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It’s not often that we get to talk about vampires‚ skincare‚ and sports injuries in the same sentence‚ but there is one medical treatment that unites these seemingly separate worlds. It’s called platelet-rich plasma (PRP)‚ and it’s been growing in popularity in recent years. But how does it work – and‚ for that matter‚ does it actually work at all&;#63;What is PRP&;#63;PRP is obtained using a sample of a patient’s blood. A tube of this blood is then spun at high speed in a centrifuge‚ a process that separates its different components into distinct layers.One of these layers is plasma‚ which contains a high concentration of platelets. These colorless cells have a key function in helping the blood to clot‚ so they play a crucial role in wound healing. The PRP can be extracted and then injected back into different areas of the body.How is PRP used&;#63;People have been interested in the potential applications of PRP for decades‚ across various medical disciplines. Here’s a rundown of just a few.Bone graftsThe main way in which PRP is used in clinical practice – and the use for which most preparation systems have been granted FDA clearance – is for bone grafts.Bone grafts can theoretically be performed in any area of the body‚ but they are commonly used in dentistry when bone loss has occurred in part of the jaw. This may be necessary before receiving a dental implant‚ for example.Material from your own body‚ donor material from another person or animal‚ or completely synthetic material can be used. It essentially provides a scaffold on which the body can get to work growing new bone tissue. PRP is used in this context to help the process along‚ as some believe it can help speed up bone regeneration.Sports medicineFor a number of years‚ sports medicine practitioners have been exploring the use of PRP to help heal soft tissue injuries. This can include injuries to the tendons‚ ligaments‚ muscles‚ or cartilage‚ and even the early stages of damage associated with osteoarthritis.The theory goes that injecting a concentrated dose of platelets to the site of an injury might help supercharge the healing process‚ since these cells are well-known for their role in natural tissue repair.“Vampire” facialsPeople are always looking for the next big thing in anti-aging skincare‚ so it’s not all that surprising that someone had the bright idea of injecting PRP into the face to see if it can reverse wrinkles.So-called vampire facials using PRP have become a favored treat for celebrities and influencers‚ with practitioners promising glowing results that only get better with time. It can be pricey‚ and images of blood-spattered faces mid-treatment may put off the squeamish – not forgetting the small‚ but very real risk‚ of bloodborne infections. Hair regrowthA clinical trial back in 2015 suggested that injecting PRP into the scalp could be beneficial for treating androgenic alopecia. The thinking was that growth factors released by platelets could stimulate stem cells in the scalp to generate new follicles‚ thereby boosting hair growth. Does PRP treatment actually work&;#63;You could go out tomorrow and book yourself a vampire facial‚ but that doesn’t mean that the evidence base for PRP is rock solid.As explained by Johns Hopkins Medicine‚ doctors are allowed to prescribe PRP if they feel it will benefit a patient‚ but most uses of the treatment are still considered “investigational”. Evidence from scientific studies to back up the different uses of PRP vary substantially. The American Academy of Dermatology says that there are lots of unanswered questions about the use of PRP in facials‚ and very few studies have been conducted. The procedure doesn’t appear to cause harm for most people‚ at least as long as proper infection control procedures are followed‚ but there are simply no guarantees that you will get the results you’re hoping for.In sports medicine‚ a 2010 review concluded that much of the excitement around PRP was based on animal studies‚ and that human studies were lacking. Similarly‚ 10 years later‚ a review of the literature focusing specifically on the use of PRP in healing bone fractures concluded that its routine use “cannot be recommended” due to conflicting evidence.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the UK does not recommend PRP for routine use in treating osteoarthritis of the knee‚ due to a lack of quality evidence‚ while the American College of Rheumatology specifically warned against the procedure in 2019 guidelines. In dentistry‚ arguably the longest-standing use of this treatment‚ a 2020 study reported‚ “Positive impact of PRP on long-term implant survival and success could not be found‚” after following a small group of dental implant recipients for an average of 13 years.And finally‚ the clinical trial that looked at PRP for hair loss was very small‚ including only 20 individuals who were all male. More research will be needed to confirm any benefits of using PRP in this patient population.A whiff of promise&;#63;The overall picture is pretty shaky‚ but there is one area where the treatment is showing some promise‚ which has come to light only recently. There are hopes that PRP could benefit those experiencing sustained anosmia – the loss of sense of smell – following a bout of COVID-19.A 2023 study found that patients undergoing PRP injections into the nose had improved olfactory function after 10 weeks. This followed a similarly positive earlier study in 2022‚ and a review of the data so far in 2024 found evidence that PRP “is a promising and safe therapeutic option” for these patients. Perhaps we’re about to see a PRP treatment with more hard evidence to back it up. For now‚ if you really fancy getting a facial with your own blood‚ be picky about the provider you use. And maybe don’t expect miracles.All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text‚ images‚ and links may be edited‚ removed‚ or added to at a later date to keep information current. The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice‚ diagnosis‚ or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions. 

