Medical Research

Researchers at the University of Utah report in Nature Communications that an AI ‘shared control’ system using muscle signals and sensors helped four upper‑limb amputees reliably grasp and simulate sipping from a cup with a bionic hand, a task they otherwise crushed or dropped. The AI interprets user intention from tiny muscle twitches and automates grip force and movement, aiming to reduce cognitive load and make prosthetic use feel more natural.

Swedish researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University report in Cell that a novel oral beta-2 agonist improved glucose control and fat burning while preserving muscle in animals, and showed favorable safety/tolerability in a small human study of 48 healthy adults and 25 people with type 2 diabetes. Acting via muscle metabolism rather than appetite suppression like GLP-1s, the drug could be used alone or alongside GLP-1 therapies, though experts stress larger, longer trials are needed to confirm efficacy and long‑term safety.