ynetnews - Health&Science (2024)

Psychiatric hospital implements arts therapy to aid with war trauma

Dr. Shiran Pines says the therapy allows patients to inhabit spaces where strong defenses aren’t necessary, enabling them to process trauma, express it through alternative means, alongside verbal communication

Samples from the far side: This week in space

The Chinese spacecraft is on its way back to Earth with the first samples from the far side of the moon; Boeing launched its first manned spacecraft; A Japanese billionaire canceled his moon tourism flight, and Hubble's troubles continue

How to protect from heatstroke amid Israel's extreme temperatures

Heatwave expected to last into next week brings dry weather conditions and strong winds; public especially elderly, children, pregnant women, and chronic illness sufferers urged to take precautions

'Once-in-a-lifetime' cosmic explosion to bring bright 'new star' to the sky

Nova explosion will cause binary star system to temporarily become as bright as Polaris, the North Star, for about a week, making it visible to the naked eye from the Northern Hemisphere

Gut microbes indicate propensity to PTSD, Israeli study finds

Prof. Ruth Feldman's from Reichman University links between microbiome synchrony between mother and child and post-traumatic pathology

Third Israeli in space honors hostages with moving tribute from orbit

In Ynet interview, Irving Izchak Pergament, son of Holocaust survivors, shares experience of taking Virgin Galactic flight into space, Israeli flag on his spacesuit and his tribute to the hostages; ‘I didn't think I could float like that in space. It's amazing’

Lice infestation: treating and re-treating – what can be done?

Not just on dirty heads: everyone’s familiar with unpleasant experience of lice infestation and often unsuccessful attempts to eliminate them; what’s crucial to know to successfully get rid of them? Dermatologist debunks several myths and provides clear guidance

I wanted to make his life easier': Israeli student creates innovative wheelchair for disabled father

From young age, Dean de Groot dreamed of creating solution for challenges disabled father faces; as part of final college project, he invents innovative system that makes wheelchair functional for daily activities and significantly eases user's experience

Israeli children exercising less since war, study shows

Physical activity among Israeli children down significantly since October 7, with levels now half or less than those in Europe; researchers find correlation between parents’ perceived security threats and decrease in children's activity, alongside increase in screen time

Earth’s twin planet: This week in space

China launches a spacecraft to collect samples from the far side of the moon, Boeing launches a leaky spacecraft, and astronomers hope to find signs of life on an intriguing planet

Fallen IDF soldier's organs give baby Itzik a shot at life

The late Ori Gerby, died in battle in Khan Younis and his parents donated their son's organs to seven-month-old baby Itzik who needed a liver transplant with no hesitation

Alzheimer drug gets unanimous approval from FDA panel

Lilly's donanemab, Alzheimer's drug benefits outweigh risks in the early stages of the disease although it causes brain swelling and bleeding; the panel finds, clearing the way for a final FDA decision

Neuralink's first quadriplegic brain-chip patient can now play computer games with his mind

Elon Musk's chip venture allows paralyzed patient to control computer cursor with his mind; Neuralink live-streamed him playing online chess

Before hitting Europe, hom*o sapiens stopped in Iran, genetic research suggests

Persian Plateau identified as most suitable location for human occupation during this time based on climate models and genetic data

Why are girls getting their period earlier?

Girls in US experiencing their first menstrual period significantly earlier compared to previous generations, with some as young as 5 years old

Success in the 4th test: Starship’s return from space

Starship system successfully completes first atmospheric re-entry and landing maneuver for both booster rocket and spacecraft itself

Fire hearths dating reveals new details about Neanderthal social structures

The controlled use of fire dates back to at least 790,000 years. The new dating approach can provide insights into ancient human behavior and social organization

Health minister: hospitals brace for power outages in war with Hezbollah

As skirmishes with Lebanese terror group escalate, Uriel Buso says northern medical centers moving operations underground and equipping facilities with generators to ensure vital machines continue running in event of power line damage

Restless legs? It might be in your genes, study suggests

RLS likely influenced by combination of genetic, environmental and hormonal factors, and may be risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes

Researchers discover giant viruses on Greenland ice sheet, potentially slowing ice melt

Viruses believed to potentially control algae blooms by infecting and consuming snow algae, acting as natural control mechanism and slowing down ice melt

When did Neanderthals and modern humans interbreed?