Mark your diaries‚ folks: On May 5‚ 2024‚ the vaquita survey kicks off as the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society goes in search of the world’s rarest mammal. Having been issued an extinction alert by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) – the first in 70 years – it’s a critical time for one of the planet's cutest cetaceans‚ estimated to have as few as 10 individuals left in the wild.The survey has been running annually as an independent scientific investigation into the surviving population of the vaquita porpoise‚ Phocoena sinus. It’s conducted in the UNESCO-recognized Vaquita Refuge‚ a federally protected area where gillnet fishing is banned – one of the biggest threats to these animals.According to Sea Shepherd‚ illegal fishing gear in the Vaquita Refuge has been pivotal in their downfall‚ and since 2015‚ they have been working with Mexican authorities to remove all traces of gillnets. As air-breathing mammals‚ vaquitas can drown when they get ensnared in human rubbish‚ and gillnets are particularly dangerous when it comes to getting tangled.Vaquita porpoises live along a small strip of Mexico’s Upper Gulf of California‚ which will be the focus of the 2024 survey. Two ships will carry a team of experienced observers as the survey goes in search of wild vaquitas‚ led by Dr Barbara Taylor‚ who has dedicated her work to vaquitas for the last 30 years.     “The 2024 survey that we are announcing today will be the most updated scientific analysis of the Vaquita population since last year‚” said Sea Shepherd CEO Pritam Singh in a statement. “The results of this survey will help guide the next steps in our growing collaboration with the Mexican Government to protect the Vaquita.”The vaquita survey 2024 will begin on May 5 and end on May 26‚ as announced by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Mexican government officials Secretary Albores of SEMARNAT‚ Commissioner Pe&;ntilde;a’ of CONANP‚ and Captain Miraflores of the Mexican Navy. Sea Shepherd’s efforts will estimate the population of vaquitas in the refuge. Meanwhile‚ elsewhere‚ a new conservation collaboration hopes to support endangered animals in a different way. The de-extinction company Colossal Biosciences – known for wanting to bring back the mammoth – has teamed up with Re:Wild to create the Avengers Endgame of conservation technology and research.“By combining forces‚ we hope that our focal species will have a higher chance of recovering‚” said Dr Barney Long‚ senior director of conservation strategies at Re:wild‚ to IFLScience. “New technologies can help speed up conservation breeding programs‚ resurrect lost genetic diversity‚ and preserve whole genomes as an insurance in case the worst happens. Every species has very specific needs so each recovery strategy will be tailored to that species and co-developed with government‚ conservation and community partners as appropriate.”

