“Scientists have built a tiny gut explorer robot to detect and potentially treat a lethal common cancer, in the latest advance in the fast-evolving field of medical robotics.

The machine makes 3D scans of the colon that were previously impossible, using its mussel shell-like shape to roll through the digestive system when guided by a magnet outside the body. The innovation could boost detection of bowel cancer, which is treatable in its early stages but is the second-biggest cause of cancer deaths worldwide.”

From Financial Times.

“Researchers have discovered a new antibiotic molecule that targets a broad range of disease-causing bacteria — even strains resistant to commercial drugs — and is not toxic to human cells.

The molecule was found in soil samples collected from a laboratory technician’s garden. The discovery shows that ‘there is terrifically interesting stuff hiding in plain sight’, says Kim Lewis, a microbiologist at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, who was not involved in the research. ‘Kudos to them that they knew what to look for.’

The latest molecule targets bacteria’s protein-making factory, the ribosome, in a way that other antibiotic drugs don’t. The ribosome is an attractive antibiotic target because bacteria don’t easily develop resistance to drugs targeting the structure, adds Lewis.”

From Nature.

“Smartphone use was associated with positive mental health outcomes in a new University of South Florida study that surveyed 1,500 11-to-13-year-olds in Florida.

Why it matters: This is a rare finding in a feed of messages about how screens are poisoning kids’ minds.

What they found: Children with smartphones were more likely to feel good about themselves and spend time with friends — and less likely to report depression symptoms — compared to kids without phones.”

From Axios.

“The African region has recorded the steepest decline globally in tuberculosis (TB) deaths since 2015, despite falling short of key milestones to significantly lower the burden of the disease and end its toll on health and lives.

Deaths from TB fell by 42% between 2015 and 2023 while cases declined by 24% over the same period, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Global TB Report 2024. 

The reductions were mainly due to increased efforts by countries to reinforce case detection and provision of treatment, thus averting deaths. About 1.9 million cases were detected in 2023 compared with 1.4 million in 2020. Over the same period, treatment coverage rose from 55% to 74% across the region.”

From World Health Organization.