Head to toe: Study reveals brain activity behind missed penalty kicks

Are penalty shots a soccer player's dream or nightmare? What should be an easy shot can become a mammoth task when the hopes and fears of an entire nation rest on a player's shoulders, leading them to choke under pressure. Understanding the brain activity behind choking is the driving force behind a new study in open-access journal Frontiers in Computer Science. The study is the first to measure brain activity during penalty shots in a soccer pitch environment. It finds that people who choked activated areas of the brain involved in long-term thinking, suggesting that they were overthinking the consequences of missing the shot.

New research finds rise of frequent cannabis vaping among US high school seniors

Frequent cannabis vaping, defined as vaping at least 10 times a month, more than doubled among high school seniors in the United States between 2018 and 2019, according to new research from NYU Grossman School of Medicine published online May 4 in the Journal of Adolescent Health. The rise in frequent use was even greater in certain subgroups such as students 18 years or older, female students, and those who reported using other drugs within the past year.

Supporting mums' mental health strengthens their 'protective' playmate role with children

Helping parents with depression or anxiety could also improve their ability to engage in potentially 'protective' forms of play with their children, which can reduce the risk of behavioral problems, new research suggests.

How we created the 'perfect storm' for pandemics

The way that many of us live has created the "perfect storm" for the evolution and transmission of infectious diseases like COVID-19 according to a researcher at the University of East Anglia.

Thin and brittle bones strongly linked to women's heart disease risk

Thin and brittle bones are strongly linked to women's heart disease risk, with thinning of the lower (lumbar) spine, top of the thigh bone (femoral neck), and hip especially predictive of a heightened heart attack and stroke risk, suggests research in the journal Heart.

Sugar-sweetened drinks linked to increased risk of colorectal cancer in women under 50

Colorectal cancer diagnoses have increased among people under age 50 in recent years and researchers are seeking reasons why. A new study led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has found a link between drinking sugar-sweetened beverages and an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer in women under age 50. The findings suggest that heavy consumption of sugary drinks during adolescence (ages 13 to 18) and adulthood can increase the disease risk.

EU ready to 'discuss' COVID vaccine patent waivers

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday that Brussels was ready discuss a US-backed proposal to waive patents on COVID-19 vaccines.

Positive data for Moderna booster against COVID variants

US biotech firm Moderna on Wednesday announced initial data from a small clinical trial that showed its booster shots improved people's immune responses against key coronavirus variants of concern.

Pharma federation IFPMA says US support for patent waiver 'disappointing'

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations expressed disappointment Wednesday at the United States' decision to support a global waiver on patent protections for Covid-19 vaccines.

India sees record COVID-19 deaths, new cases in 24 hours

India saw record new jumps in COVID-19 cases and deaths on Thursday, dashing tentative hopes that a catastrophic recent surge that has stretched hospitals to the limit might be easing.

Pandemic pushes Air France-KLM deep into red in Q1

Air France-KLM posted on Thursday huge first-quarter losses and warned that the situation would not improve much in the next few months as global travel restrictions persist due to the pandemic.

Volkswagen profits rise but chip shortage impact not over

German carmaker Volkswagen reported a jump in first quarter profits Thursday but warned that a global shortage of semiconductors that has hurt production would have a "more significant impact" in the coming months.

Sydney hunts source of COVID outbreak, New Zealand suspends travel bubble

Sydney health authorities were on Thursday hunting the source of their first local COVID-19 cases in more than a month, as New Zealand paused a quarantine-free travel bubble with the city.

New method identifies tau aggregates occurring in healthy body structures

It turns out that not all build-ups of tau protein are bad, and a team of researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania developed a method to show that. Using mammalian cell models, the researchers combined extremely high-resolution microscopy with machine learning to show that tau actually forms small aggregates when a part of the body's normal physiology. Through this, they could distinguish between the aggregates occurring under healthy conditions from the ones associated with neurological diseases, potentially opening the door to screening for treatments that might break apart harmful aggregates. This research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Breathing problems are the second most common symptom of heart attacks

One in four heart attack patients have atypical symptoms such as breathing difficulties, extreme exhaustion, and abdominal pain, according to a study published today in European Heart Journal—Acute Cardiovascular Care, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Patients with atypical symptoms were less likely to receive emergency help and more likely to die within 30 days compared to those with chest pain.

Earswitch to allow people with MND to communicate again using hidden, tiny ear muscle

A revolutionary assistive technology being developed by GP Dr. Nick Gompertz with a team of researchers at the University of Bath hopes to offer people with conditions such as Motor Neurone Disease (MND) new ways of communicating via a computer.

Ice core chemistry study expands insight into sea ice variability in Southern Hemisphere

Sea ice cover in the Southern Hemisphere is extremely variable, from summer to winter and from millennium to millennium, according to a University of Maine-led study. Overall, sea ice has been on the rise for about 10,000 years, but with some exceptions to this trend.

Researchers find possible novel migraine therapy

By discovering a potential new cellular mechanism for migraines, researchers may have also found a new way to treat chronic migraine.

New mutation raises risk for AFib, heart failure for people of color

A new mutation found in a gene associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation poses a significantly increased risk for heart failure in Black people.

340B hospitals offer more assistance removing barriers to medication access

According to a new study published in the journal Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, hospitals that participate in the 340B Drug Pricing Program provide more medication access services—which are services that help remove barriers to accessing necessary medications—than comparably sized non-340B hospitals.

NPS student invents, patents durable uniform nametags

Using his own time and resources, Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Space Systems Engineering student Lt. Mitchell Kempisty ventured into unchartered waters to bring an invention of his making through the patent process, an invention which he hopes will improve Navy uniform fabric nametag durability.

Countries denied access to medicines and vaccines they help develop

A Yale-led study reveals that new medicines and vaccines approved for use in the United States are often unavailable in countries that hosted their clinical trials, suggesting that the benefits of drug research are not being shared equitably among populations that participate in testing.

Open source tool can help identify gerrymandering in voting maps

With state legislatures nationwide preparing for the once-a-decade redrawing of voting districts, a research team has developed a better computational method to help identify improper gerrymandering designed to favor specific candidates or political parties.

We need to build more EV fast-charging stations, researchers say

A team of engineers recommends expanding fast-charging stations for electric vehicles as campuses and businesses start planning for a post-pandemic world.

First member of ill-fated 1845 Franklin expedition is identified by DNA analysis

The identity of the skeletal remains of a member of the 1845 Franklin expedition has been confirmed using DNA and genealogical analyses by a team of researchers from the University of Waterloo, Lakehead University, and Trent University. This is the first member of the ill-fated expedition to be positively identified through DNA.

First nation-wide data shows 2 doses of Pfizer vaccine highly effective against COVID infection, hospitalization, death

Two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine provide more than 95% protection against infection, hospitalisation, severe illness, and death, including among the elderly, according to the first national-level observational assessment of its effectiveness in Israel, published in The Lancet.

Achieving high COVID-19 vaccine coverage levels by summer can prevent millions of cases

With around 30 percent of the U.S. population now fully vaccinated, the rate of daily vaccinations has started to slow, raising concerns that greater efforts and investments may be needed to reach higher coverage levels. A study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases on May 6 shows the lives, hospitalizations, and costs that can be saved by even relatively small increases in vaccination coverage and reaching higher vaccination coverage levels sooner (e.g., by the end of the summer versus fall/winter).

Many consumers misinterpret food date labels, yet use them with confidence

Misunderstanding food date labeling is common and educational communications are needed to improve consumer understanding, according to a new study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.