Research News

Need for high investment, lack of necessary facilities and the complex nature of the virus make the finding of a vaccine for Ebola a difficult challenge, a noted French microbiologist said here today. "Developing a vaccine is not a trivial issue. It requires huge investments by pharmaceutical companies. So far, Ebola has had limited outbreaks. So there was no need for the community to be convinced that there has to be a vaccine.

India is an important place to study microbilogoy due to the presence of infectious diseases found in third world countries along with infections that exist in technologically developed countries, a senior French microbiologist today said.

Adolescents who get poor or insufficient sleep may be at higher risk of developing alcohol and drug problems, scientists say. Researchers have found that sleep difficulties and hours of sleep can predict a number of specific problems, including binge drinking, driving under the influence of alcohol, and risky sexual behaviour.

A new app helps you ‘lend’ your eyes to a visually impaired person and answer their questions over video chat to help them navigate or read a sign.

Google is set to discontinue the sale of its smart eyewear Google Glass, but the tech giant plans to release new, consumer-friendly versions of the device in the future. Google has announced that it will no longer sell its experimental first version of Glass which went on sale in the UK last year priced at 1,000 pounds.

Elderly women who are satisfied with their lives have a higher bone density and suffer from osteoporosis less frequently than their unsatisfied peers, according to a new study. Bone density gets lower as people age; however, for women, the menopause constitutes a significant risk factor.

Adults suffering from eczema, a chronic itchy skin disease, have higher rates of smoking, drinking and obesity and are less likely to exercise than adults who don’t have the disease, a new study has found.

Researchers, including one of Indian-origin, have identified stem cells capable of regenerating both bone and cartilage in mice. Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) discovered the cells, called osteochondroreticular (OCR) stem cells, in bone marrow of mice by tracking a protein expressed by the cells.

Cone snail venom may lead to medical treatments for some cancers and nicotine addiction, a new study has found. Cone snails are marine mollusks, just as conch, octopi and squid, but they capture their prey using venom. The venom of these marine critters provides leads for detection and possible treatment of some cancers and addictions, researchers said.