Nitrous Oxide News and Research

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Hemp brands exploit social media to market intoxicating products to youth

Brands that market hemp-derived, intoxicating cannabinoid products are capitalizing on lack of oversight on social media platforms to reach consumers, according to Rutgers Health researchers.

19 Aug 2026

UCL study reveals environmental cost of dental nitrous oxide use

Nitrous oxide used for sedating patients during dental appointments has a significant environmental impact, with wide variation in use and wastage across the UK, according to a new study by UCL (University College London) researchers.

27 Feb 2026

Laughing gas shows fast antidepressant effects in early clinical trials

A systematic review and meta-analysis in eBioMedicine shows that nitrous oxide can rapidly reduce depressive symptoms within hours, particularly at higher doses, but effects are short-lived after single treatments. Repeated dosing appears to extend and strengthen antidepressant benefits, although the current evidence is based on small, early-phase trials with limited long-term safety data.

8 Dec 2025

Short-term nitrous oxide treatment could benefit patients with major depressive disorder

Patients with major depressive disorder, including those who have not responded to first-line antidepressants, may benefit from short-term nitrous oxide treatment, a major meta-analysis led by the University of Birmingham has found.

1 Dec 2025

Major cancer prevention report on dietary and lifestyle patterns released today

World Cancer Research Fund International has released a major new report on Dietary and Lifestyle Patterns (DLPs) and their role in cancer prevention, which is out today (2 April 2025).

7 Apr 2025

Laughing gas can potentially transform treatment for tough-to-beat depression

Nitrous oxide-better known as "laughing gas"-can potentially transform treatment for tough-to-beat depression.

3 Apr 2025

Misuse of nitrous oxide linked to rising deaths and hospitalizations

Despite a recent Food and Drug Administration warning against inhaling nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, deaths due to misusing the substance are on the rise in the United States.

2 Apr 2025

Environmental factors play key role in cognitive decline and dementia risk

A new study from the University of Georgia College of Public Health focuses on the powerful role our surroundings play in shaping dementia risk. Led by Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management Suhang Song, this meta-analysis demonstrates that factors including air pollution and access to green or blue spaces can significantly raise or lower the odds of cognitive decline and developing dementia.

7 Mar 2025

Soil pH and toxicity influence microbial community composition in new study

Though a founding concept of ecology suggests that the physical environment determines where organisms can survive, modern scientists have suspected there is more to the story of how microbial communities form in the soil.

13 Sep 2024

Switching to a planet-friendly diet could slash global emissions by 17%

Researchers investigate the global distribution of dietary greenhouse gas emissions across 139 countries using household expenditure data.

21 Aug 2024

Psilocybin reconfigures brain networks, showing potential for lasting therapeutic effects

Researchers found that high-dose psilocybin significantly disrupts brain functional connectivity, particularly in the default mode network, with lasting effects linked to therapeutic benefits.

18 Jul 2024

Burning ammonia for maritime fuel could lead to devastating public health impacts

As container ships the size of city blocks cross the oceans to deliver cargo, their huge diesel engines emit large quantities of air pollutants that drive climate change and have human health impacts.

11 Jul 2024

Good news for Valentine’s Day: Dark chocolate and champagne may improve heart health

It’s news you’ll love for Valentine’s Day: a leading health expert says the dark chocolates and bubbly you bought your sweetheart may also improve their heart health.

13 Feb 2024

UQ researchers launch the world's biggest drug survey

Researchers from The University of Queensland have launched the world's biggest drug survey, to gain insight into drug use around the globe.

9 Jan 2024

Naked clams – tomorrow's answer for a more sustainable food source?

Researchers evaluated teredinids as a potentially nutritious and sustainable future food source.

23 Nov 2023

Kiwi cafés sizzle with success on meat-free mondays, cooking up environmental change

Study explores the implementation and support of Meat-Free Mondays in New Zealand's hospital cafés, finding strong participation and environmental concerns as key drivers while identifying knowledge gaps and taste preferences as main barriers to its success.

20 Nov 2023

Practical tips for making healthcare systems more sustainable

Cutting nitrous oxide waste in hospitals, switching to reusable vaginal speculums for cervical screening, and prescribing tablets over intravenous drugs are just some of the tangible actions doctors can take to reduce the carbon footprint of healthcare.

6 Nov 2023

Largest clinical case series of laughing gas users finds a predominance of young Asian men

The largest clinical case series to date of recreational users of nitrous oxide, popularly known as laughing gas, has found a predominance of young men of Asian ethnicity among those with neurological side effects who were seen at hospitals in 3 major cities in England.

30 May 2023

Climate change linked to changes in gut microbiota and aging process

Research paper explores the relationship between aging, gut microbiota, and climate change. It discusses how climate change can affect the composition of gut microbiota, which in turn can impact the aging process.

26 Apr 2023

Clinical practice guidelines to aid in diagnosis, treatment of spinal cord damage caused by nitrous oxide abuse

Recommendations from research published today on the diagnosis and treatment of spinal cord damage caused by nitrous oxide abuse have been simultaneously adopted as official clinical practice guidelines by the Association of British Neurologists.

23 Feb 2023