Permanent night shift workers at heightened risk of moderate to severe asthma

Shift workers, especially those working permanent night shift rotas, may be at heightened risk of moderate to severe asthma, suggests research published online in the journal Thorax.

Design and market sexbots for older adults with disabilities, argues ethicist

The sexbot industry should include older adults with disabilities in the design and marketing of its products, to support their emotional health and wellbeing and help counter ageism and stereotyping, argues an ethicist in the Journal of Medical Ethics.

Sharp rise in sedentary time among newly retired women evident 2+ years later

The sharp rise of more than 20 minutes a day in average sedentary time among newly retired women seems to be maintained 2 or more years later, reveals research published online in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

Genetic code evolution and Darwin's evolution theory should consider DNA an 'energy code'

Darwin's theory of evolution should be expanded to include consideration of a DNA stability "energy code"—so-called "molecular Darwinism"—to further account for the long-term survival of species' characteristics on Earth, according to Rutgers scientists.

Finland's battery plans spark environmental fears

Lines of trucks carrying piles of rock crisscross Finland's rugged Terrafame mine, which sits 300km (186 miles) below the Arctic Circle and is Europe's largest source of nickel for electric car batteries.

Novel technique 'stuns' arthritis pain in shoulder and hip

A novel outpatient procedure offers lasting pain relief for patients suffering from moderate to severe arthritis in their hip and shoulder joints, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Researchers said the procedure could help reduce reliance on addictive opiates.

Healthy sleep habits help lower risk of heart failure

Adults with the healthiest sleep patterns had a 42% lower risk of heart failure regardless of other risk factors compared to adults with unhealthy sleep patterns, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association's flagship journal Circulation. Healthy sleep patterns are rising in the morning, sleeping 7-8 hours a day and having no frequent insomnia, snoring or excessive daytime sleepiness.

Merkel eyes schools, contacts in tougher virus curbs push

Chancellor Angela Merkel will on Monday push for tougher curbs including masks in all schools, smaller class sizes and drastic limits on contacts to bring down coronavirus infections in Germany.

Free unlimited photo storage is a thing of the past—thanks a lot, Google. So what to do?

Don MacAskill has been trying for 18 years to persuade people to pay to back up and view their photos online, as an alternative to the home hard drives or keeping everything on the phone.

Mayo Clinic Minute: Reversing a vasectomy

People change their minds. Some men who had a vasectomy to become infertile might decide for whatever reason that they want to have more children. In those cases, vasectomy reversal can be an option.

Xbox and PlayStation: How Sony and Microsoft changed the way we play video games

With new video game consoles out this week, Microsoft and Sony are decades-long incumbents in the industry. But that wasn't always the case.

Australia races to contain Adelaide virus outbreak

A sudden coronavirus cluster emerged in the Australian city of Adelaide on Monday after seven months without a significant outbreak there, with the virus again escaping from the country's hotel quarantine system.

Venezuela to buy 10 million doses of Russian COVID-19 vaccine

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Sunday that his government has agreed to buy 10 million doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19.

Hurricane Iota closing in on storm-battered Central America

Hurricane Iota is forecast to strengthen to an "extremely dangerous" Category Four by the time it makes landfall in Central America on Monday, the US National Hurricane Center warned, two weeks after powerful storm Eta devastated much of the region and left more than 200 people dead or missing.

US adds 1 million COVID cases in less than a week

The US surpassed 11 million coronavirus cases Sunday, adding one million new cases in less than a week, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Algeria enforces fresh virus restrictions

Algeria imposed new coronavirus restrictions Sunday, closing sport and cultural centres as well as beaches after a spike in infections.

2 states announce new virus restrictions as US cases hit 11M

Michigan and Washington on Sunday joined several other states in announcing renewed efforts to combat the coronavirus as more than 11 million cases of COVID-19 have now been reported in the United States—with the most recent million coming in less than a week—and as many Americans prepare to observe a Thanksgiving holiday marked by the pandemic.

Pandemic pushes steep drop in foreign college students

Just two semesters short of earning a cybersecurity master's degree in the U.S., Sai Naini is stuck in India, unsure what his future holds.

Korean Air to take over troubled Asiana Airlines for $1.6 bn

South Korean flag-carrier Korean Air said Monday it will buy out its smaller troubled rival Asiana Airlines in a $1.6 billion deal as it looks to consolidate with the coronavirus pandemic sending shockwaves through the global aviation sector.

Pharmacy dropboxes can help improve proper drug disposal, study finds

Proper disposal of leftover medications can prevent overdoses and protect waterways from becoming polluted by pharmaceuticals. Drug take-back boxes are a safe and secure way to dispose of unwanted medications, but a new Portland State University study shows awareness of these dropboxes as well as knowledge about risks of improper disposal remain low.

Study finds antibiotics before age 2 associated with childhood health issues

In a retrospective case study, Mayo Clinic researchers have found that antibiotics administered to children younger than 2 are associated with several ongoing illnesses or conditions, ranging from allergies to obesity. The findings appear in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Former piece of Pacific Ocean floor imaged deep beneath China

In a study that gives new meaning to the term "rock bottom," seismic researchers have discovered the underside of a rocky slab of Earth's surface layer, or lithosphere, that has been pulled more than 400 miles beneath northeastern China by the process of tectonic subduction.

New ALS guideline establishes national standard for managing neurodegenerative disease

The first Canadian guideline for the care and management of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)—Lou Gehrig's disease—recommends a patient-focused approach, with attention to holistic and emotional aspects of well-being.

SpaceX launches four astronauts to ISS

Four astronauts were successfully launched on the SpaceX Crew Dragon "Resilience" to the International Space Station on Sunday, the first of what the US hopes will be many routine missions following a successful test flight in late spring.