Menu Close

Articles on Lungs

Displaying 1 - 20 of 38 articles

Active oil wells can often be found next door to homes, office buildings and even schools. David McNew/Getty Images

LA’s long, troubled history with urban oil drilling is nearing an end after years of health concerns

The Los Angeles area has over 20,000 active, idle or abandoned oil wells. The city and county have voted to ban new ones after studies showed health problems in residents living nearby.
Red mitochondria in airway cells become coated with green SARS-COV-2 proteins after viral infection: Researchers discovered that the virus that causes COVID-19 damages lungs by attacking mitochondria. (Stephen Archer)

How COVID-19 damages lungs: The virus attacks mitochondria, continuing an ancient battle that began in the primordial soup

COVID-19 causes lung injury and lowers oxygen levels in patients because the SARS-CoV-2 virus attacks cells’ mitochondria. This attack is a throwback to a primitive war between viruses and bacteria.
A Cinnamon-Chested Bee-Eater is released after being ringed at the National Museum of Kenya. Luke Dray/Getty Images

3-D techniques shed light on what makes a bird’s lungs so efficient

An understanding of bird biology is the starting point for conservation efforts. 3-D reconstructions of biological structures greatly add to this understanding.
The blood vessel dilation caused by sildenafil (Viagra) can be beneficial in lung diseases such as pulmonary arterial hypertension or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. (Shutterstock)

Why Viagra may be useful in treating lung diseases

Sildenafil — better known as Viagra — may be helpful in treating lung diseases like pulmonary arterial hypertension and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, for which there are few effective treatments.
Xenotransplantation is the transplanting of cells, tissues or organs from animals to humans. Pre-clinical trials of organ transplant from pigs have addressed some of the technical barriers. (Shutterstock)

Organ transplants from pigs: Medical miracle or pandemic in the making?

New developments in organ transplants from animals show promise. However, there has been no public engagement about a potential risk. It may streamline a pathway to humans for new zoonotic diseases.
The view through an electron microscope shows the spikes that create the ‘corona’ effect on the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases

MIS-C is a rare but dangerous illness striking children weeks after they get COVID-19 – here’s what we know about it

Even kids who were asymptomatic when they had COVID-19 have developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome, a new review of hundreds of cases shows.

Top contributors

More