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 UK study confirms success of HPV immunization program
The NHS launched human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization program to prevent cervical cancer in England 13 years ago. Now, thanks to a study funded by Cancer Research UK, there is solid proof that this vaccination program has stopped thousands of women from experiencing pre-cancerous changes to Read More...
Study: Traditional Samoan plant works as a natural form of ibuprofen
A team of scientists has found that the leaves of the Samoan tree, matalafi, are as effective at relieving inflammation as over-the-counter ibuprofen. The small rainforest shrub, Psychotria insularum, is native to South Pacific regions. For generations, Samoan communities have used matalafi leaves Read More...
Rare genetic variant explains pain-free childbirth in some women
Childbirth is the most painful experience of many women’s lives, but for a select few, the process is far less unpleasant. Researchers from the University of Cambridge have found that a small proportion of women with a rare genetic variant have a higher threshold for pain during Read More...
New invention slashes time in diagnosing antibiotic resistance
Thanks to the overuse of antibiotics and the intelligence of microorganism evolution, antibiotic-resistant pathogens are on the rise. According to the CDC, over 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections arise annually in the US. The cost of this problem is estimated to be around $4.6 billion per Read More...
Benin becomes the first West African country to legalize abortion
On October 20, after a long and grueling parliamentary session, Benin became the first West African country to legally provide access to safe abortion. Before, abortion was only permitted if the pregnancy endangered the life of the pregnant woman, was the result of rape, or was conceived in an Read More...
New online tool aims to improve early breast cancer detection for Black women
In America, Black women are more likely to have breast cancer and at early ages, but despite this increased risk, there is a critical gap in early detection rates between Black women and their white counterparts. To address this disparity, researchers from Boston University and Tufts University Read More...
US government funds psychedelic therapy research for the first time in 50 years
Fifty years after being classified as a Schedule I drug in the US, psychedelic therapy has officially received federal funding from the government in what researchers see as a huge shift in the medical and public perception of the benefits of psychedelics. Using psychedelics to help treat tobacco Read More...
Implanted electrodes could offer improved vision for 148 million blind people
Berna Gómez is a former teacher who has been blind for 16 years. She recently regained enough vision to see letters and objects thanks to the successful implantation of a microelectrode array into her visual cortex. Implanting electrodes into the visual cortex has long been a dream of Read More...
Newly discovered properties of cannabis could help prevent seizures
Cannabis has been used to battle against disease throughout history, with the component cannabidiol (CBD) becoming an accepted treatment for many disorders including epilepsy, anxiety, and more. However, cannabis contains many other cannabinoids which have not yet been thoroughly researched for Read More...
Benefits of the contraceptive pill include diabetes prevention
A study carried out at the University of Birmingham has found that contraceptive pills may offer more than just their primary role as birth control. It was found that for people with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the pill reduced their chance of diabetes by a quarter. Around 10 percent of Read More...