Researchers at Nottingham Trent University have developed a smart textile vest designed to detect early signs of hypothermia in older adults, a population particularly vulnerable to dangerous drops in body temperature. Elderly people lose heat more quickly and often have impaired temperature regulation due to chronic conditions, medications, and frailty, making hypothermia both common and difficult to detect without continuous monitoring. The new vest aims to provide an unobtrusive way to identify sustained temperature declines before they become life‑threatening. The system is built around four miniature sensors called thermistors, each only one millimeter long and half a millimeter wide, which…

Scientists at the University of Maryland have developed a small wearable sensor, nicknamed “Smart Underwear”, that clips onto any pair of underwear and continuously measures human flatulence by detecting hydrogen gas. The device was created to address a long‑standing gap in gastrointestinal research: despite how common digestive complaints are, clinicians have had no reliable way to quantify gas production in daily life. As the researchers note, even experts have struggled to document what patients describe, leaving gut health a bit of a black box. Smart Underwear aims to clear the air by providing objective, real‑time data on microbial activity. The…

Researchers at the Institut de Neurociències of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona have developed a mussel‑inspired bioadhesive patch designed to eliminate glioblastoma cells, the most aggressive and prevalent form of brain tumor. The patch adheres strongly to wet brain tissue and induces a high level of localized cellular oxidation, allowing it to kill tumor cells while minimizing systemic side effects. The approach has been tested in cell cultures and in excised pig brains, where it demonstrated the ability to eliminate a large proportion of glioblastoma cells. Glioblastoma grows rapidly, infiltrates surrounding tissue, and is extremely difficult to treat. Standard care…

Researchers from Waseda University in Japan have developed a new adaptive vascular stent that can automatically deploy at body temperature using 4D printing and a shape memory polymer composite. The stent is made from a polycaprolactone based material whose thermal transition temperature is precisely tuned so that it expands naturally at approximately 37 degrees Celsius once placed inside the body. This eliminates the need for external heating systems and reduces the complexity and invasiveness of conventional stent deployment procedures. The team used projection micro stereolithography to fabricate micro architected coronary stents with fine structural control. By incorporating diethyl phthalate as…

Researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science at the University of Tokyo have developed a new 3D‑printed backing system that significantly improves the performance of microneedle array patches used for vaccine delivery. The work responds to challenges highlighted during the COVID‑19 pandemic, particularly the need for vaccine formats that are easy to distribute, stable at room temperature, and simple to administer without trained medical personnel. Microneedle patches already offer advantages such as painless application and self‑administration, but their effectiveness can be limited when delivering live virus vaccines because the fabrication process can reduce viral viability and prevent the full dose…

Researchers from the Technical University of Denmark have developed a new type of brain implant designed to illuminate, listen, and deliver medication within the brain using a single, highly flexible device. The implant, known as the “microfluidic Axialtrode” or mAxialtrode, is a long, needle thin fiber less than half a millimeter thick. Its softness allows it to move with the brain rather than cutting into tissue, reducing damage and improving long term compatibility. The technology is intended to support both fundamental neuroscience research and future treatments for neurological disorders such as epilepsy. The mAxialtrode integrates multiple functional interfaces along its…

A research team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has developed a wearable phototherapy device that uses customized near-infrared OLEDs to suppress hair follicle cell aging, offering a noninvasive alternative to conventional hair loss treatments. The device is designed as a soft, textile-based cap that replaces bulky helmet-type systems and delivers uniform light stimulation across the scalp. The team demonstrated that the OLED-based system can suppress aging in dermal papilla cells by up to 92%, a key factor in slowing hair loss progression. Existing phototherapy devices rely on point light sources such as LEDs or lasers,…

La Trobe University researchers have developed an ultra sensitive single use test strip that can detect microRNAs at extremely low concentrations, offering a simpler and more accessible method for early disease diagnosis. MicroRNAs are important biomarkers for conditions such as cancer, but they are difficult to measure because they appear in very small amounts. The new strip uses an enzymatic amplification process that strengthens the electrical signal produced when microRNAs bind to the sensor, allowing detection at levels far below what standard laboratory techniques can measure. The device works like a glucose test strip and does not require specialized equipment,…

A research team at the University of British Columbia Okanagan has developed a lightweight wearable brace designed to reduce involuntary hand tremors associated with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. Hand tremors affect millions of people worldwide and can interfere with essential daily activities including eating, writing, and personal care. Existing treatments often rely on medication or surgery, while many wearable devices are bulky, expensive, or uncomfortable. The new brace aims to provide a noninvasive, accessible alternative that can be used in everyday life without requiring power sources or complex mechanisms. The device works by mechanically inhibiting tremor motion rather…

Researchers at Koç University in Turkey have created a specialized wound dressing that incorporates a sensor capable of continuously measuring the pH of the wound environment, offering a new approach to tracking healing in both acute and chronic wounds. The work focuses on the fact that wound pH changes throughout the healing process and can reveal whether tissue is progressing through inflammation, new tissue formation, and remodeling. Chronic wounds often fail to move through these stages, particularly in older adults, and impose a significant burden on healthcare systems. The new dressing is designed to provide real time insight into these…