Reducing aircraft noise – one decibel at a time

Advances in plane technology promise one day to help many people in Europe and elsewhere get a better night’s sleep. By  Tom Cassauwers In mid-December 2023, a demonstration in Ireland revealed the strength of public concerns about noise caused by commercial aeroplanes. Protesters gathered outside the county offices where the Dublin Airport Authority was discussing … Read more

On the move: medical imaging goes mobile for better healthcare

Researchers are developing portable ultrasound devices that promise improved treatments for millions of patients. By  Helen Massy-Beresford When someone suffers a stroke, the timing of medical help is crucial. The faster treatment is given, the greater the chance the person will fully recover. But doctors need to know what kind of stroke to treat. 60-minute … Read more

Digital replicas of patients can help them get healthy

Simulations of the human body and advanced data promise more personalised medical treatment for a range of illnesses. By  Jack McGovan In a laboratory in the Italian capital Rome, Marco Evangelos Biancolini and his team are poking patients to gauge the effectiveness of different surgical procedures. But it’s not actual people under a scalpel – it’s … Read more

Touching a nerve in the fight against chronic pain and diseases

The human body’s longest cranial nerve has the potential to improve health on numerous fronts, according to researchers. By Vittoria D’Alessio Erika Folkes has almost given up on finding pharmaceutical solutions to her chronic pain, which is always present and can sometimes leave her in agony. She has endured this kind of discomfort – defined … Read more

Fighting superbugs with tiny machines

Instruments smaller than a human hair are being designed to eradicate antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fight cancer. By  Anthony King Dr Ana Santos becomes emotional when describing what happened several years ago: her grandfather and an uncle died of a urinary tract infection and a good friend succumbed after an accidental cut got infected. She was … Read more

The health powers of birdsong, breezes and bushes

Nature is being harnessed in the EU to improve the wellbeing of city dwellers, including people suffering from loneliness. By  Ali Jones It was researching the health benefits of urban community gardens in Denver in the US state of Colorado that set Professor Jill Litt on a path to sow nature’s feel-good factor in cities … Read more