Public Health & Epidemiology

Battery‑Free Smart Mask Enables Long‑Term Monitoring of Health Biomarkers in Exhaled Breath

Monitoring health through exhaled breath has long been limited by the difficulty of collecting reliable samples over extended periods. Traditional approaches struggle because breath condensate dries quickly, sensors degrade in humid environments, and wearable systems depend on batteries that require […]

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Miniature Laser Chip Enables Portable Biosensors That Could Bring Lab Testing Into the Home

Many diagnostic tests still rely on large optical instruments that sit in centralized laboratories, making it difficult for patients to access rapid, convenient sampling. These systems depend on external lasers, bulky optics, and controlled environments, which limits their use outside

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Real-Time Biosensor Detects Airborne Viruses Without Lab Equipment

Researchers from Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and Universitat de València (UV) have developed a compact biosensor capable of detecting airborne viruses in real time, offering a fast, low-cost alternative to traditional lab-based methods. This innovation could significantly improve public

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“Tattoo” That Detects Drink Tampering in One Second

Researchers in South Korea have developed a temporary tattoo-like sticker that can instantly detect the presence of γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a drug commonly used to spike drinks and facilitate sexual assault. The innovation, published in ACS Sensors, offers a discreet, rapid, and

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RT-LAMP: A Rapid, Low-Cost Virus Test Tailored for Africa’s Needs

In a major step toward equitable pandemic preparedness, researchers from Italy, India, South Africa, and Slovenia have developed a diagnostic tool called RT-LAMP (reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification) that delivers COVID-19 results in under an hour using saliva samples—without the

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Smartphones Help Bridge the Accuracy Gap in Medical Devices for Diverse Skin Tones

Medical devices like pulse oximeters have long faced scrutiny for their inconsistent accuracy across different skin tones. A new study from Brown University and Morgan State University proposes an innovative solution: using smartphone cameras to objectively measure skin tone. Researchers

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Paper-based Devices for Detecting Asymptomatic Malaria:

Malaria remains a persistent global health challenge, particularly in regions where asymptomatic carriers contribute to ongoing transmission. Researchers at The Ohio State University have developed a groundbreaking paper-based diagnostic device that significantly improves malaria detection in individuals without symptoms. Unlike

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FoodTech: How Engineered Food and Gastronomical Gadgets Affect Your Health (November 2017)

Note to readers: These posts are some of my favorite pieces from my time with Medgadget—stories that still resonate, even if they’re a bit dated. For now, consider this a placeholder, a glimpse into the past, until it’s replaced with

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