https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from Texas Tech University Researchers from the South Pole Telescope project team looked deep into the center of the Milky Way, discovering powerful, surprising bursts of light from two accreting white dwarf systems. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-south-pole-telescope-energetic-stellar.html Astronomy Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:58:27 EST news688143481 An archaeology team from Texas Tech University in collaboration with Texas Historical Commission archaeologists Kay Hindes, Jim Bruseth, Tiffany Osburn and Brad Jones found the lost site of Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo in early December. The site is located in Jackson County, Texas, on a private ranch near the Presidio la Bahía and Fort St. Louis. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-archaeology-team-uncovers-lost-mission.html Archaeology Mon, 29 Dec 2025 10:19:58 EST news686225944 A team of scientists at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) has published new evidence suggesting that the brain's protective shield—known as the blood-brain barrier (BBB)—remains largely intact in a commonly used mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The discovery challenges long-standing assumptions that Alzheimer's disease causes the BBB to "leak," potentially reshaping how researchers think about drug delivery for the disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-blood-brain-barrier-resilient-widely.html Neuroscience Mon, 29 Sep 2025 10:06:04 EDT news678359161 In a study published in the journal Information Systems Research, Texas Tech University's Shuo Yu and his collaborators developed a generative machine learning model to detect instability before a fall occurs. The hope is that the model could work within fall detection devices, such as anti-fall airbag vests or medical alert systems, to minimize injuries, increase emergency response effectiveness and lower medical costs. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-07-generative-falls.html Hi Tech & Innovation Fri, 11 Jul 2025 09:23:54 EDT news671444629 It's referred to as a phantom, yet it's anything but scary. In fact, for patients who need tumors extracted, it could help advance a promising surgical procedure. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-3d-tumor-mimic-human-tissue.html Oncology & Cancer Thu, 26 Jun 2025 06:47:29 EDT news670139241 According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 1 in 8 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. In addition, about 1 in 44 men will die from the disease, placing it second behind lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer death among American males. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-03-tbx2-protein-prostate-cancer-treatment.html Oncology & Cancer Thu, 27 Mar 2025 11:10:06 EDT news662292601 Groundbreaking findings from the landmark CLEAR (Clinical trial Comparing Lenvatinib with Ecerolimus or Pembrolizumab in Renal Cell Carcinoma) study underscore the critical role of tumor size reduction in improving survival outcomes for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-02-tumor-reduction-survival-outcomes-advanced.html Oncology & Cancer Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:40:58 EST news659248845 For decades, scientists across the globe have investigated methods to accurately measure drug permeability across the blood-brain barrier, a compact layer of cells that protect the brain from potentially dangerous substances and microbes. They struggled with a number of parameters, such as blood flow and binding to plasma proteins, which were shown to impact permeability in different ways. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-02-method-blood-brain-barrier-permeability.html Medical research Tue, 11 Feb 2025 09:30:49 EST news658488637 Texas Tech University's Jennifer Guelfo was part of a research team that found the use of a novel sub-class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) in lithium ion batteries is a growing source of pollution in air and water. https://phys.org/news/2024-07-lithium-ion-batteries-source-pfas.html Environment Mon, 08 Jul 2024 12:24:03 EDT news639660241 When a patient is experiencing heart failure, a leading cause of death worldwide, they begin to lose healthy and functioning cardiac cells. Heart failure causes these once-flexible cells to develop into fibrotic cells that are no longer able to contract and relax. This stiffening of the cardiac cells compromises their ability to carry blood efficiently to the rest of the organs in the human system. Because humans cannot regenerate these cardiac cells, the patient faces a long road to recovery marked by preventative or symptomatic treatments. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-05-cardiac-cell-regeneration-therapeutics.html Medical research Thu, 16 May 2024 12:13:01 EDT news635080377 Brine shrimp of the genus Artemia are small crustaceans that can thrive in environments where sodium concentrations are as high as 25% (more than eight times typical ocean sea water). Also known by the household pet trademark "sea monkeys," these animals are abundant in inland salt lakes where brine-fly larvae are the only other animals known to exist. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-molecular-explores-brine-shrimp-high.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 20 Dec 2023 09:55:04 EST news622288501 Recent research led by Tigga Kingston, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Texas Tech University, delivers a stark warning concerning the distressing decline of flying foxes and related species, also known as Large Old World Fruit Bats (LOWFBs). https://phys.org/news/2023-12-vital-species-emphasizes-action.html Plants & Animals Fri, 01 Dec 2023 06:58:04 EST news620636281 Considered an experimental procedure during the late 1970s when it made headlines with each birth it produced, in vitro fertilization (IVF) has helped many couples overcome infertility issues for more than four decades. In several nations, IVF is responsible for up to 3% of the babies born. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-10-specimen-reproductive-technologies.html Obstetrics & gynaecology Wed, 18 Oct 2023 06:47:00 EDT news616830417 There was a time when Catherine Wakeman thought she might become a physician, but then she had an opportunity to participate in laboratory research during her days as an undergraduate student. https://phys.org/news/2023-09-fresh-approaches-tried-and-true-antibiotics.html Molecular & Computational biology Fri, 15 Sep 2023 06:02:46 EDT news613976561 Zemfira Karamysheva wanted to understand why a parasitic-borne disease can resist drugs so successfully in hopes of eventually applying the findings to treat humans. https://phys.org/news/2023-06-effective-ways-combat-leishmaniasis-parasites.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 01 Jun 2023 12:32:53 EDT news604841569 Cancer, in all of its forms, is a public health concern responsible for more than 8 million deaths each year in the United States. In addition to its effect on patients and the health care system in general, cancer also places a burden on non-professional caregivers such as family members and friends. This can be especially true for the Hispanic population, where communication barriers, financial difficulties and sociocultural issues can be significant. