Skip to content

IBSA Foundation blog

A collection of regularly updated articles designed to make the world of science and health more accessible and engaging.
Catterina Seia27 Apr 20223 min read

“The Michelangelo Effect” - Neurorehabilitation through art and virtual reality

Art has an extraordinarily beneficial power. Observing of works of art through virtual reality has led to improved motor skills in stroke patients.
Start Reading
Paolo Rossi Castelli22 Apr 20223 min read

When humans infect animals

‘Spillback’ is when human pathogens mutate and affect other species, and almost a hundred cases have been recorded in the last twenty years.
Start Reading
Paolo Rossi Castelli07 Apr 20222 min read

Super-insulin from sea snails

Conus snails produce extremely fast-acting insulin, which they use to paralyse their prey. If suitably modified this molecule may be useful for diabetics.
Start Reading
Paolo Rossi Castelli31 Mar 20222 min read

Music and audio beats against anxiety

A study by Ryerson University shows that sounds with a pre-set frequency and volume, combined with music chosen by AI, tangibly enhance the calming effect.
Start Reading
Catterina Seia29 Mar 20223 min read

Nature, symbols and relation. Public archaeology as a therapeutic practice.

Community archaeology or action archaeology are terms that are entering the lexicon of contemporary archaeology, as a therapeutic practices.
Start Reading
Paolo Rossi Castelli24 Mar 20222 min read

The brain lives on for 30 seconds after death

An unexpected discovery made by an international team, examining the results of an EEG on an elderly patient, who died while the test was in progress.
Start Reading
Paolo Rossi Castelli17 Mar 20223 min read

A new gene therapy for Mediterranean anaemia

A new gene therapy for Mediterranean anaemia. Genetic engineering techniques are employed to repair diseased blood stem cells.
Start Reading
Paolo Rossi Castelli10 Mar 20222 min read

A 'bio-hybrid' fish helps study the heart

The little artificial fish contains two layers of human heart cells, which contract to create a sophisticated model of how the heart also moves.
Start Reading
Stefano Santarelli08 Mar 20224 min read

Science through comics

The language of comics is an extraordinary way to promote science, especially for young people. Let’s Science, the IBSA Foundation project proves it.
Start Reading
Paolo Rossi Castelli03 Mar 20222 min read

A genetic migraine map has been developed

An international consortium has analysed data from 873,000 people and identified 123 DNA areas linked to the headaches. Possible more effective drugs.
Start Reading
Giacinto Di Pietrantonio01 Mar 20224 min read

The lighter side of digital technologies

Digital art is now fully part of the discussion on new forms of contemporary art . Neil Mendozause both ‘traditional’ and ‘new’ digital techniques.
Start Reading
Paolo Rossi Castelli24 Feb 20222 min read

Researchers identify possible ‘drivers’ of muscular dystrophy.

Sphingolipids are molecules that appear to play a major role in the disease. If studies are confirmed it may pave the way for new and more effective drugs.
Start Reading
Catterina Seia22 Feb 20225 min read

Well-being becomes a meaningful horizon for museums

From 31 January to 2 February 2022 the first international summit entitled The Museums, Health & Wellbeing was held, organised by MuseumNext.
Start Reading
Paolo Rossi Castelli18 Feb 20224 min read

“This is how we reactivated the spinal cord”

These are the words of Silvestro Micera, head of the bioengineering section of a project, which has allowed three paraplegics to begin to walk again.
Start Reading
Paolo Rossi Castelli10 Feb 20222 min read

Magnesium helps immunotherapy for tumours

Encouraging results of a study from Basel. Magnesium activates a protein on the outer wall of T lymphocytes, essential for boosting defences.
Start Reading
Paolo Rossi Castelli03 Feb 20223 min read

A marker to measure depression

A blood test can determine the activity of a key molecule in depressive disorders and the effect of treatment, without having to wait weeks or months.
Start Reading
Giacinto Di Pietrantonio01 Feb 20225 min read

Infinite development

Digital art increasingly blurs the fine line between artist and observer. Chromata, one of Michael Bromley’s interactive works, is an example.
Start Reading
Paolo Rossi Castelli27 Jan 20222 min read

More ‘tailored’ vaccines for dog allergies

Japanese researchers have managed to pinpoint spots on certain molecules produced by dogs that are the strongest allergens. Possible new vaccines.
Start Reading