“Super-human red blood cells” hide drugs from immune system attack

Seems salt isn't just good on fries. This week we look at two different research efforts involving the common condiment – one that could help combat obesity and another that sees salty nanoparticles destroying cancer cells from the inside out. There's also a remarkable gallery from the Ocean Art underwater photo contest and lots more. Enjoy the New Atlas Weekend Edition! [Medical]( [“Super-human red blood cells” hide drugs from immune system attack]( [Researchers have developed a technique that allows red blood cells to be filled with drug molecules and then returned to a body to home in on a specific location]( Researchers have developed what they are calling “super-human red blood cells.” These are normal red blood cells loaded with synthetic drug molecules, creating a powerful hybrid cell designed to deliver drugs to targeted locations in the body. [Read more]( [Digital Cameras]( [The stunning winners of this year's Ocean Art underwater photo contest]( [Crab-Eater Seal, by Greg Lecoeur, took first place in Cold Water and the overall Best of Show award in the 2019 Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition]( The annual Ocean Art Underwater Photo competition, now in its eighth year, is a chance to get up close and personal with our marine cousins so many times removed. Here are all this year's winners and runners up in a spectacular photo gallery. [Read more]( [Biology]( [Scientists get goosebumps after undomesticated wolf puppies play fetch]( [Scientists were left with goosebumps after making the unexpected discovery that some wolf puppies can naturally fetch an object]( Scientists have been left dumbfounded after wolf puppies raised in their care exhibited a totally unexpected ability to retrieve a ball much like a domesticated dog, shedding light on how the early stages of dog domestication may have played out. [Read more]( [Medical]( [New Harvard study fights fat with salty, icy injections]( [Injecting an icy saline slurry into fat deposits could be a new fat-reduction technique]( It sure sounds like an online pop-up ad, but Harvard scientists have created and tested a new treatment that melts away body fat. The new technique involves injecting an icy saline solution directly into fat deposits to shrink them by half. [Read more]( [Medical]( [New imaging method reveals lack of key brain protein in schizophrenia]( [Patients with schizophrenia displayed significantly low levels of a brain protein known to facilitate synaptic communication]( A team of UK researchers has, for the first time in living human brains, demonstrated how the cognitive dysfunction seen in schizophrenia may be caused by the lack of a key protein known to facilitate communication between neurons in the brain. [Read more]( [Medical]( [Salty nanoparticles slip into cancer cells to wreak destruction]( [Jin Xie, associate professor of chemistry at the University of Georgia, has led the development of a promising new cancer treatment]( Causing the death of cancer cells while leaving healthy ones in tact is central to the goal of safer, more effective forms of treatment for the disease, and scientists have now come up with one that leans heavily a common household item – salt. [Read more]( [Tiny Houses]( [Off-grid tiny house has some surprises inside]( [The cost of the Bradford 26' Tiny House came in at roughly US$119,000]( The recently-completed Bradford 26' Tiny House from Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses looks unassuming from the outside, but has some notable features inside. These include an elevating bed, a home projector, and a jacuzzi-style bathtub. [Read more]( [Science]( [THCP: A newly discovered, potentially more potent, cannabis compound]( [Italian scientists have identified two new cannabinoids, including a compound called THCP that could be significantly stronger than traditional THC]( A new study has described the discovery of a previously unknown cannabinoid. Dubbed THCP, the molecule is significantly more potent that its well-known counterpart THC, however, it is unknown how present it is in common cannabis strains. [Read more]( [Medical]( [Specific gut bacteria may reduce severity of Parkinson's disease]( [In early studies with worms a common probiotic was found to prevent the accumulation of toxic proteins associated with Parkinson's disease]( A new study is describing how a particular probiotic bacterium may have the ability to prevent the abnormal accumulation of a protein commonly associated with the neurological damage seen in Parkinson's disease. [Read more]( [Architecture]( [Designer of Europe's tallest skyscraper reveals new twisting towers]( [There's no word yet as to when the Xiangjiang Gate is due to begin construction]( RMJM, which designed Europe's tallest skyscraper, the Lakhta Center, was recently chosen to create an unusual project in China. The Xiangjiang Gate will rise to a maximum height of 177 m (580 ft) and consist of two