Medicine
From advancements in the fight against malaria to new cancer treatments, to novel medical technologies, find all positive news about incredible medical breakthroughs and life-saving technology from all corners of the globe.
New treatment helps type 1 diabetes patient produce insulin without immunosuppressants
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For the first time, a person with type 1 diabetes started producing their own insulin again after receiving a transplant of genetically edited pancreatic islet cells without the aid of immunosuppressant drugs. The proof-of-concept procedure could one day Read More...
Tiny robots offer lasting relief for tooth sensitivity, scientists say
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Tooth sensitivity may feel like a minor nuisance. That is, until your morning coffee or scoop of ice cream sends a shock straight through your jaw. But scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have unveiled a novel, long-lasting solution that Read More...
Scientists develop BCI tech to decode inner speech—with a brain-powered privacy password
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Imagine being able to speak with your loved ones using nothing but your thoughts. Thanks to a new development from Stanford University, that futuristic idea is inching closer to reality, with the addition of a clever twist to protect your mental Read More...
UK launches world’s first gonorrhoea vaccine rollout amid record infection rates
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a world-first public health move, gonorrhoea vaccines are now available in sexual health clinics across the UK. The program, launched on Monday, August 4th, aims to curb record-breaking infection rates and slow the rise of antibiotic-resistant Read More...
Could flossing be the future of flu shots?
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Flossing just got a serious glow-up. In a development that might finally make your dentist proud, scientists have created a needle-free vaccine that works by delivering inactive viruses directly into the gumline using dental floss. Yes, dental Read More...
First hormone-free male birth control pill shown safe in early trial
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For decades, the burden of birth control has largely fallen on women. Pills, implants, IUDs, injections; the options are many, but they all target the female reproductive system. Meanwhile, male contraceptives have remained stuck in the basics: condoms or Read More...
Just looking at someone sick may prime your immune system, study finds
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM We’ve all instinctively recoiled from the person sneezing on a train or the child with a chickenpox rash at the playground. But what if your immune system is reacting too, before you ever come into physical contact with a virus? A new study published in Read More...
A microscopic upgrade with massive potential: scientists block malaria with a single gene edit
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Fighting malaria has always been a game of adaptation. As mosquitoes evolve resistance to insecticides and Plasmodium parasites dodge existing drugs, scientists have been racing to find smarter solutions. Now, a team from the University of California, San Read More...
Canine cancer research is helping both pets and people live longer, healthier lives
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In the wake of a 2023 chemical train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, residents were exposed to cancer-linked toxins. But as doctors monitor the long-term effects on humans, researchers are also turning their attention to another group: the town's dogs. Read More...
New techniques preserve donor hearts after death—and could reshape transplant medicine
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In January 2020, surgeons at NYU Langone Health performed a groundbreaking procedure that restarted a donor’s heart after it had stopped beating. The heart was then transplanted into a patient in need. While effective, the method sparked significant ethical Read More...