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Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is now possible on nanoscale samples, without having to cool them to near absolute zero.

Future applications could include imaging single molecules inside living cells and examining the structure of proteins, which would help in the study of disease and development of new drugs.

A small study of 30 students found that virtual reality experiences affected behaviour after the simulation.

Participants were assigned to receive either the virtual power of flight, akin to Superman’s ability to fly, or to fly as a passenger in a helicopter in the virtual reality simulation. People in first group were more likely to help the experimenter pick up spilt pens after their virtual experience.

Women with severe morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum) in second trimester of pregnancy were found to be more likely to suffer placental complications.

Hyperemesis gravidarum occurs in 0.5-3% of pregnancies and is generally defined as severe illness or vomiting before 22 weeks gestation, usually requiring hospitalization for intravenous fluid. The condition is caused by high levels of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), the pregnancy hormone, and a woman’s sensitivity to it.

A study of over 44000 Britons found that vegetarians had a 32% lower risk of hospitalization or death from ischaemic heart disease.

The EPIC Oxford study followed a total of 44561 men and women living in England and Scotland, 34% of whom consumed a vegetarian diet. After an average follow-up of 11.6 years, vegetarians had lower mean BMI, non-HDL-cholesterol concentration, and systolic blood pressure, and as a result a lower risk of ischaemic heart disease.

Swallowed capsules provide an alternative to endoscopes for gastrointestinal imaging. However, capsules produce lower resolution images and so are unsuitable for many investigations.

A new tethered capsule has been developed, which retains many of the benefits of capsules while providing cross-sectional microscopic images of the gut wall at 30μm × 7 μm resolution.

The new tethered capsule can rapidly provide three-dimensional, microstructural images of the upper gastrointestinal tract in a simple and painless procedure, opening up new opportunities for screening for internal diseases.

Scientists at Uppsala University have found that elderly obese patients have smaller brains.

292 elderly Swedish patients were examined using MRI. Those who were obese had 1.5% smaller total brain volumes and reduced total gray matter volume.

The results may provide evidence for cognitive suppression of appetite that may lower the risk of developing obesity in later life.