthy gene into human airway cells, restoring key biological function in a laboratory model of cystic fibrosis and establishing a potential new path toward mutation-agnostic gene therapy for inherited lung diseases.

17 Feb 2026

Study identifies distinctive feature of tissues from young patients with colorectal cancer

A study co-led by University of Texas at Dallas bioengineers identified a distinctive feature of tissues from young patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer, a disease that typically affects older patients.

17 Feb 2026

AI tool can accurately predict colorectal cancer risk in UC-LGD patients

People with ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, are up to four times more likely to develop colorectal cancer than the general population.

17 Feb 2026

JAX-NYSCF collaborates with GSK to advance human cellular models of neurodegenerative disease

The Jackson Laboratory–New York Stem Cell Foundation Collaborative (JAX-NYSCF) today announced a five-year strategic research collaboration with GSK focused on advancing human cellular models of neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer's disease.

17 Feb 2026

A yeast-derived genetic tool offers hope for mitochondrial disorders and cancer

Nucleotide synthesis-the production of the basic components of DNA and RNA-is essential for cell growth and division.

17 Feb 2026

From liquid handling to sample storage

PulpFixin®, a materials science company focused on replacing single-use plastics in life science laboratories, will debut a slate of new automation-ready, compostable lab products at the 2026 SLAS International Conference and Exhibition in Boston, expanding its footprint across liquid handling, sample identification and cold storage workflows.

From PulpFixin 17 Feb 2026

Sleep loss triggers brain fluid pulses that impair attention, study finds

Sleep deprivation causes attentional lapses that coincide with coordinated changes in brain activity, pupil diameter, blood flow, and cerebrospinal fluid dynamics. These findings suggest attention failures reflect a transient brain–body state linked to sleep pressure rather than isolated neural errors.

16 Feb 2026

Infant bifidobacteria may protect against childhood allergies

Certain gut bacteria in infants may reduce the risk of developing allergies later in childhood. This is the finding of new research from the ALADDIN study at Karolinska Institutet, published in Nature Microbiology.

16 Feb 2026

Senescent astrocytes identified as key drivers of Alzheimer's progression

Researchers from the NeuroAD group (Neuropathology of Alzheimer's Disease) within the Department of Cell Biology, Genetics and Physiology at the University of Málaga, also affiliated with IBIMA-BIONAND Platform and CIBERNED, have made a pioneering breakthrough in the fight against this disease by identifying astrocytes as a promising cellular target for the development of future therapies.

16 Feb 2026

Synergistic drug pair shows promise for spinal cord injury recovery

Spinal cord injury remains one of the most challenging neurological conditions to treat, largely because damage continues to worsen long after the initial trauma.

16 Feb 2026

Protrusion-derived extracellular vesicles boost functional cargo transfer

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny membrane-bound particles released by cells to transport proteins and other molecules to neighboring cells. Because of this natural delivery ability, EVs have attracted growing interest as potential vehicles for therapeutic protein and genome-editing enzyme delivery.

13 Feb 2026

Whole-heart mapping captures arrhythmias in a single heartbeat

The UPV and Corify Care present the first whole-heart mapping technology that provides a comprehensive view of cardiac arrhythmias in a single heartbeat.

13 Feb 2026

Novel antibody 007 targets the elusive HIV envelope epitope

HIV-1 can be neutralized by antibodies which bind to vulnerable structures on the virus surface. One such vulnerable site is the so-called V3 glycan site of the viral envelope protein.

13 Feb 2026

Thermodynamic insights into histamine H1 receptor ligand binding

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are one of the largest families of cell surface proteins in the human body that recognize hormones, neurotransmitters, and drugs.

13 Feb 2026

Hamilton Storage completes full transition to green refrigerants across automated portfolio

As laboratories face mounting pressure to cut energy use, reduce emissions, and prepare for tightening global refrigerant regulations, Hamilton Storage, a leader in automated cold storage and sample management, today announced that all of its automated storage systems are now available with 100 % natural, green refrigerants.

12 Feb 2026