University of Houston

Sleep

Sleep studies simplified: Gold-standard results with far less wiring

Sleep studies provide a lot of important information but aren’t very patient-friendly. So, researchers redesigned the process, eliminating the multitudes of wires normally used while producing results that are on par with the current gold-standard method.

Fentanyl is one of the most potent opioids, and is therefore one of the most lethal when taken in excess

Addiction

Experimental fentanyl vaccine stops the drug from entering the brain

Even when someone is determined to beat their fentanyl addiction, there's still a good chance they will relapse at some point, and start taking the opioid again. A new vaccine is designed to help get them back on track, by blocking fentanyl's effect on the brain.

Transcription factors delivered via mRNA have been shown to help regenerate heart cells after a heart attack

Body and Mind

mRNA treatment repairs mouse hearts to "near normal" after heart attack

Researchers have demonstrated a new technique for helping heart cells regenerate after a heart attack, using mRNA to return the cells to a stem-cell-like state. Tests in mice showed drastic improvements to heart function a month after a heart attack.

The team's solar stove, made up of a central container coated in a soot paste to increase solar heat absorption

Environment

Recycled soot coating captures solar heat better than graphene

Engineers in the US and Mexico have developed a way to use soot from emissions to improve solar thermal devices. The coatings are not only cheaper to produce but more efficient than using materials like graphene, while reducing pollution.

A new experiment shows that tiny droplets of water can be kept liquid well below their usual freezing point by keeping them in contact with a soft interface

Science

Soft surfaces keep water liquid well below freezing limit

We all learned in elementary school science that water freezes at 0 °C – but it’s actually not quite that simple. New experiments have shown that tiny droplets can remain liquid right down to -44 °C, if kept in contact with a soft surface.

The team used a method called slab unfolding, which allows them to work backwards from the remains of a subducted plate and work out what it looked like on the surface, millions of years ago

Science

Ancient tectonic plate discovered beneath Canada, geologists claim

The face of the Earth has changed drastically over its life, with plates shifting and sinking. Now geologists claim to have found the remains of an ancient tectonic plate beneath Canada, which was pushed under the surface millions of years ago.

The team found that their new technique, involving gold nanodisks and infrared light, killed the bacterial cells within 25 seconds

Science

Lasers combine with gold nanodisks to fry bacteria within seconds

Researchers have developed a new approach to killing off bacteria that may provide a more efficient form of sterilization, using porous gold nanodisks and infrared light to destroy common bacteria within a matter of seconds.

Researchers at the University of Houston have demonstrated grasping using EEG-based BMI control of a multi-fingered prosthetic hand (Photo: University of Houston)

Medical Devices

Non-invasive brain-machine interface gets a grip on bionic hand control

Researchers have developed an algorithm that enabled a man whose right hand had been amputated to grasp objects using a bionic hand controlled by his thoughts. While we've seen similar accomplishments in recent years, the new technique is non-invasive, capturing brain activity via a scalp EEG.

Drugs called "pharmacoperones" can fix the problems that occur when proteins "misfold"

Alzheimer's & Dementia

Drugs to fix "misfolded" proteins could cure a range of diseases

Researchers have developed a technique using drugs called "pharmacoperones," which have the ability to fixes misfolded proteins, allowing them to perform their intended function, thereby providing a potential cure for a number of diseases.