Toxin sponges may protect poisonous frogs and birds from their own poisons, study suggests. eurekalert.org. August 05, 2021. A team of researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Stanford University, and the California Academy of Sciences (CAS) has uncovered new clues as to how poisonous frogs and birds avoid intoxicating themselves. Their study, […]

Study shows common insecticide is harmful in any amount. eurekalert.org. August 02, 2021. For the average bee, every little bit counts.A new UC Riverside study shows that a type of insecticide made for commercial plant nurseries is harmful to a typical bee even when applied well below the label rate. An alfalfa leafcutter bee, the […]

Is global plastic pollution nearing an irreversible tipping point? .eurekalert.org. July 01, 2021. Common press release: Stockholm University, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research. Catching a big blue barrel floating on the ocean surface in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch from the German […]

Rodenticides in the environment pose threats to birds of prey. eurekalert.org. March 23, 2021.Over the past decades, the increased use of chemicals in many areas led to environmental pollution – of water, soil and also wildlife. In addition to plant protection substances and human and veterinary medical drugs, rodenticides have had toxic effects on wildlife. […]

Evidence of 55 new chemicals in people. sciencedaily.com. March 17, 2021. Summary: Scientists have detected 109 chemicals in a study of pregnant women, including 55 chemicals never before reported in people and 42 ‘mystery chemicals,’ whose sources and uses are unknown. Scientists at UC San Francisco have detected 109 chemicals in a study of pregnant […]

New study describes the evolutionary tale of poisonous butterflies. Reviewed by Emily Henderson. news-medical.net.Feb 8 2021. The Atala butterfly (Eumaeus atala) and its five closest relatives in the genus Eumaeus like to display their toxicity. This sextet’s toxicity comes from what they eat as caterpillars: plants called cycads that have been around since before dinosaurs […]

Increase in pleasurable effects of alcohol over time can predict alcohol use disorder. sciencedaily.com. January 05, 2021. New research challenges existing dogma that higher tolerance for stimulating and rewarding effects of alcohol leads to addiction. Summary: A new study following young adult drinkers for 10 years has found that individuals who reported the highest sensitivity […]

Older adults using cannabis to treat common health conditions. sciencedaily.com. October 07, 2020. Data indicates 61 percent of patients who used cannabis began after age 60. Summary: Researchers report that older adults are increasingly using cannabis to treat a variety of common health conditions, including pain, sleep disturbances and psychiatric conditions like anxiety and depression. […]

Oleandrin is a deadly plant poison, not a COVID-19 cure. By Lynne Anderson. theconversation.com. August 18, 2020.With COVID-19 cases and deaths rising in the U.S. and globally, identifying new therapies to prevent and combat the virus is a top priority. Natural products from plants are an attractive option in the search for a cure. Approximately […]

Micro- and nanoplastics detectable in human tissues. sciencedaily.com. August 17, 2020. Summary: Plastic pollution is a global problem. Even when plastic bags or water bottles break down, tiny fragments can still contaminate the environment. Animals and humans can ingest the particles, with uncertain health consequences. Now, scientists report that they are among the first to […]

Decline in US bird biodiversity related to neonicotinoids, study shows. sciencedaily.com. August 14, 2020. Summary: Bird biodiversity is rapidly declining in the US. The overall bird population decreased by 29% since 1970, while grassland birds declined by an alarming 53%. A new study points to increased use of neonicotinoid insecticides as a major factor in […]

No improvement in death rate for COVID-19 patients who received hydroxychloroquine. eurekalert.org. May 22, 2020. In an observational analysis of almost 100,000 hospitalized COVID-19 patients of whom nearly 15,000 received hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, patients had worse outcomes and heightened risk of ventricular arrythmias. A research team led by investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital has […]

Binge drinkers beware, Drunkorexia is calling. sciencedaily.com. May 15, 2020. Around 1 in 3 female students report saving calories for binge drinking episodes. Summary: Mojito, appletini or a simple glass of fizz — they may take the edge off a busy day, but if you find yourself bingeing on more than a few, you could […]

Vitamin D levels appear to play role in COVID-19 mortality rates.  sciencedaily.com. May 7, 2020. Patients with severe deficiency are twice as likely to experience major complications. Summary: Researchers analyzed patient data from 10 countries. The team found a correlation between low vitamin D levels and hyperactive immune systems. Vitamin D strengths innate immunity and […]

Corona and air pollution: How does nitrogen dioxide impact fatalities? eurekalert.org. 20/04/2020. Elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide in the air may be associated with a high number of deaths from Covid-19. A new study by Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) provides concrete data that back this assumption for the first time. The paper combines satellite […]

Higher levels of coronavirus ‘entry point’ enzyme in lungs of COPD patients and smokers. eurekalert.org.  April 08, 2020. Risk of severe COVID-19 could be increased. People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and people who currently smoke may have higher levels of a molecule, called angiotensin converting enzyme II (ACE-2), in their lungs according to […]

Chemicals used to replace BPA may lead to increased blood pressure. sciencedaily.com. March 30, 2020. Summary: Common bisphenol A (BPA) substitutes can affect the developing fetus and cause hypertension in later life, suggests a rodent study. Common bisphenol A (BPA) substitutes can affect the developing fetus and cause hypertension in later life, suggests a rodent […]

Patients at risk of drug-induced sudden cardiac death in COVID-19. sciencedaily.com. March 25, 2020. Summary: SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, continues to spread, leading to more than 20,000 deaths worldwide in less than four months. Efforts are progressing to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, but it’s still likely 12 to 18 months away. SARS-CoV-2, the […]

Which of these mushrooms could kill you? (video). eurekalert.org. Dec. 27, 2019. There are tens of thousands of mushroom species out there, and some of them could kill you. Today we’re going to test how well you can separate the perfectly safe from the perilously poisonous, and we’ll dive into the chemistry behind what makes […]

How too much fluoride causes defects in tooth enamel. sciencedaily.com. February 18, 2020. Changes within enamel cells point to mechanism by which excessive fluoride leads to fluorosis. Summary: Exposing teeth to excessive fluoride alters calcium signaling, mitochondrial function, and gene expression in the cells forming tooth enamel — a novel explanation for how dental fluorosis, […]

Exposure to cleaning products in first 3 months of life increases risk of childhood asthma. sciencedaily.com.  February 18, 2020. Summary: New research shows that frequent exposure to common household cleaning products can increase a child’s risk of developing asthma. New research from the CHILD Cohort Study shows that frequent exposure to common household cleaning products […]

Never too late to quit: Protective cells could cut risk of lung cancer for ex-smokers. sciencedaily.com. January 29, 2020. Summary: Protective cells in the lungs of ex-smokers could explain why quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing lung cancer. Scientists have discovered that compared to current smokers, people who had stopped smoking had more genetically […]

Using fungi to search for medical drugs. sciencedaily.com. November 26, 2019. Summary: An enormous library of products derived from more than 10,000 fungi could help us find new drugs. Researchers have set up this library and screened it for biologically active compounds. The researchers identified various known compounds, among which the cholesterol lowering drug lovastatin. […]

Climate tipping points — too risky to bet against. The growing threat of abrupt and irreversible climate changes must compel political and economic action on emissions. Timothy M. Lenton, Johan Rockström, Owen Gaffney, Stefan Rahmstorf, Katherine Richardson, Will Steffen & Hans Joachim Schellnhuber. nature.com. November 27, 2019. Politicians, economists and even some natural scientists have […]