twisting towers that join together. [Read more]( [Outdoors]( [Electric AWD camping trailer self-drives over pavement and muddy trail]( [OzX is testing this rugged, little prototype trailer now and also making the hybrid drive scalable to larger dual-axle caravans]( Dethleffs isn't the only company pondering an electrified camping trailer. Australian firm OzXcorp is hard at work on a supplementary e-drive to turn hard-edged off-road caravans into semi-self-propelled machines with Level 4 autonomous capabilities. [Read more]( [Environment]( [Ocean temperatures hit highest levels ever recorded]( [A new study has revealed not just how warm our ocean's have gotten, but that they continue to do so at an accelerated pace]( A new study has laid bare the alarming reality of the impact of climate change on the oceans, with the analysis revealing the world's oceans were warmer in 2019 than any other time in recorded human history. [Read more]( [Medical]( [New AI system tracks blood glucose using non-invasive ECG data]( [A system that relies on ECG data is currently demonstrating 82 percent accuracy detecting low blood glucose events in early pilot studies]( The dream of a non-invasive device to continually monitor blood glucose levels has never become reality. The latest prospective technique, from the University of Warwick, uses artificial intelligence to detect low blood glucose from simple ECG data. [Read more]( [Health & Wellbeing]( [Fish-oil-derived drug fails in massive final phase human trial]( [A clinical trial failure comes after a similar omega-3 formulation was approved by the FDA in December last year]( A Phase 3 clinical trial into the efficacy of a fish-oil-derived drug called Epanova has been discontinued. The trial was designed to establish the use of the drug, a formulation of two omega-3 fatty acids, as an adjunct to statins for heart disease. [Read more]( [Automotive]( [VW camper van's Swiss Army kitchen clears space for a bathroom]( [Queensize Camper Inside Two camper van]( Queensize debuted with one of the weirdest camper vans ever, but now it's coming back down to Earth. Its new Inside Two VW van supports everyone from rootless adventurers to road-bound coworkers with a smart transforming kitchen and toilet room. [Read more]( [Health & Wellbeing]( [Could exercise be replaced with a protein supplement?]( [If you're unable to get sufficient exercise, a protein known as Sestrin may help make up for it]( For people such as the elderly, injured or physically challenged, getting enough exercise can be difficult. Help may be on its way, however, as new research indicates that an existing protein provides some of the key benefits of exercise. [Read more]( [Tiny Houses]( [Tiny house offers flexibility with off-grid tech and elevating bed]( [The Timberwolf 24' Tiny House cost roughly US$95,000, including its off-the-grid-equipment]( Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses recently completed a compact new model that offers the flexibility to travel and to host extra guests. The Timberwolf 24' Tiny House runs off-grid and features an elevating bed that turns the living room into a bedroom. [Read more]( [Medical]( [Liquid metal shredder kills superbugs without drugs]( [A microscope image of the liquid metal nanoparticles, which may be a promising new form of treatment against antibiotic-resistant bacteria]( One of humanity’s biggest threats is also the smallest – bacteria. But now, researchers at RMIT in Australia have found a new method for killing these superbugs that they can’t resist – magnetic nanoparticles that physically tear them to shreds. [Read more]( [Medical]( [Reduction in tongue fat linked to less severe sleep apnea]( [A new study has shown how fattier tongues can increase symptoms of sleep apnea]( New research has now zeroed in on the finer details of how weight gain and obesity can be a driver of sleep apnea, revealing that a reduction of fat in the tongue appears key to lessening the severity of its symptoms. [Read more]( [Materials]( [Lightweight gold made of plastic is still as pure as your wedding ring]( [A piece of the new lightweight gold made with plastic]( With gold, beauty and weight are two sides of the same coin. Now, by mixing it with plastic instead of other metals, researchers have created a new form of gold with as little as one-10th the usual weight, but retaining the same purity. [Read more]( [Health & Wellbeing]( [Longer lifespan linked to green tea consumption in Chinese study]( [At least three cups of green tea per week was linked to longer lifespan in a Chinese study]( A large study out of China has found drinking green tea at least three times a week can be linked to longer lifespan and lower rates of heart disease and stroke. The same association was not seen in black tea drinkers. [Read more]( You are receiving this email because you signed up for our daily newsletter at [newatlas.com]( (or [gizmag.com]( before August 2016). 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