A team of researchers at ETH Zurich has developed a novel technique that uses ultrasound holograms to influence brain networks with high precision. This approach could open new possibilities for treating neurological disorders and studying brain function without invasive procedures. Unlike traditional ultrasound methods that focus energy on a single point, the ETH system creates complex three-dimensional pressure patterns that can target multiple brain regions simultaneously. The technique works by generating holographic ultrasound fields using a specially designed transducer array. These fields can be shaped to match the geometry of specific brain networks, allowing researchers to stimulate or modulate activity…

Managing addiction often requires a combination of therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes. Scientists at Mass General Brigham have developed a wearable patch that could offer a new tool in this effort by reducing cravings for alcohol and drugs through gentle electrical stimulation. The patch is designed to be worn on the upper arm and delivers low-level pulses that influence brain activity linked to reward and impulse control. In a recent clinical study, participants who wore the patch reported fewer cravings and a reduced desire to consume substances. The device works by targeting peripheral nerves that communicate with brain regions involved…

Skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis affect millions of people and can be difficult to manage due to their unpredictable flare-ups. Researchers at Heriot-Watt University have developed a new skin-sensing technology that could change how these conditions are monitored and treated. The system uses a flexible, wearable sensor to track changes in skin hydration, inflammation, and barrier function in real time. The sensor is designed to be comfortable and unobtrusive, adhering to the skin without causing irritation. It collects data continuously and transmits it to a mobile device, allowing users and clinicians to monitor skin health throughout the day. This…

Imagine diagnosing the flu with a simple tongue test. Researchers have developed a prototype sensor that could one day make this possible by detecting viral proteins directly from saliva. The device uses a small, flexible strip coated with antibodies that bind to influenza A proteins. When the strip is placed on the tongue, it captures viral markers and produces a measurable electrical signal, indicating the presence of infection. The sensor is based on electrochemical detection, a technique that converts biological interactions into readable data. In lab tests, the device successfully identified influenza A proteins in saliva samples within minutes. Its…

Artificial intelligence may not be a classic “gizmo,” but it’s become an undeniable, rapidly evolving force in healthcare. From streamlining clinical workflows to flagging anomalies in imaging, algorithms are working their way into nearly every corner of medicine. The jury’s still out on just how useful, safe, or transformative these tools will ultimately be. But there’s no shortage of momentum—or headlines. So here’s a curated look at some of the most noteworthy AI-in-medicine developments from the past month. Predictive Health & Risk Forecasting An AI Tool Is Trying to Predict Your Risk of Getting Many Diseases Years in Advance –…

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a new wearable device called BlinkWise that transforms ordinary eyeglasses into smart health monitors by analyzing how people blink. Instead of relying on cameras or invasive sensors, BlinkWise uses low-power radio waves and artificial intelligence to track eyelid movements with millisecond-level precision. This allows the system to detect subtle changes in blink patterns that reflect a person’s physical and mental state. Blinking happens more than 10,000 times a day, and each blink carries information about fatigue, focus, eye dryness, and cognitive load. BlinkWise captures these dynamics by measuring blink duration, completeness, and…

Studying Alzheimer’s disease in living, active animals has long been a challenge due to limitations in imaging technology. Researchers at the University of Strathclyde and the Italian Institute of Technology have now developed a fiber-optic method that allows scientists to track amyloid-beta plaques in the brains of freely moving mice. This breakthrough offers a more realistic view of how the disease progresses and how plaques behave in natural conditions, rather than under anesthesia or in restrained environments. The technique uses a specialized fiber-optic probe that emits and collects light to detect fluorescent markers bound to amyloid-beta plaques. These markers glow…

Tiny hair-like structures called cilia play a critical role in how fluids move across surfaces in the human body, from clearing mucus in the lungs to circulating cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Understanding how cilia work has been difficult due to their microscopic size and complex behavior. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new robotic platform called CiliaBot that mimics the motion of cilia, allowing scientists to study their dynamics in greater detail. CiliaBot is a modular system made up of flexible, motorized filaments that can be programmed to move in coordinated patterns. These artificial cilia are designed…

Designing a mechanical heart that mimics the natural flow of blood is no small feat. At Linköping University in Sweden, researchers have used advanced imaging techniques to study blood movement inside a pulsating artificial heart. This work is helping engineers refine the device to reduce complications such as blood clots and red blood cell damage. The team partnered with Scandinavian Real Heart AB and used magnetic resonance imaging to observe how blood flows through the artificial heart in real time. By comparing these patterns to those in a healthy human heart, they identified areas where turbulence or stagnation could pose…

Understanding how the human lung responds to infection is a complex challenge. A team from Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt University has created a lung-on-a-chip that includes a functioning immune system, offering a new way to study respiratory diseases and test treatments. This miniature device contains living human cells arranged to replicate the structure and behavior of a real lung, and it can circulate immune cells that respond to pathogens in real time. When researchers introduced a severe influenza virus, the chip reacted with inflammation and immune cell activation, closely mirroring human biology. This allows scientists to observe how lungs respond…