Health Research: Shaking the nanomaterials out: New method to purify contaminated water ♦ Do you really need that MRI? ♦ Researchers report possibility of using unused human pancreata to build new organs

Shaking the nanomaterials out: New method to purify contaminated water Nano implies small -- and that's great for use in medical devices, beauty products and smartphones -- but it's also a problem. All these tiny particles get into our water and are difficult to remove. Now, researchers have a novel and very simple way to take the nanomaterials out.

Researchers report possibility of using unused human pancreata to build new organs Researchers have been working for years to develop an artificial pancreas in the lab to help the millions of people with type 1 diabetes. But what if the answer is to 'recycle' the more than 300 human pancreata from organ donors that aren't currently being used?

Scientists identify effective and novel mechanisms to block chikungunya virus Scientists looking at the antiviral mechanisms of two previously identified human monoclonal antibodies have found they potently inhibit chikungunya virus (CHIKV) at multiple stages of infection. These antibodies prevent CHIKV from both entering and exiting cells, an important finding that could lead to new approaches in therapeutics and vaccines to fight infectious diseases.

Do you really need that MRI? Too many tests at the doctor's office could cost you more than just dollars. In addition to the huge hit to your wallet, there's also the potential harm of false positives, and just because a test has traditionally been done for a condition doesn't mean it's the best way to treat it. One expert is helping lead a national push to determine what neurologic tests or services are performed more than they should be.