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New smartphone patch accurately measures heart health without electronics

The patch is the first of its kind in the world and can assess a patient’s heart condition when combined with an ordinary smartphone.

29 Oct 2026

Limited app use adds a twist to a nurse-led dementia risk trial

A cluster-randomized trial involving 403 Australian adults aged 45–65 found that a 12-month nurse-led behavioral intervention supported by a mobile app modestly improved estimated dementia risk scores compared with brief counseling and usual care. The study found no significant improvements in cognitive performance or other secondary outcomes, leaving its long-term effects on dementia prevention uncertain.

28 Oct 2026

New portable device enables fast and accurate detection of PFAS in water

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals known for their exceptional resistance to degradation, earning them the nickname "forever chemicals."

28 Oct 2026

Your screen time may not tell the whole story about neck health

A study links problematic smartphone use to neck posture changes and disability in young women, highlighting the need for further research on this issue.

27 Oct 2026

Electronic implant lowers blood glucose and reduces weight in mice

Type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly common worldwide. Unlike type 1 diabetes, it is often linked to obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and excess energy intake over many years.

23 Oct 2026

Increased risk-taking behavior precedes higher alcohol consumption, study finds

A novel study has found that increases in risk-taking behavior in people with mild to moderate alcohol use disorder (AUD) precede increases in alcohol consumption, not vice versa.

19 Oct 2026

Voice frequency patterns reveal clues linked to type 2 diabetes

A new research study in theIEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics reveals how scientists at Klick Labs created visual maps of sound frequencies (spectrograms) to identify complex, new patterns associated with Type 2 diabetes, using only smartphone recordings of randomly selected short English sentences and participant sex as study criteria.

19 Oct 2026

Postoperative monitoring apps reduce emergency visits and complications

Mobile app-based monitoring may help address the vulnerable days and weeks after surgery when recovery shifts from the hospital to home with little direct supervision.

19 Oct 2026

Highly sensitive people react to social cues over physical environments

Environmental sensitivity may be a misleading name for a personality trait that appears to have less to do with how people respond to their physical environments and more to do with how they are affected by social experiences and perceived threats.

15 Oct 2026

AI detects daily stress by analyzing routine smartphone behaviors

Clues to stress can be hidden in everyday habits such as chatting, searching, and making payments on a smartphone.

14 Oct 2026

New study set to examine how internal body signals impact mental health

Psychologists at the University of Surrey are inviting volunteers to take part in a unique new study examining how the brain processes bodily signals, like heartbeats or hunger (interoception), and whether it is connected to a person's mental health over time.

12 Oct 2026

Extreme heat threatens maternal health and newborn wellbeing worldwide

Extreme heat has led to a marked increase in the risks faced by pregnant women and their babies, according to a survey of 1,000 healthcare professionals in countries including Brazil, India and Zimbabwe.

11 Oct 2026

Portable paper device rapidly detects scopolamine in beverages

Isabel Poves, researcher at the University of the Basque Country-EHU, has developed a microfluidic paper-based device that provides a rapid, reliable and easy way to detect scopolamine and related compounds.

1 Oct 2026

New fluorescent paper strips make vitamin B12 testing simpler

Measuring vitamin B12 in food usually means bringing the sample to the laboratory. A new fluorescent sensor could help move part of that process onto something much simpler: a paper strip or cotton swab.

1 Oct 2026

Oxford study identifies top technology priorities for respiratory care

Inhalers that show when they are running out. Oxygen equipment light enough to take out of the house. Help telling whether breathlessness is anxiety or the start of a flare-up.

1 Oct 2026

Smartphone retinal imaging could expand global eye care screening

Smartphones could play an important role in the early detection of eye diseases, including in settings where specialized ophthalmic infrastructure is limited.

30 Sep 2026

Owning a smartphone at 12 linked to eating disorder symptoms

Early smartphone use is linked to a rise in eating disorder symptoms among adolescents, indicating potential mental health implications that require attention.

30 Sep 2026

What older adults do on screens may matter more than total screen time

Across 8,996 older adults in four cohorts, television viewing was associated with poorer global cognition, while computer use was associated with better cognitive performance, with the strongest positive associations at low-to-moderate levels of use. Mendelian randomization supported these opposing patterns and linked genetically predicted television viewing time to lower left insula volume, which accounted for an estimated 14.8% of its association with poorer cognitive performance.

29 Sep 2026

Smart vapes with financial rewards may raise addiction risks

Vaping products are becoming smarter – and potentially more addictive. Some new devices now reward users with cryptocurrency and other incentives tied to vaping behavior.

28 Sep 2026

Virtual reality and music may help lower blood pressure during emergencies

A virtual reality landscape of a flowing river and trees, accompanied by classical music, can help to reduce patients' blood pressure significantly within 15 minutes of their being seen in an emergency department.

25 Sep 2026