‘Hot’ bacteria to boost your heart

The way plants make food has inspired a new approach to treating heart disease.

The principles of photosynthesis — where plants and some bacteria convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and nutrients with the help of sunlight — is being investigated by researchers at Stanford University in the U.S.

The researchers applied this idea to heart disease patients, whose poor blood flow means they lack oxygen but can have excess carbon dioxide in cells.

The study involved injecting bacteria into the hearts of rats with poor blood flow and then exposing them to sunlight for 20 minutes. The results showed that the rats had more oxygen in their blood and cells, and their hearts worked better.