2020 study shows all humans possess some Neanderthal DNA which could influence various aspects of health

Study reveals reason behind Antarctica's mysterious crimson fall

Blood Falls, located on Taylor Glacier in East Antarctica, known for its crimson waters resembling blood

Study traces origins of modern horses to Central Asian Bronze Age culture

Earlier lineage of domestic horses, potentially used for milk, associated with Botai culture in Central Asia around 3,500 BCE, but widespread use of horses for transport began around 2,200 BCE with emergence of second lineage

Beneath the skin: the intricacies of tattooing

What physiological changes occur in the body when one gets a tattoo? Are there potential risks to consider? And how does the immune system engage with the tattooing process?

Forgotten memories: Delving into amnesia

Amnesia, a condition characterized by memory loss, can be caused by various physiological or psychological factors; From transient episodes to enduring states, its spectrum encompasses diverse forms, shedding light on the intricate workings of memory formation and retrieval in the brain

Clearing space junk and cotton-candy exoplanets

What's new in space: new record set in age of space travel, economics of clearing space debris and surprising new findings regarding distant planet

Human impact on global crisis is instrumental, report says

Indicators of Global Climate Change report shows human activity cause an average rise of over 1°C over the last decade, with experts calling to push for climate initiatives

'Buying a few minutes of hope': social worker revisits hellish sights on October 7

Aliza Lev, who served as a social worker at Barzilai Medical Center for almost 30 years, recounts morning of Hamas' attack and harrowing ordeals she experienced throughout

Study links energy drinks with cardiac arrest risks

Research suggests potential link between energy drink consumption and life-threatening heart issues, especially in high-risk individuals

Seeing double: most Israeli adults use glasses or contact lenses

Thursday marks International Visually Impaired People Day as a growing number of Israelis are relying on vision aids

Newly published discoveries hailed as most extensive prehistoric rock art ever documented

Researchers discovered and mapped 14 monumental rock engraving sites, some over 4 meters wide or high, using drone photography and local guides

Chinese gene therapy restores hearing in deaf children in trial

Five children regained hearing in both ears in trial, while 6 gained hearing in one ear in earlier trial

Research: women's cognitive abilities improve during menstruation

Female athletes found to react quicker and make fewer errors while on their period, challenging assumptions about their abilities during menstruation

Researchers discover plastic-degrading fungus in the North Pacific Ocean

Fungus converts polyethylene into carbon dioxide, releasing latter in amounts that cause no environmental concern

FDA panel rejects initial MDMA therapy for PTSD

Board criticizes ability of participants to accurately guess if they received MDMA or placebo, potentially skewing results

As analysts forecast weight-loss drug market boom, counterfeits becoming real-world problem

Patients resorting to obtaining discounted medications from unknown sources, posing risks of counterfeit or substandard drugs

These are the 5 minerals essential to building a healthy body

Iron, iodine, calcium, potassium and magnesium are the five most essential minerals we need to consume at every meal, and they are found both in vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets; A clinical dietician talks about the significance of each one

Israeli heat wave breaks country's temperature records ahead of hellish summer

Israel Meteorological Service director warns heat will continue to climb in the next two months leading to the dangerous spread of fires amid war

Rare 'Teen Rex' Tyrannosaurus rex fossil discovered by North Dakota boys

Fossil, including T. rex tooth, provides new insights into growth stages and patterns of fearsome dinosaur

Akatsuki, humanity's only active mission observing Venus, out of touch

Spacecraft loses contact with Earth after studying planet's climate since successfully entering orbit in 2015

