On its own, the hydrogel temporarily increased bone density by two-to-threefold. Credit: Flowbone/EPFL LBOShareOrthopedic researchers have developed a promising new nanoparticle hydrogel that can be injected directly into bones weakened by osteoporosis. In a study recently published in the journal Bone, experts say that their novel solution could help patients resist potentially fatal osteoporotic fractures.Osteoporosis is an incurable disease that eventually affects an estimated 50 percent of women and 25 percent of men over the age of 50. Weakened and brittle bones often result in osteoporotic fractures, many of which can pose major longterm complications, some of which are deadly. But while existing medication regimens either decrease old bone resorption rates or support new bone generation, these treatments can take as long as a year before providing tangible results.In the absence of effective preventive measures, around 40 percent of women aged 50 and older will suffer at least one major osteoporotic fracture; in men, the percentage is around 20 percent, Dominque Pioletti, head of the Laboratory of Biomechanical Orthopedics at Switzerlands Ecole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne (EPFL) and study coauthor, said in an accompanying statement on Tuesday.Pioletti added that many people who experience osteoporotic fractures dont necessarily realize how severe the injury may be. Elderly patients, for example, face a 20 percent mortality rate within a year of fracturing the femoral neck bone near their hips. Of that same population, over half will never completely heal from their injuries.The approach developed by Piolettis team, in collaboration with EPFL startup Flowbone, deals directly with the sites of potential fractures. Most localized options take the form of pastes that harden into reinforcing, cementlike material. The new treatment, however, relies on a hydrogel made from hyaluronic acid and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, which together mimic a bones naturally occurring minerals. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.In laboratory trials, researchers injected the hydrogel into the bones of rats with osteoporosis. Within only a few weeks, experts saw a two-to-threefold increase in local bone densities when just using the hydrogel by itself. When combined with a popular anti-catabolic drug Zoledronate, injection site bone density increased as much as 4.8-fold in only 2-4 weeks.The hydrogel injections are not a cure-all, and did not necessarily provide a permanent solution to local bone weakening. Still, combining it with existing therapy may help speed up patients relief and recovery efforts.Our findings suggest that injectable hydrogels with localized anti-catabolic drug delivery can complement systemic anti-catabolic treatment, or bone-boosting systemic anabolic treatment, by rapidly increasing local bone density, said Pioletti.Moving forward, Piolettis team and Flowbone hope to begin clinical human trials after receiving regulatory approval.Then, we want to build on this evidence, ultimately to develop therapies to prevent fractures due to osteoporosis, he said.

Skip to contentExtreme Climate UpdateClimateYes, you can blame climate change for the LA wildfiresLos Angeles wildfire season now lasts roughly 23 days longer than in preindustrial times As the Santa Ana winds raced through the Los Angeles area in January, they fanned the flames of ongoing blazes. In this photo of the Hughes Fire taken on January 22, winds can be seen breathing life into flames on a hillside near Castaic Lake. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty ImagesBy Nikk Ogasa10 seconds agoA wicked convergence of blustery wind and prolonged drought has prompted devastation in Southern California, as wildfires in Los Angeles have killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 16,000 structures. According to a new World Weather Attribution analysis, this grave toll was caused partly by humankinds burning of fossil fuels.The hot, dry, windy weather driving the fires was made 1.35 times more likely by human-caused climate change, while the lack of rainfall in preceding months may have been made 2.4 times more likely, the analysis released January 28 shows.

Nature, Published online: 28 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08566-8Author Correction: Gut microbiota strain richness is species specific and affects engraftment

Nature, Published online: 28 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08693-wAuthor Correction: Lithocholic acid phenocopies anti-ageing effects of calorie restriction

By modifying 20 regions of the genome, scientists successfully bred mice with two male parents and raised them to maturity.

