RTX is a non-addictive pain therapy derived from a cactus-like plant.

National Institute of Health (NIH) scientists report that a first-in-human clinical trial of a new therapy based on the plant-derived molecule resiniferatoxin (RTX) shows that it is a safe and effective agent for pain control in patients with intractable cancer pain. Researchers tested a single injection of small quantities of RTX into the lumbar cerebral spinal fluid (by lumbar puncture) of advanced-stage cancer patients and found that it reduced their reported worst pain intensity by 38% and their use of pain-relieving opioids by 57%.

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NIH-funded breakthrough could enable targeted therapies for many neurological disorders.

Research teams funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have created a versatile set of gene delivery systems that can reach different neural cell types in the human brain and spinal cord with exceptional accuracy. These delivery systems are a significant step toward future precise gene therapy to the brain that could safely control errant brain activity with high precision. In contrast, current therapies for brain disorders mostly treat only symptoms.

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Biological agents have become cheaper, faster, and easier for adversaries to engineer and employ due to advancements in science and technology. Though defeating these dynamic threats can be challenging, the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense’s (JPEO-CBRND) Joint Project Lead for CBRND Enabling Biotechnologies (JPL CBRND EB) is using the power of technology and information that is already available to help the joint force stay ahead of the constantly evolving threat. In response to this landscape combined with using “data as a product,” JPL CBRND EB stood up an office with a “data-forward” approach called Data and Technology Integration for Readiness (DTIR).

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The short answer

An electronic device — called an oximeter — attaches to the tip of your finger and measures the amount of oxygen red blood cells carry in your bloodstream.

If you’ve been to the ER, your primary care doctor or an emergency clinic, you’ve probably seen a medical professional place a small, clip-on electronic device on your finger to get a baseline of your vitals.

This small device, called an oximeter or pulse ox, measures your blood oxygen level, which is the percentage of oxygen red blood cells carry in the bloodstream. This measurement is known as oxygen saturation.

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Researchers analyzed hydroacoustic data to determine cause of broken communications cables in the Trou Sans Fond Canyon

Hydroacoustic signals captured by the world’s international nuclear monitoring system suggest an underwater landslide may have broken communications cables in March 2024, disrupting internet traffic in west African countries for several weeks.

Researchers used data collected by hydrophones installed by the International Monitoring System of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization to determine the location of the possible landslide, placing it along the steep slopes of Trou Sans Fond Canyon offshore of Ivory Coast.

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Scientists outline best practices for cataloging DNA reference databases, deepening our understanding of marine biodiversity

A team of scientists has created a new guide to advance standards for collecting and cataloging DNA from marine species, enhancing a revolutionary method for monitoring ocean biodiversity.

The guide was developed by the West Coast Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network (WC-OBON)—a regional chapter of a global observatory sponsored by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development—to improve accuracy and consistency in genetic reference libraries.

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