In a surprising discovery, scientists have found that the heart possesses 'sweet taste' receptors, similar to those on our tongues, and that stimulating these receptors with sweet substances can modulate the heartbeat. This research opens new avenues for understanding heart function and potentially for developing novel treatments for heart failure.
Read more: Sweet taste receptors in the heart: A new pathway for cardiac regulation
A nut used in herbal tea has become a hydrogel perfect for a variety of biomedical uses in new research. Scientists created a malva nut hydrogel for medical uses ranging from wound care to ECG readings. The research doesn't rely on the rumored health benefits of the nuts -- in China, they're known as the sore throat remedy Pangdahai (PDH) -- but for their ability to swell 20 times their weight in water.
Read more: This research is absolutely nuts -- for better health care