Despite normally being drier than your mouth after demolishing a pack of saltines‚ the summer of 2023 saw Death Valley transformed by the appearance of a temporary lake in Badwater Basin. Though it’s now disappeared‚ thanks to a new analysis of satellite images‚ we now know how the depth of this ephemeral lake changed over time.Being in Death Valley‚ aka the driest place in North America‚ Badwater Basin generally doesn’t have any water in it. So‚ when Hurricane Hilary brought heavy rainfall to the region last August‚ creating a temporary body of water known as Lake Manly‚ there were no permanent instruments in place to measure it.That’s where the US-French Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite came in. Launched in 2022‚ the satellite hosts an instrument called the Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn) that can measure the surface height of water.Using surface height data collected from SWOT and subtracting it from Badwater Basin’s land elevation data‚ researchers were able to estimate the depth of Lake Manly over the course of about six weeks in February and March 2024.“This is a really cool example of how SWOT can track how unique lake systems work‚” said Tamlin Pavelsky‚ hydrologist and the NASA freshwater science lead for SWOT‚ in a statement.Their calculations revealed that depths in the lake during that time ranged from about 1 meter (3 feet) to less than 0.5 meters (1.5 feet).  From the data‚ the team were also able to generate images representing the water depth. The one representing February 23 shows an increase in depth in parts of the lake after previously looking like it was disappearing. This matches up with what we might expect from the weather around that time.Early February saw an atmospheric river dump 38 millimeters (1.5 inches) of rain into Death Valley in just three days – it normally only gets 50 millimeters (2 inches) in a year. Some of that water drained into the basin‚ and lo and behold‚ Lake Manly’s death sentence was commuted.Though the satellite data helps to give a more accurate picture‚ the fact that visitors to the lake were successfully able to kayak on the waters also indicates they were reasonably deep.All good things must come to an end‚ however‚ and as the image from March 4 shows‚ Lake Manly was gradually becoming shallower and disappearing – on that date‚ boating was no longer allowed. This was helped along by another bout of severe weather.“[I]ntense winds from February 29 through March 2 blew the lake to the north‚ spreading it out‚ resulting in shallower water‚” read a statement from the Death Valley National Park Service posted at the time.The curtain might have fallen on Lake Manly‚ but SWOT will continue to be busy until the next time it pops up – it’s on a mission to measure the elevation of nearly all the water on Earth’s surface.

A new species of prehistoric snake may be one of the largest snakes to have ever slithered the Earth. With an estimated body length of up to 15 meters (over 49 feet)‚ the extinct species might even rival the size of Titanoboa‚ the current title holder of the world's largest-ever snake. The newly discovered snake‚ a member of the extinct Madtsoiidae snake family‚ lived in the Indian subcontinent around 47 million years ago. It has been named Vasuki indicus as a homage to a Hindu mythical snake‚ called Vasuki‚ and the country of its discovery‚ India – Indicus is the Latin word for Indian.Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee recently discovered its fossilized remains at a coal mine in the state of Gujarat‚ western India. In their new study‚ they describe 27 mostly well-preserved vertebrae from the snake‚ measuring between 37.5 and 62.7 millimeters (roughly 1.5 and 2.5 inches) in length. Based on the size of the bones‚ they estimated that the species may have reached between 10.9 and 15.2 meters (35.8 to 49.9 feet) in length. While there's still some uncertainty around these estimates‚ it's undeniable that Vasuki was a sizeable snake.A) Panoramic view of the fossil site and B) a composite image of Vasuki’s vertebrae.Image courtesy of D Datta‚ S Bajpai‚ and P VermaIts size is comparable to Titanoboa‚ another extinct genus of snake that measured around 12.8 to 14.3 meters (42 to 46.9 feet) in length. It’s also way longer than any modern-day snake‚ the largest of which grows up to 7.67 meters (25 feet‚ 2 inches) long‚ according to Guinness World Records.Given its chonky size‚ the researchers believe Vasuki was a slow-moving‚ ambush predator much like the swamp-dwelling anacondas and pythons of today.