Innovative ‘liquid biopsy’ blood test detects breast cancer relapse early on

New ultra-sensitive blood test can accurately predict breast cancer recurrence up to 41 months before relapse confirmed by detecting circulating tumor DNA, potentially improving survival rates for patients

How cats and dogs might be spreading bird flu

Cats reportedly more susceptible to virus than dogs, with some infected cats exhibiting respiratory and neurological symptoms

Mental health of teens, children deteriorates as conflict on northern border continues

War-related trauma prevents children from the north from going to school but the Education Ministry is unable to provide assistance; Educational psychologist Abigail Bar describes the severe distress in the north

New study highlights benefits of Mediterranean diet for longevity and disease prevention

Diet inspired by traditional dietary patterns of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea

Revolutionary drug promises to 'melt away' bowel cancer tumors, doctors say

Immunotherapy breakthrough described as 'game-changer' dramatically enhances bowel cancer recovery rates and could supplant surgery by shrinking tumors

China's Chang'e 6 lunar mission achieves historic landing on far side of moon

China's lunar program, named after a Chinese legend goddess residing on the Moon, is driven by competition with other countries, with plans to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030

Danish king awards prestigious brain research prize to top Israeli professor

King Frederik X presents Lundbeck Foundation award to Hebrew University's Prof. Haim Sompolinsky whose groundbreaking work in computational neuroscience has advanced the understanding of higher-level brain functions

Mind gaps: why do we blank on words?

Everyone experiences moments when a familiar word suddenly escapes their mind, leaving them momentarily speechless or scrambling for an alternative; a speech therapist sheds light on these frustrating lapses, offering insight into one of life's most irritating phenomena

Scientists discover the largest known genome in a tiny Pacific fern

The tiny fern called Tmesipteris oblanceolate contains about 160 billion base pairs of DNA, over 50 times larger than the human genome

First black man in American astronaut-training program reaches space after 63 years

Ed Dwight called the experience of going to space life-changing and believes everyone should do it

Study highlights risks of early life support withdrawal in brain injuries

New research indicates that early withdrawal of life support may reduce survival chances and functional recovery for severe TBI patients

Thousands of doctors warn that military exemption will lead medical professionals to emigrate

In open letter, doctors in Israel call on the Knesset and the government to halt all actions that can lead to 'professionals leaving the country', which will make Israel 'less educated'

Scientists reveal rotation mechanisms of asteroid with 'dual-moon'

The discovery of the trio Dinky and Selam challenged existing theories about asteroid formation

Kate Middleton cancer treatment showing positive results, reports cite unnamed friends and family

The same sources claim that Middleton is tolerating the medication well, and her chemotherapy has been successful

Dr. Chaya Keller, mother of 11, wins Krill prize for research

The Wolf Foundation awards Dr. Chaya Keller from Ariel University the Krill Prize for her significant contributions to discrete and computational geometry

Israeli medical clowns bring joy to Taiwanese children

Members of "Dream Doctors" invited by the Taiwanese government, assist victims of the earthquake that struck the Island nation earlier in the year

Leukemia: What are the symptoms, risk factors and how do you treat it?

After the Syrian First Lady was diagnosed with leukemia after breast cancer, this unforgiving type of cancer has garnered much interest; Dr. Noam Benyamini details everything there is to know, including how to minimize the chances of ever having it

Harnessing sound waves to alleviate pain: Targeting the brain

A new study proposes the use of focused ultrasound waves targeted at the brain as a novel method to alleviate pain

Israeli smokers take 'toll' on health system, die 10 years before others

Ahead of World No-Tabaco Day,Dr. Emilia Hardak says number of smokers in the Israeli public is increasing despite well-known adverse effects on the body and even potential early death

New study classifies new evolutionary branch of vipers

discovery of a new family of any vertebrate animals is the result of the analysis of DNA sequences from over 4,500 genes and conducted several dozen high-resolution micro-CT scans of mock viper skulls