Michael Franco

Michael Franco has combined a masters degree in creative writing with a passion for peeking under the hood of life on Earth to write about the serious and silly sides of science and technology for years. He's published in Discovery Channel Magazine, Discover Magazine, CNET, HowToGeek, Lifehacker, and more. The mountains and beaches of central Portugal, where he now lives with his wife and giant poodle, offer the perfect foil for way too much screen time.

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Diet & Nutrition

Intermittent fasting fails to live up to its weight-loss hype in new study

News about intermittent fasting seems to change as frequently as the apps on your phone need upgrading. Yet another new study about the eating practice seeks to put doubts to rest after rounding up data from 22 randomized clinical trials.
Wellness and Healthy Living

Just a few daily cups of coffee or tea linked to lower dementia risk

After an analysis of data from over 131,000 people, researchers found that drinking coffee and tea daily seems to guard against the development of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of cognitive decline - caffeine may be the key protective compound.
Biology

New technique targets 'sweet spot' to destroy bacteria

Researchers have discovered a certain kind of sugar that is only found on the surface of bacteria. Targeting it could lead to an entirely new class of immunotherapeutic drugs designed to target and eliminate at least one deadly, drug-resistant bug.

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Body and Mind

GLP-1 drugs shown to fight arthritis independent of weight loss

A new study has shown that the popular GLP-1 weight loss drug semaglutide has the power to halt, and to some extent restore, cartilage in people suffering from osteoarthritis (OA). The finding hints at a possible use of the drug beyond weight loss.
Body and Mind

How living at high altitudes can protect against diabetes

It's long been known that living at higher altitudes can affect physiology, including reducing the incidence of diabetes. The reason why has evaded scientists for decades. That has changed with a new discovery that was hiding in plain sight.
Environment

Video: Fire tornado cleans up oil spills

Oil spills in oceans can spell disaster for ecosystems, but options for mitigating them are limited and can come with their own environmental challenges. A new "fire tornado" from Texas A&M University might soon be able to come to the rescue.
Body and Mind

Dream control makes the leap from sci-fi to science

Researchers have shown they can achieve some control over what people are dreaming, bringing a theme that has been frequently explored in the sci-fi and horror genres off the screen and into the lab. Puzzle-solving was at the heart of the research.
Wellness and Healthy Living

Flame-treated sunscreen keeps the zinc but cuts the smeary white look

Zinc oxide remains one of the best forms of sun protection thanks to its ability to block both UVB and UVA rays. However, few really appreciate its thick white look – except, maybe, lifeguards in the '80s. UCLA researchers believe they have a solution.
Heart Disease

AI-boosted stethoscope excels at listening to our hearts

While AI certainly has its issues, there’s little doubt that it shines in terms of medical diagnostics. Now, a new study suggests it can even make the humble stethoscope an even more powerful tool than it already is for detecting heart disease.
Medical Devices

No more ultrasound goop with new gel pad

If you've ever had a sonogram you know that, even though the test isn't too hard to endure, the cold glob of gel that goes on your skin before you get "wanded" is pretty unpleasant. Japanese researchers have now come up with an alternative.
Science

New system turns smartphones into radiation detectors

Researchers at Hiroshima University in Japan have developed a way to leverage the cameras on smartphones to provide accurate radiation readings. The system they created costs less than $70 and could be a big help in disaster situations.
Wellness and Healthy Living

Vibrations activate electric charge in tooth-whitening powder

Forget strips, gels, and pastes. Your next tooth-whitening and repairing substance might well be a new powder developed by Shanghai researchers. You'll want to use it with an electric toothbrush though, because that's what makes it spark.
Illnesses and conditions

Low vitamin D means high hospitalization rate for lung infections

Not getting enough vitamin D can weaken bones, teeth, and muscles by interfering with calcium absorption. Now there's another reason to avoid a serious D deficiency: it can make respiratory tract infections much worse, according to a new study.

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