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Medicine & Health

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 31-May-2026 22:15 ET (1-Jun-2026 02:15 GMT/UTC)

Sometimes less is more: Scientists rethink how to pack medicine into tiny delivery capsules

Biophysical Society
Reports and Proceedings

BETHESDA, MD – The tiny fatty capsules that delivered COVID-19 mRNA vaccines into billions of arms may work better when they’re a little disorganized. That’s the surprising finding from researchers who developed a new way to examine these drug-delivery vehicles one particle at a time—revealing that cramming in more medicine doesn't always mean better results. The research will be presented at the 70th Biophysical Society Annual Meeting in San Francisco from February 21–25, 2026.

Meeting: 70th Biophysical Society Annual Meeting

Study reveals how antibiotic structure controls removal from water using biochar

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Antibiotic pollution in water is a growing global concern, as residues from human medicine, livestock production, and aquaculture can persist in the environment and contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance. A new study shows that the molecular structure of antibiotics plays a decisive role in how effectively they can be removed from water using biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from agricultural waste.

Many Americans misunderstand medical aid in dying laws

Rutgers University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Public misunderstanding about medical aid in dying in the United States falls into two distinct categories – misinformation and uncertainty – and each is driven by different forces, according to Rutgers Health researchers.

Their study, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, found that misinformation about legality of medical aid in dying – a voluntary medical practice for terminally ill adults often abbreviated as MAID – is primarily shaped by ideology, while uncertainty is linked to structural barriers such as education level and financial strain.

Journal: Journal of General Internal Medicine
Funder: National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health

Toxic exposure creates epigenetic disease risk over 20 generations

Washington State University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A single exposure to a toxic fungicide during pregnancy can increase the risk of disease for 20 subsequent generations — with inherited health problems worsening many generations after exposure.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Funder: Libra Foundation, John Templeton Foundation

Improving indoor environment reduces asthma attacks in adults, study finds

Texas A&M University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

For adults with asthma, having fans, air purifiers or other ventilation and exhaust systems — especially in kitchens and bathrooms — is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of flare-ups at home.

Journal: Atmosphere

Stunning new maps of myelin-making mouse brain cells advance understanding of nervous system disorders

Johns Hopkins Medicine
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Johns Hopkins scientists say they have used 3D imaging, special microscopes and artificial intelligence (AI) programs to construct new maps of mouse brains showing a precise location of more than 10 million cells called oligodendrocytes. These cells form myelin, a protective sleeve around nerve cell axons, which speeds transmission of electrical signals and support brain health.

Journal: Cell
Funder: Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation, Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute

Milken Institute, Ann Theodore Foundation launch new grant to support clinical trial for potential sarcoidosis treatment

Milken Institute
Grant and Award Announcement

The Milken Institute Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC), in partnership with the Ann Theodore Foundation (ATF), has launched a new funding program to support a future clinical trial in cutaneous sarcoidosis.

Elevated E. coli, staph still detected in Potomac river 4 weeks after sewage spill

University of Maryland
Reports and Proceedings

Nearly a month after a wastewater pipe broke and spewed hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River just north of Washington, D.C., the latest water testing results from the University of Maryland School of Public Health continue to show high levels of E. coli and S. aureus – commonly called staph, including antibiotic-resistant MRSA.

Study: Adolescent cannabis use linked to doubling risk of psychotic and bipolar disorders

Public Health Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Adolescents who use cannabis could face a significantly higher risk of developing serious psychiatric disorders by young adulthood, according to a large new study published today in JAMA Health Forum.

Journal: JAMA Health Forum