Lunar dust less toxic than city pollution, study finds
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Updates every hour. Last Updated: 16-Nov-2025 01:11 ET (16-Nov-2025 06:11 GMT/UTC)
As NASA prepares to send astronauts back to the moon for the first time in over 50 years, new research from the UTS has found that lunar dust is less harmful to human lung cells than previously feared, and significantly less toxic than common Earth-based air pollution.
A research team at The University of Tokyo has discovered that inhalational anesthetics activate a protein called type 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1), which contributes to the induction of general anesthesia.
This finding shed light on a long-standing mystery: the mechanism of action of inhalational anesthetics, which has remained only partially understood for nearly 180 years. A precise understanding of how anesthetics work could pave the way for the development of more effective anesthetic agents and improved methods of administration.
Evidence-based psychological treatments, which include various forms of counseling, trauma interventions and cognitive behavioral therapy, are rooted in science and used widely to treat an array of mental health challenges. But as UC Berkeley Psychology Professor Allison Harvey describes in the journal Behaviour Research and Therapy, these treatments often fall short because of humans’ flawed memories and difficulties creating new, healthier habits. Her research explores how subtle treatment changes could significantly improve patient outcomes — both mentally and physically.
Despite overall progress in bringing down low birthweight numbers across India over the past 30 years, rates remain stubbornly high in certain states, with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and West Bengal, accounting for almost half of all such births, finds research published in the open access journal BMJ Global Health.