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anatomy

Rat kidneys grown in mice offer new hope for transplant patients

Rat kidneys grown in mice offer new hope for transplant patients

By Stephen Beech Rat kidneys have been successfully grown in mice — offering hope for millions of people waiting for transplants. The breakthrough provides a new way of helping to reduce growing organ donor shortages, say scientists. Researchers in Japan generated rat-derived kidneys in mice using a technique known as

Vitamin D builds your bones and keeps your gut sealed, among many other essential functions − but many children are deficient

Vitamin D builds your bones and keeps your gut sealed, among many other essential functions − but many children are deficient

(MIAMI) You’ve likely heard about vitamin D’s important role in maintaining strong bones and teeth. But it also plays several other important roles to keep your body healthy – including the function of your gut. As part of our research on how a dietary fiber supplement affects bone mass

Why do you have to wear a helmet when you’re skateboarding?

Why do you have to wear a helmet when you’re skateboarding?

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Why do you have to wear a helmet when you’re skateboarding? – Artie, age 13, Queens, New York Back when I was

How saunas boost immune systems revealed

How saunas boost immune systems revealed

By Stephen Beech Taking a sauna boosts the immune system, reveals new research. Sauna bathing releases white blood cells into the bloodstream, according to the findings. Circulating white blood cells play a "key" role in the body's defense against viruses, bacteria, fungi and diseases, say scientists.

Brain of flying reptile’s ancestor rebuilt to find out how they took flight

Brain of flying reptile’s ancestor rebuilt to find out how they took flight

By Stephen Beech The brain of a 233-million-year-old ancestor of the first flying reptiles has been reconstructed in a bid to work out how they took flight. Scientists say Venetoraptor was around 13 inches (33 centimeters) tall and had a beak and scythe-like claws on long

Why many older adults skip hard candy – how aging can change chewing and swallowing

Why many older adults skip hard candy – how aging can change chewing and swallowing

(BINGHAMTON, NY) Last Easter while my children were sorting through their baskets of chocolate eggs and jelly beans, my son looked up from the table and asked a simple question: “Why don’t Grandma and Grandpa eat candy like we do?” It was the kind of question children ask without

Fat cells burn energy to make heat – making them the next frontier of weight loss therapies

Fat cells burn energy to make heat – making them the next frontier of weight loss therapies

(LOS ANGELES) Over the past few years, a new class of medications has transformed the treatment of obesity. Drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro work primarily by reducing appetite, helping people eat less and feel full sooner. Their success has demonstrated something important: Body weight is biologically regulated, and targeting