“As Vasuki was terrestrial/semi-aquatic‚ it is possible that this extinct snake preyed on a variety of animals similar to modern-day pythons‚” Debajit Datta and Sunil Bajpai‚ the two study authors behind the discovery‚ told IFLScience. “It is difficult to say at this point precisely what sort of animals Vasuki preyed upon. However‚ it is to be noted that associated fossils of rays‚ sharks‚ catfish‚ turtles‚ crocodiles‚ and primitive whales were found in the same rock unit that yielded the remains of Vasuki. No land mammals were found‚” they added.A rough guide to snake sizes with Jennifer Lopez for scale.Image credit: RidiUmbrella/Sky Cinema/barka/Shutterstock.com; modified by IFLScienceToday‚ some of the biggest animals to ever live still roam planet Earth. However‚ it often seems that prehistoric times had much larger creatures compared to now‚ whether it's train-sized sauropod dinosaurs or the hulking megafauna of the last Ice Age. There’s an array of reasons why prehistoric animals evolved to such huge sizes‚ including different oxygen levels in the air‚ an abundance of plants to feed on‚ and the tendency for organisms in evolving lineages to increase in size over time.In regards to the Vasuki snake‚ the researchers suspect it’s because these animals lived at a time when Earth was significantly warmer and better suited to supporting large cold-blooded beasts. “A possible reason for its large size could be the comparatively higher mean annual temperatures in Earth’s history than today. Since snakes are poikilotherms‚ their body temperatures are dependent on the temperature of their ambient environment‚ which in turn controls their body size. Therefore‚ higher ambient temperature can support snakes with large body sizes‚” explained Datta and Bajpai. Alternatively‚ perhaps the lack of other aggressive predators – like humans – allowed the snakes to grow to larger sizes unhindered.“Another possible reason for the smaller size of present-day snakes could be the combined effect of habitat loss (due to deforestation and human encroachment) and poaching which may have removed exceptionally large-bodied snake lineages from the present-day ecosystem‚” the pair added. The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

In 2020‚ the world rejoiced as scientists successfully created a black-footed ferret clone known as Elizabeth Ann using the frozen cells of a deceased individual called Willow. Elizabeth Ann was a boost for the endangered species‚ Mustela nigripes‚ and now it’s got two extra playmates: the black-footed ferret clones Antonia and Noreen.All three of the clones come from the same tissue samples collected from Willa back in 1988 at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Frozen Zoo‚ the same repository that’s attempting to use frozen skin to make northern white rhino embryos. Like the rhino skin cells‚ the use of Willa’s genetic material is hoped to boost the genetic diversity of the living black-footed ferret population‚ as it contains three times more unique genetic variations than the modern-day average for these animals.The conservation project is a partnership between the US Fish and Wildlife Service‚ Revive &; Restore‚ ViaGen Pets &; Equine‚ Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute‚ San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance‚ and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It aims to overcome genetic obstacles currently hampering efforts to restore the population of black-footed ferrets‚ whose future is at risk if there isn’t enough genetic diversity left in the pool of survivors.     Expanding the gene pool with a clone from a deceased animal reduces the risk of inbreeding-associated health problems‚ which are often seen in “pure-bred” dogs or offspring born from incest‚ which usually only happens among mammals when there are no other mates to choose from. The reason for this genetic bottleneck is that all black-footed ferrets alive today are born from just seven individuals. A dip in genetic diversity puts them at risk of certain diseases‚ including sylvatic plague and the canine distemper virus. To tackle this‚ the ferret clones are one of several approaches to try and restore some of the black-footed ferret’s former genetic diversity. It's hoped that in tandem with habitat conservation projects‚ it could one day make it possible to reintroduce black-footed ferrets to the wild.Say hello to Noreen.Image credit: USFWS National Black-footed Ferret Conservation CenterAntonia came into the world at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo &; Conservation Biology Institute in Virginia. Meanwhile‚ Noreen is housed at the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center in northern Colorado‚ the same place where Elizabeth Ann resides.There was hope Elizabeth Ann might have been able to have a few kits of her own by now‚ but a condition called hydrometra has prevented it. For a quick ferret anatomy class‚ the females have two uterine horns that are crucial for fertilization. Unfortunately‚ one of Elizabeth Ann’s never fully developed (which is not believed to be linked to the fact that she is a clone)‚ while the other has filled with fluid‚ known as hydrometra.     The black-footed ferret poster girl is otherwise in good health‚ and efforts to restore a healthy genetic spread for one of the world’s most endangered mammals continue. 