An ongoing tuberculosis outbreak in two Kansas counties has sickened dozens since January 2024.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, and it has forced the two opposing sides to improvise weapons during the conflict. That's why the European Union is reportedly proposing a ban on all video game console sales to Russia.As reported by Financial Times, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas indicated that PlayStation and Xbox consoles may land on the sanctions list because Russia has used them to "operate drones."Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony stopped selling their consoles in Russia in March 2022, roughly a month after the Russian invasion began. However, that didn't stop second-hand sellers from getting consoles to Russian buyers. The proposed sanctions would be aimed at closing off that loophole.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Assassin's Creed Shadows Collector's Edition Guide (Hardcover) $40.49 (was $45) | Releases March 20 Preorder at Amazon Assassin's Creed Shadows Strategy Guide (Paperback) $30 | Releases March 20 Preorder at Amazon The Art of Assassin's Creed Shadows (Hardcover) $30.49 (was $50) | Releases March 25 Preorder at Amazon The Art of Assassin's Creed Shadows Deluxe Edition (Hardcover) $100 Preorder at Amazon Assassin's Creed fans can add multiple new books to their collection when Assassin's Creed Shadows launches this March. An official strategy guide will be published alongside the game on March 20, and Dark Horse's Assassin's Creed Shadows art book will arrive on March 25. Each book has standard and collector's variants and are available to preorder at Amazon, and two of the books are discounted. You can preorder the Assassin's Creed Shadows Collector's Edition Guide for a 10% discount, dropping the price to $40.49. Preorders for The Art of Assassin's Creed Shadows are steeply discounted, allowing fans to save nearly $20 on the upcoming hardcover book.If you haven't preordered a copy of the game itself, check out our comprehensive Assassin's Creed Shadows preorder guide for details on all editions and bonuses.Assassin's Creed Shadows Strategy Guides + Art BooksAssassin's Creed Shadows: Collector's Edition Strategy Guide (Hardcover) -- $40.49 ($45) | Releases March 20Assassin's Creed Shadows Strategy Guide (Paperback) -- $30 | Releases March 20The Art of Assassin's Creed Shadows (Hardcover) -- $30.49 ($50) | Releases March 25The Art of Assassin's Creed Shadows Deluxe Edition (Hardcover) -- $100 | Releases March 25 Assassin's Creed Shadows Collector's Edition Guide (Hardcover) $40.49 (was $45) | Releases March 20 Assassin's Creed Shadows Collector's Edition strategy guide is a premium hardcover book with a striking red background the game's logo in the center.Beyond a hardcover binding, the main perk of this edition is the extra 32-page section, which brings the page count up to 448. It's unclear what to expect in the bonus section, but previous Assassin's Creed collector's edition guides included chapters with exclusive artwork.The guide's publisher Piggyback has a long history with Assassin's Creed, as it has created strategy guides for a bunch AC games dating all the way back to Assassin's Creed II in 2009.Like its previous Assassin's Creed guides, Piggyback's AC Shadows guidebook is an exhaustive tome of information that aims to cover every aspect of the game's open world. Here's a list of the core sections in the guide:Companion Chapter - Overview of all story missions with a flowchart to contextualize your progression through the game.Complete Walkthrough - Step-by-step guide for all of the game's missions, including mainline quests and optional content.Atlas - A series of world maps with detailed annotations identifying all points of interest.Inventory - Every weapon, piece of gear, resources, and items are collected in a comprehensive catalog.Mastery - This section fully explains the game's skill system and upgrade trees while offering tips on combinations of skills to create your ideal build. Preorder at Amazon Assassin's Creed Shadows Strategy Guide (Paperback) $30 | Releases March 20 The $30 paperback strategy guide includes all of the sections outlined above, but it clocks in at 416 pages since it doesn't have the bonus chapter found in the Collector's Edition. The standard edition strategy guide is also available in a bundle with the Amazon-exclusive Limited Edition of the game for $100. Preorder at Amazon The Art of Assassin's Creed Shadows (Hardcover) $30.49 (was $50) | Releases March 25 Releasing five days after the game, The Art of Assassin's Creed Shadows is up for preorder for only $30.49 at Amazon. This is a 39% discount from its $50 retail price, so now's a good time to secure your preorder.Published by Dark Horse, the official 256-page hardcover art book details the development of Assassin's Creed Shadows with a plethora of concept art featuring the dual protagonists, the feudal Japan landscapes, and the gear you'll use throughout the adventure. Preorder at Amazon The Art of Assassin's Creed Shadows Deluxe Edition (Hardcover) $100 At $100, The Art of Assassin's Creed Shadows Deluxe Edition is significantly more expensive than the standard hardcover--especially when you consider Amazon's discount on the standard version. The Deluxe Edition has an exclusive cover that with a minimalistic aesthetic that's similar to the Collector's Edition guide. The Deluxe Edition has the same interior content, but it also comes with an exclusive slipcase and a portfolio containing a gallery-caliber art print for display. Preorder at Amazon Piggyback's Nintendo BooksIn recent years, Piggyback is best known for its pair of The Legend of Zelda strategy guides, both of which are on sale for big price cuts at Amazon. Piggyback is also publishing a retrospective on the Metroid Prime Trilogy this year, and you can preorder Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective for $45 at Amazon.Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Icebeard Shark is a mythical rarity fish in Roblox's Fisch, introduced in the Northern Expedition update. This icy blue shark not only offers a decent amount of EXP and in-game cash when caught and sold but is also key to completing the Poseidon Trial Puzzle deep in Atlantis.

Team Ninja has had a rather busy start to the year. Last week's Xbox Developer Direct saw Team Ninja make a surprise appearance, where it finally announced the existence of Ninja Gaiden 4 and shadow-dropped Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, an Unreal Engine 5 remaster of the original 2008 game. And as if that wasn't enough, Team Ninja has just announced that last year's Rise of the Ronin will be coming to PC very soon.