Smoking during pregnancy doubles the risk of sudden unexpected infant death, study warns

The first findings to result from a collaboration between Seattle Children’s Research Institute and Microsoft data scientists provides expecting mothers new information about how smoking before and during pregnancy contributes to the risk of an infant dying suddenly and unexpectedly before their first birthday. According to the study published in Pediatrics, any amount of smoking…

New species of stiletto snake capable of sideways strikes discovered in West Africa

IMAGE: Close up of the the first discovered specimen of the newly described species (Atractaspis branchi or Branch’s Stiletto Snake) in its natural habitat. view more  Following a series of recent surveys in north-western Liberia and south-eastern Guinea, an international team of researchers found three stiletto snakes which were later identified as a species previously unknown…

New genetic data on 50,000 UK Biobank participants available to global health research

A vast tranche of new UK Biobank genetic data becomes available to health researchers today, offering an unprecedented resource to enhance understanding of human biology and aid in therapeutic discovery. The exome sequence data of 50,000 UK Biobank participants were generated at the Regeneron Genetics Center through a collaboration between UK Biobank, Regeneron (US) and…

Air pollution may impact fetal cardiovascular system, Rutgers study says

Microscopic particles in air pollution inhaled by pregnant women may damage fetal cardiovascular development, according to a study by Rutgers researchers. The study, published in the journal Cardiovascular Toxicology, found that early in the first trimester and late in the third trimester were critical windows during which pollutants most affect the mother’s and fetus’ cardiovascular…