Science

A new study conducted in Israel shows that maternal stress during the first trimester of pregnancy puts newborns at risk for iron deficiency. The study tested women who lived in an area to which rockets were fired and compared them with women whose pregnancy began after the rocket attacks ended.

For years it was believed that the immune system has a negative role in the recovery from neurodegenerative diseases, such as strokes. Now, a research team led by scholars from Sweden and Israel and backed by the EU, is reexamining this assumption.

A study by scientists found that individuals could be better at problem solving on their own, as long as they were confident in their own answers.When they attempted to answer in groups, those who offered the right answer tended to be drowned out by more confident members who confused them or led them astray.

Israelis who have suffered a heart attack are far more at risk of a repeat attack if they live in an area with high levels of air pollution, new research has found. The study found that cardiac patients living in polluted areas were 43 percent more likely to have another heart attack than those who lived in areas with cleaner air.

A biodegradable balloon that isolates tumors from healthy tissues is able to minimize radiation exposure to healthy organs in prostate cancer sufferers. The technology, by Israeli startup BioProtect, is already marketed in Europe.

Are you afraid of flying? The University of Haifa in Israel claims it has recently implemented an effective and proven form of therapy that uses virtual reality technology to treat the common phobia. Instead of asking patients to try to imagine they are on board a flight, they are exposed to a simulated environment by using a helmet that provides a 3D experience of all stages of flying.

A new research conducted in Israel might lead to the development of new methods for controlling the growth of cancer. Scientists are hopeful it could lead to treatments that will transform cancer from a lethal disease to a chronic, manageable one.

Employees with supportive bosses are less likely to take days off than those with difficult employers, a new study from Haifa University in Israel shows. When supervisor offers emotional and instrumental support, employees are more likely to recover without needing to take that extra afternoon or day off.

The device, developed by researchers from the Technion and Carmel Medical Center, detects respiratory deterioration before the onset of distress, which can otherwise lead to serious conditions in premature babies.

Green tea can help beat bad breath, according to a recent scientific study. The study found that antioxidants in green tea, called polyphenols, destroy a number of compounds in the mouth that can lead to bad breath, tooth decay and even mouth cancer.

Muscles can be toned, endurance can be refined, leadership qualities can be taught. But how do you train a hockey player's brain? Can a coach work the areas of a player's brain responsible for awareness and intuition? The Israeli Air Force, of all people, has the answer.

Israeli scientists made a step towards understanding the way stress impacts our health and how to regulate it. A new research reveals an on/off mechanism that can regulate the release of cortisol in the brain. The findings might be useful to understand pathological states of chronic stress – that lead to anxiety disorders and depression.

A 92-year-old scientist developed a kit that can detect the presence of bacteria resistant to antibiotics. The kit, which will be launched in Europe, also offers immediate information on the type of antibiotic that might still work.

Israeli nutrition experts found it doesn’t matter which kind of diet you choose – the outcome depends on vegetable consumption. Your chances of losing weight hinges on eating more vegetables and cutting down on sweets rather than on whether you consume less carbs or fat.

Things are looking up for aging mice and, if this research pays off, for aging humans, too. Researchers found that the anti-aging protein sirtuin can make male mice live about 16 percent longer than average, which could pave the way for humans as well.