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Prickly pear may pack a surprising punch against metabolic syndrome

This narrative review examines how Opuntia ficus-indica fruit, or prickly pear, may help target multiple features of metabolic syndrome through its fiber, betalains, polyphenols, carotenoids, and other bioactive compounds. The authors conclude that the fruit shows promising mechanistic and preclinical potential, but stronger human trials are still needed before firm clinical claims can be made.

6 Apr 2026

Preconception pesticide exposure linked to poorer newborn health outcomes

Women exposed to agricultural pesticides, even before becoming pregnant, may be putting their newborn's health at risk.

13 Mar 2026

NUS scientists transform kombu into a probiotic superfood with fruity aromas

Kombu (Saccharina japonica) is a brown seaweed extensively cultivated and consumed in Japan, Korea and China. Despite its nutritional value, its strong fishy and grassy odor can deter some consumers.

23 Feb 2026

The long and short of it: Human penis size evolved for both attraction and rivalry, study suggests

This experimental study used life-sized and screen-based 3D male avatars to test how penis size, height, and body shape influence female mate choice and male assessments of rivals. The findings show non-linear female preferences for size and demonstrate that penis size functions as a modest but significant cue in male perceptions of fighting ability, alongside stronger traits such as height and torso shape.

25 Jan 2026

Excessive amounts of visceral fat tied to faster heart aging

Excessive amounts of visceral fat - the hidden fat surrounding organs - is linked with faster aging of the heart, a new study has found.

22 Aug 2025

Probiotics remain potent in simple plant-based drinks

Non-encapsulated probiotics thrive in fruit and vegetable juices, maintaining viability and sensory appeal, paving the way for innovative functional beverages.

24 Jun 2025

Yale rewrites genetic code for new proteins

Synthetic biologists from Yale were able to re-write the genetic code of an organism - a novel genomically recoded organism (GRO) with one stop codon - using a cellular platform that they developed enabling the production of new classes of synthetic proteins. These synthetic proteins, researchers say, offer the promise of innumerable medical and industrial applications that can benefit society and human health.

11 Feb 2025

Chickpea germination offers insights into protein breakdown and nutrients

It's well known that sprouting seeds increases their nutritional value. Researchers led by Professor Denis Shields from University College Dublin in partnership with the health food company, The Happy Pear have uncovered some surprising facts about how the sprouting process varies over time and strain of seed.

28 Jan 2025

Study challenges long-standing understanding of axon structure

Biology textbooks may need a revision, say Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists, who present new evidence that an armlike structure of mammalian brain cells may be a different shape than scientists have assumed for more than a century.

2 Dec 2024

Study highlights life-saving impact of "red flag laws"

An estimated one life was saved for every 17 times an extreme risk protection order removed guns from people who presented a risk of harming themselves or others, according to a Duke Health-led analysis of the laws in four states.

20 Aug 2024

Accurate adiposity measurements key to tackling obesity-related diseases, study finds

Accurate adiposity assessment is critical for understanding obesity-related disease risks, but current clinical measurement methods have significant limitations.

16 Jul 2024

One in eight adults like intensely sour sensations, study reveals

For most people, biting into a lemon would leave them puckered up and desperate to lose that sour flavor, but a new study by Penn State researchers revealed that roughly one in eight adults like intensely sour sensations.

29 Apr 2024

Smell relies more on predictions than sight or hearing

The sense of smell is highly influenced by the cues from other senses, while the sense of sight and hearing are affected to a much lesser extent, shows a new study in Journal of Neuroscience.

5 Apr 2024

‘They see a cash cow’: Corporations could consume $50 billion of opioid settlements

The marketing pitches are bold and arriving fast: Invest opioid settlement dollars in a lasso-like device to help police detain people without Tasers or pepper spray.

18 Dec 2023

New prediction model estimates risk of opioid relapse early in treatment

A newly developed prediction model may be able to calculate the risk of opioid relapse among individuals in the early stages of medication treatment - as early as three weeks into therapy.

3 Nov 2023

American Heart Association awards cash grants to social entrepreneurs to address health inequities

Approximately 50 million people in the United States are at higher risk for heart disease and/or stroke because they lack the most basic needs - healthy food, clean air and drinking water, quality education, employment, housing and access to health care.

27 Oct 2023