DDN Dialogues

Seeing into the future of autism detection

According to the CDC, about 1 in 36 children in the United States has autism. An early and accurate diagnosis is hugely important for children and their parents as they learn how to navigate life on the spectrum. A recent study in Nature described a new method to aid early detection of autism using a smartphone app.

Healing a broken heart

After a heart attack, the damage is permanent — for now. Researchers are testing innovative ways to get the heart to regenerate muscle cells and fix itself.

The antibiotics hidden in medieval recipes

Could the solution to antibiotic resistance already have been discovered? Microbiologists and historians probe medieval and ancient texts to find out.

Rejuvenating the retina to save vision

In diabetic macular edema, senescent cells build up in the retina, leading to vision loss. A new drug forces these undead cells to die, healing the retina.

From warhead to cancer-killer, the quest for more actinium-225

Actinium-225 is a radioactive isotope that kills cancer cells with a burst of alpha particles, but it was difficult to make enough of it — until now. https://www.drugdiscoverynews.com/from-warhead-to-cancer-killer-the-quest-for-more-actinium-225-15934