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-03-impact-cancer-hispanic-patients-caregivers.html Oncology & Cancer Mon, 20 Mar 2023 15:28:33 EDT news598544909 A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 2009 to 2017 determined that approximately 1 in 44 children ages 3-17 are diagnosed with some form of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Research also has established that children with ASD have an increased risk of obesity, and obesity has been linked to increased risks for cardiometabolic disorders such as diabetes and dyslipidemia (high level of cholesterol or fat in the blood). However, the question of whether or not there is an association between autism, cardiometabolic disorders and obesity remains largely unanswered. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-03-meta-analysis-association-autism-children-cardiometabolic.html Autism spectrum disorders Fri, 10 Mar 2023 14:25:04 EST news597680701 Potassium (K+) channels are small, highly specialized conduits within every living cell that are responsible for the extremely selective and rapid transport of K+ ions across cell membranes. Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels are potassium-specific transmembrane channels that also are sensitive to voltage changes within the cell's membrane where a selectivity filter chooses K+ ions over sodium (Na+). https://phys.org/news/2022-10-shaker-channel-mutation-differs-human.html Molecular & Computational biology Wed, 12 Oct 2022 05:33:40 EDT news584771611 The ability to regulate salt and water balance is a significant challenge for animals living in freshwater habitats worldwide. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists studied lamprey, an ancient group of jawless fish that can live in fresh water and seawater. They discovered a hormone similar to prolactin that regulates salt transport proteins, enabling lamprey to adapt and survive in freshwater. https://phys.org/news/2022-09-scientists-explore-lamprey-ability-survive.html Evolution Fri, 30 Sep 2022 11:15:44 EDT news583755342 In a recently published research article, Pablo Artigas, Ph.D., from the Center for Membrane Protein Research at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Medicine's Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, and a team of collaborators applied functional and structural analyses to investigate what structural features of proton/potassium (H+/K+) pumps and sodium/potassium (Na+/K+) pumps lead them to regulate the passage of salts across membrane barriers. https://phys.org/news/2022-09-mechanisms-salt-cystic-fibrosis.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 21 Sep 2022 09:56:03 EDT news582972962 Since 1978 when the world was introduced to the first baby conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF), the procedure has become one of the primary assisted reproductive technologies, or ARTs used by the approximately one-in-seven U.S. couples that have trouble getting pregnant. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-09-specimen-cup-favorable-environment-sperm.html Obstetrics & gynaecology Thu, 08 Sep 2022 16:51:06 EDT news581874660 The COVID-19 pandemic offered a unique opportunity for climate change experts to relate sea level rise to the general public. https://phys.org/news/2022-08-covid-people-sea.html Earth Sciences Tue, 30 Aug 2022 14:14:42 EDT news581087679 Idera Lawal was always interested in tattoos. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-08-tattoo-therapy-possibility-tattoos-medical.html Medical research Thu, 11 Aug 2022 15:44:09 EDT news579451444 In a study recently published in Cancer Research, a team of researchers led by C. Patrick Reynolds, M.D., Ph.D., director for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Medicine Cancer Center, sought to expand upon his lab's previous research that showed ALT tumors identified by a biomarker known as C-circles share a common biology that confers vulnerabilities to be exploited for cancer therapy. The paper is titled "Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres in Cancer Confers a Vulnerability to Reactivation of p53 Function." https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-08-exploits-vulnerability-high-risk-cancers.html Medical research Wed, 10 Aug 2022 15:01:28 EDT news579362485 To treat some of the psychosis issues associated with Parkinson's disease, physicians often prescribe pimavanserin, an antipsychotic drug that acts within the brain to prevent hallucinations and delusions. Because of its ability to prevent or reduce these symptoms, pimavanserin also has been studied as an antipsychotic treatment for other neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and depression. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-07-drug.html Medications Thu, 28 Jul 2022 11:09:31 EDT news578225357 Many brain diseases and disorders lead to neuroinflammation, a swelling of brain tissue that is increasingly recognized as one ofthe telltale signs and disease progression factors of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Neuroinflammation can limit blood flow to areas in the brain, which can lead to the inhibition of the body's natural disease fighting mechanisms. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-03-pharmacy-patent-chemical-probe.html Medications Thu, 31 Mar 2022 11:06:52 EDT news567943609 In the summer of 2020, Texas Tech University's Office of Research Commercialization filed a patent application and applied for the COVID-19 Prioritized Examination Pilot Program with the U.S. Patent and Trade Office. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-03-stages-fda-ultra-fast-covid-.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 28 Mar 2022 10:27:33 EDT news567682049 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 2.8 million Americans experience antibiotic-resistant infections each year; more than 35,000 die from those infections.  https://phys.org/news/2022-01-hydrophilic-nanoparticle-solution-antibiotic-resistance.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 20 Jan 2022 11:27:53 EST news561900469 As the omicron variant surges, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expected to issue more robust mask guidelines to help curb COVID-19 transmission. During personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages, it has been necessary for people to utilize materials already at their disposal to craft their own face masks. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-01-absence-n95-masks-multi-layered-proper.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 19 Jan 2022 08:06:51 EST news561802009 Ischemic stroke, the second leading cause of death worldwide, occurs when a vessel to the brain is blocked, reducing blood flow to the brain and depriving it of critical supplies of oxygen and nutrients. This process leads to the death of brain cells and leaves the patient with a sudden loss of certain body functions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-10-ways-neurolysin-brain.html Neuroscience Fri, 08 Oct 2021 10:23:54 EDT news552907430