Author: Andrew Rogers

A new ultrasound “helmet” could offer a non-invasive alternative to deep brain stimulation (DBS) for treating Parkinson’s disease, with potential applications for Tourette syndrome, Alzheimer’s, depression, and chronic pain. The device targets brain regions up to 1,000 times smaller than conventional ultrasound, delivering mechanical pulses without the need for electrodes implanted deep in the brain. A study in Nature Communications reports that the helmet can focus on regions 30 times smaller than previous deep-brain ultrasound systems. Seven volunteers tested the system, which directed ultrasound waves to a tiny area of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), a key visual pathway. Modulating…

Labour’s plan to end badger culling by 2029 is achievable but would require a Covid-style focus on testing and vaccinating, according to a government-commissioned report. The review, led by Sir Charles Godfray, warns that without significant new investment, ministers have only a “small chance” of eradicating bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in England by 2038. The disease costs taxpayers and farmers about £150m a year, with more than 210,000 badgers culled since 2013. Godfray said badgers can spread bTB to cattle, but culling is not the only solution. The report recommends scaling up vaccination of cattle and badgers, microchipping cattle to track…

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT) has launched a project to bring back three rare species once common on the region’s peat bogs: the large heath butterfly, bog bush cricket and white-faced darter dragonfly. These insects rely on lowland peatlands, 96% of which have been lost to human activity. LWT has restored habitats by rebuilding water systems and replanting specialist vegetation, and is now appealing for £20,000 to complete the work. “These insects all play vital roles in the peatland ecosystem,” the trust said. The butterfly aids pollination, the cricket breaks down plant matter and feeds birds, and the dragonfly keeps…

New Zealand is racing to protect its critically endangered birds, including the kākāpō, from H5 avian influenza before migratory birds bring the virus to the country. With fewer than 250 kākāpō remaining, even a single outbreak could be catastrophic. In a world-first trial, the Department of Conservation vaccinated 10 captive birds from five critically endangered species, including kākāpō, takahē, and kakī. Using the H5N3 poultry vaccine, four species developed strong antibody responses lasting at least six months, offering hope for safeguarding breeding populations in captivity and managed island populations. Timing is crucial: starting too early risks waning immunity, while starting…

A simple cheek-swab test can identify children at risk of a potentially fatal heart condition up to five years before traditional diagnosis, according to new research. The condition, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), is typically genetic and is responsible for over 10% of sudden cardiac deaths in children. ACM arises from abnormalities in proteins connecting heart cells, disrupting both the structure and electrical activity of the heart. Often, it develops silently and can strike without warning. Researchers from Great Ormond Street Hospital and St George’s, University of London discovered that these protein abnormalities can also be detected in the lining of the…

Chocolate can take on many flavors – from fruity and floral to strong and bitter. Now scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding the fermentation of cocoa beans. An international team led by Prof. David Salt from the University of Nottingham studied beans from three regions in Colombia and showed how specific microbes active during fermentation play a decisive role in shaping the final taste of chocolate. Nine microbes as the “secret ingredient” While beans from Santander and Huila developed fruity and floral notes during fermentation, those from Antioquia lacked these aromas due to a different microbial community. Through genetic…