It seems like a bucket list item‚ to go for an idyllic boat ride and see dolphins playing in the wake or riding the bow wave at the front of the boat. But what inspires this behavior in these curious cetaceans&;#63; Are they simply enjoying themselves‚ or is there more to this behavior than meets the eye&;#63;According to the Encyclopaedia of Marine Mammals‚ dolphins have been bow-riding ever since there were swift boats on the oceans – even the Greeks wrote about bow-riding in the Mediterranean seas. In modern times‚ it refers to dolphins exploiting the pressure wave caused by the boat at the front of the vessel. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in particular are famous for riding these bow waves and are perhaps the most common species seen when it comes to dolphin-watching tourist activities and boat trips. A 2009 study investigated this species and its encounters with various vessels.The authors found that between 2003 and 2006‚ 201 groups of dolphins were encountered‚ though only 44 showed interactive behaviors with the boats. They suggest that bow-riding might be used to reduce the energetic cost of swimming for the dolphins‚ though they doubt that it is solely for that purpose and most likely has an element of play.The study further suggests that factors like the type of vessel‚ the vessel’s activity‚ and the engine status are all likely to influence the level of activity and interaction the dolphins had with the boats. In another study‚ presented at the 28th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society‚ researchers found that the region of the sea may matter‚ with dolphins in the Istanbul Strait more likely to bow in the southern entrance to the strait. The authors suggest that the dolphins did this because the area contained more favorable fishing‚ linking the bow-riding sightings with feeding activities and foraging strategy‚ though they also suggested an element of play.                   Dolphins have been observed not just bow-riding waves caused by boats‚ but also bow-riding basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus). Between 2012 and 2019‚ dolphins were seen interacting with basking sharks on six occasions off the southwest coast of Ireland‚ and the team recorded 94 bow rides. While there was some suggestion the dolphins could be using this as a kind of mutually beneficial feeding strategy‚ the more likely reason‚ the authors suggest‚ is the dolphins playing. All of this research indicates multiple reasons why dolphins might bow-ride: it might provide an energetic advantage for a swimming dolphin; help them gain access to preferred feeding grounds; or provide them with more opportunities to hunt prey‚ as boats may have disturbed the fish in the areas. However‚ let's not forget the element of play. Dolphins are highly intelligent‚ social‚ and curious animals‚ so it may well be they are riding the bow waves just for fun. 

Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin traveled to CBS and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Wednesday to promote her new book‚ which is part history‚ part memoir about her and her late husband’s experiences in the 1960s. For Goodwin and Colbert‚ the main takeaway was that the achievements of the 60s‚ such as civil rights‚ are currently under threat. Goodwin’s husband Dick was an adviser to Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson as well as Sen. Robert Kennedy‚ and she recalled to Colbert an episode of Johnson swimming naked in the White House swimming pool‚ “They get to the White House pool and Lyndon Johnson‚ naked‚ is swimming in the pool‚ up and down‚ paddling up and down the pool… he says‚ ‘come on in‚ boys’ and of course they have no bathing suits‚ so they strip. So‚ all of a sudden‚ three people are paddling around the pool and while they’re doing that‚ they hang onto the edge‚ and Johnson comes forth with a vision of what he wants that will eventually become the Great Society. It was incredible. Medicare‚ Medicaid‚ aid to education‚ immigration reform‚ civil rights‚ voting rights‚ NPR‚ PBS. It was amazing. Amazing.”     Of all the times to compare NPR to civil rights and voting rights‚ this is a particularly strange one. Colbert‚ however‚ was more interested in doom-mongering about Republicans: Okay‚ so‚ there is the achievements of LBJ and the Great Society. For that matter‚ the New Frontier or for that matter‚ the New Deal‚ and though so many of them are actively being attempted to be dismantled right now‚ with some success‚ including the Voting Rights Act‚ what do you think‚ first of all‚ your husband‚ Dick‚ and as you reflect‚ what would you say is being lost in the dismantling of that vision&;#63; Because it was at a very important time‚ a time of great change in the United States and not everybody likes the changes that happened‚ but what do you think is being lost&;#63;&;#63; Goodwin not only agreed that voting rights are under siege‚ even though they aren’t‚ she added some further lamentations: But what was so important about the 1960s and I would love young people to remember what it was like because young people felt power then by the conviction they can make a difference in what that meant was that tens of thousands of people were marching for civil rights‚ for ending segregation‚ for the voting rights‚ which is now being denied‚ for women's rights‚ which are now being denied‚ for gay rights‚ which are now being denied. The only way we are going to get them back is not by looking for heroes‚ not looking for leaders. We have to do it ourselves and you young people are so important in that goal.  Nobody’s civil or voting rights are being taken away. Some people simply believe that civil rights should extended to everyone‚ even the unborn. Here is a transcript for the April 17-taped show: CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 4/18/2024 12:29 PM ET DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN:  They get to the White House pool and Lyndon Johnson‚ naked‚ is swimming in the pool‚ up and down‚ paddling up and down the pool. STEPHEN COLBERT: Was this normal&;#63; Would this happen a lot&;#63; GOODWIN: Yeah‚ it happened a lot. Wherever he was with his office and so they’re swimming and they’re standing there with their business suits on in their ties and he says‚ &;quot;come on in‚ boys&;quot; and of course they have no bathing suits‚ so they strip. So‚ all of a sudden‚ three people are paddling around the pool and while they’re doing that‚ they hang onto the edge‚ and Johnson comes forth with a vision of what he wants that will eventually become the Great Society. It was incredible. Medicare‚ Medicaid‚ aid to education‚ immigration reform‚ civil rights‚ voting rights‚ NPR‚ PBS. It was amazing. Amazing. STEPHEN COLBERT: Okay‚ so‚ there is the achievements of LBJ and the Great Society. For that matter‚ the New Frontier or for that matter‚ the New Deal‚ and though so many of them are actively being attempted to be dismantled right now‚ with some success‚ including the Voting Rights Act‚ what do you think‚ first of all‚ your husband‚ Dick‚ and as you reflect‚ what would you say is being lost in the dismantling of that vision&;#63; Because it was at a very important time‚ a time of great change in the United States and not everybody likes the changes that happened‚ but what do you think is being lost&;#63; GOODWIN: But what was so important about the 1960s and I would love young people to remember what it was like because young people felt power then by the conviction they can make a difference in what that meant was that tens of thousands of people were marching for civil rights‚ for ending segregation‚ for the voting rights‚ which is now being denied‚ for women's rights‚ which are now being denied‚ for gay rights‚ which are now being denied. The only way we are going to get them back is not by looking for heroes‚ not looking for leaders. We have to do it ourselves and you young people are so important in that goal.  There’s something‚ you know‚ I was young in the 60s. It was a great feeling. I was at that March on Washington on August 28‚ 1963‚ Dick was there too‚ but we didn't meet because there 250‚000 other people there. I wish I'd met him then‚ but nonetheless you felt -- I was carrying a sign “Catholics and Jews and Protestants unite for civil rights” and I felt like something was larger than myself and I hope that young people today can get that feeling‚ but we’re going to depend on you to march and demonstrate and protest because something bad is happening in our country and you can make it right. I really believe that.