Articles by Krystal Kasal
Medical Xpress / Genetically modified gut bacteria show promise for combating kidney stones in clinical trial
The human gut microbiome has been shown to impact health in a myriad of ways. The type and abundance of different bacteria can impact everything from the immune system to the nervous system. Now, researchers at Stanford University ...
Medical Xpress / Extremely severe obesity is on the rise in kids—along with a barrage of health problems
Obesity rates in children have been on the rise for decades, having quadrupled from 1990 to 2022, and along with the rise in obesity, comes a rise in health risks. However, obesity can be broken down further into categories ...
Medical Xpress / MRI study reveals structural brain changes in children with restrictive eating disorders
In the last decade, the incidence of restrictive eating disorders in children, like anorexia-nervosa and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorders (ARFID), has doubled. These disorders have severe consequences for growing ...
Medical Xpress / Obesity more likely caused by high calorie diet than lack of exercise
It's common knowledge that obesity is a global epidemic, particularly in industrialized countries, and that it is a major cause of disease and poor overall health. However, there has been a tug-of-war in the debate of whether ...
Phys.org / New evidence from pterosaur's fossilized stomach helps settle longstanding debate about its diet
The Mesozoic pterosaur is considered to be the first vertebrate to achieve powered flight and new evidence, also the first of its kind, helps to pin down what exactly this flying reptile ate. Previously, scientists had trouble ...
Phys.org / Ritualistically buried donkey remains provide insight into trade and culture in ancient Israel
Donkeys played an important role in the lives of ancient Mediterranean people, providing both food and a means of carrying goods. New evidence from an early Bronze Age (2900–2600/2550 BCE) archaeological site in modern-day ...
Phys.org / Sled dog genetic history sheds light on human migration patterns into Greenland
The histories of sled dogs and humans in the Arctic have been intricately linked for thousands of years, so it is no surprise that the migration patterns of these dogs mirror those of humans through the Arctic. Sled dogs ...
Medical Xpress / Bird flu found to evolve rapidly, infecting more hosts and finding ways to spread more effectively
Although the avian flu (H5N1) virus may not be making the news as frequently, it is still working hard behind the scenes, attempting to evolve into more and more effective versions. Since the highly pathogenic avian flu was ...
Phys.org / 'False head' in certain butterflies found to evolve from multiple traits working in tandem to deflect predators
Animals often evolve to have certain characteristics that help them escape predators more effectively. Some of these characteristics work to deflect predators away from the animal's head. Many butterfly species have evolved ...
Phys.org / Decade-long study shows reduced winter snowpack impairs forests' ability to store carbon
Forests are a crucial resource for carbon mitigation, currently offsetting around 20% of North American carbon emissions. As temperatures continue to rise, scientists are rushing to understand how climate change is affecting ...
Phys.org / Young brood-parasitic cowbirds may seek out unrelated adult females as role models
Unlike most other bird species, the brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) lays its eggs in the nests of other bird species and leaves the host to raise its young—a behavior known as brood parasitism. To become a successful ...
Tech Xplore / Pilot program integrates AI-generated notes with human community notes on X platform
X (formerly Twitter) launched its "Community Notes" program in 2021 to combat misinformation by allowing users to add contextual notes on posts that might be deceptive or lead to misinterpretation. An example would be users ...
Phys.org / New evidence suggests Neanderthals were rendering fat nearly 100,000 years before other early humans
The hunting and gathering activities of early humans required a high-calorie diet consisting of a variety of macronutrients—protein, carbohydrates, and fat. While hunting big-game animals—like deer, horses and animals in ...
Phys.org / Light pollution has more dramatic effect on circadian rhythms of social birds than isolated birds, study finds
Light pollution, or artificial light at night (ALAN), is a widespread phenomenon in areas with dense human populations. Normally, animals use natural external cues, like sunlight and temperature, to synchronize their biological ...
Medical Xpress / Ozempic-like drug significantly reduces frequency of chronic migraines in pilot study
Migraines are a common ailment worldwide, affecting nearly 15% of the global population. At times, they can be debilitating enough to interfere with daily activities. Despite a multitude of treatment options, some migraine ...