Fungal microbiome: Whether mice get fatter or thinner depends on the fungi that live in their gut

Fungi are a small but important part of the gut microbiome. A new study in mice shows that how much weight mice gain on a processed food diet depends on this fungal microbiome.

Justin D. Stewart, PhD Candidate in Evolutionary Biology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam • conversation
March 5, 2021 ~5 min

Whether slow or fast, here's how your metabolism influences how many calories you burn each day

There are some factors you can't change about your metabolism. But there are things you can do to influence how much energy your body uses over the course of the day.

Terezie Tolar-Peterson, Associate Professor of Food Science, Nutrition & Health Promotion, Mississippi State University • conversation
Dec. 28, 2020 ~8 min


More vitamin D in first year may cut later obesity risk

Higher levels of vitamin D in a child's first year may offer a shield against obesity and high blood pressure during the teen years, a new study shows.

Nardy Baeza Bickel-Michigan • futurity
Oct. 30, 2020 ~4 min

People's bodies now run cooler than 'normal' – even in the Bolivian Amazon

'Normal' body temperature has declined in urban, industrialized settings like the US and UK. Anthropologists find the trend extends to Indigenous people in the Bolivian Amazon – but why?

Thomas Kraft, Postdoctoral Scholar in Anthropology, University of California Santa Barbara • conversation
Oct. 28, 2020 ~8 min

Exposure to man-made chemicals influences genes controlling aging, immune system and metabolism

Man-made chemical disrupt the activities of most human genes. What effect does this have on human health and how should regulators respond?

Alexander Suvorov, Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Amherst • conversation
Oct. 15, 2020 ~8 min

Without vitamin D, zebrafish pack on fat

Vitamin D deficiency resulted in stunted growth and additional fat reserves in zebrafish, research shows.

Tracey Peake-NC State • futurity
Sept. 30, 2020 ~4 min

Ancient microbial life used arsenic to thrive in a world without oxygen

How ancient microbes survived in a world without oxygen has been a mystery. Scientists discovered a living microbial mat that uses arsenic instead of oxygen for photosynthesis and respiration.

Kimberley L Gallagher, Adjunct professor, Quinnipiac University • conversation
Sept. 25, 2020 ~9 min

Metabolic syndrome triples COVID-19 death risk

Patients with metabolic syndrome were at 3.4 times higher risk of death due to COVID-19 and five times more likely to go to the ICU.

Keith Brannon-Tulane • futurity
Aug. 27, 2020 ~5 min


Resistant cancer cells can be targeted for elimination

Harvard University researchers have identified a unique characteristic of the resistant cancer cells, which could lead to an inhibitor can be repurposed and combined with chemotherapy to improve patient outcomes.

Jessica Lau • harvard
Aug. 7, 2020 ~5 min

Key signals kickstart fat-burning in mice

Researchers have found signals that start the process of turning fat into heat in mice. It could pave the way for activating the same signals in humans.

Jim Erickson-Michigan • futurity
June 17, 2020 ~5 min

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