Researchers at MDI Bio Lab studied zebrafish, which can form new nephrons and connect them to existing tubules. The team found a coordinated cellular choreography that involves intersecting signaling systems, including the Wnt pathway, to guide the connection. This technique could one day guide human repair of damaged kidneys.
Renowned historian Lyndal Roper has been awarded the 2026 Holberg Prize for her groundbreaking research on early modern European history and gender. Her work has reshaped understandings of witch persecutions, the German Peasants' War, and Martin Luther's life and thought.
Researchers at Kyoto University have discovered that targeting the CNP/GC-B signal pathway may provide a promising approach for treating Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH). The study reveals that CNP/GC-B signaling plays a protective role against PAH, and administration of CNP ameliorates experimental pulmonary hypertension.
Researchers have identified BCMA as a key switch maintaining harmful IgA-producing plasma cells in IgA nephropathy. A proof-of-concept study using BCMA-targeted therapy showed a deep reduction in serum IgA levels in cynomolgus monkeys, providing a robust scientific rationale for repurposing BCMA-directed treatments for IgAN.
A biologically inspired event camera measures vibrations accurately without expensive equipment, providing a cost-effective alternative to laser-based systems. The camera captures high-speed vibrations by recording brightness changes independently at each pixel, enabling precise amplitude, phase, and frequency estimation.
Early-life exposure to PFAS may influence how teens' bones develop during adolescence, leading to lower bone density. The study found that teens with higher PFAS levels had lower forearm bone density, with stronger associations among females.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a new therapy called OSM CAR-T that successfully attacks osteosarcoma tumors in mouse models. This treatment harnesses the body's immune system to fight cancer, potentially offering better outcomes with fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy.
The implementation of Japan's indoor smoke-free laws resulted in a modest increase in smoke-free establishments, with a 5.7% nationwide increase and 13.5% in areas with stricter ordinances. Despite this, a substantial number of establishments still permit indoor smoking due to exemptions under the current legislation.
Research reveals carbon monoxide poisoning from waterpipe smoking can occur after brief use, outdoor smoking, or secondhand exposure. The study identified 68 cases of acute CO poisoning, including 13 cases of polycythemia, a chronic condition caused by prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide.
Researchers identified Mrep, a macrophage population, that promotes muscle repair under normal conditions but triggers heterotopic ossification in FOP. Transplanting Mrep improves muscle repair in FOP mouse models, suggesting therapeutic approaches targeting Mrep could be effective.
A new study has developed biologically plausible dose-response models to better protect pregnant people from Listeria, a leading cause of foodborne illness in the US. The models, built on data from guinea pigs and gerbils, found that fetal brain infection is a more precise indicator of stillbirth risk than direct stillbirth outcomes al...
Researchers found juvenile smalltooth sawfish showing strong site fidelity to the South Fork of the Saint Lucie River, spending up to 87% of their time within a 0.4 square kilometer area. This suggests that the Indian River Lagoon is once again functioning as a nursery for this endangered species.
The bow and arrow replaced the atlatl and dart as primary hunting technology in western North America, debuting around 1,400 years ago, with rapid adoption across the region
A new AI model has been developed to predict floods with greater accuracy than traditional methods. The knowledge-guided approach combines elements of physics-based models with machine-learning techniques to automatically learn the state of a river's watershed, eliminating the need for manual recalibration.
Researchers found that measures of blood vessel health from routine blood pressure readings can identify adults at increased risk for dementia. Vascular aging patterns may provide meaningful insight into future dementia risk, and managing vascular health earlier in life may influence long-term brain health.
Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have emerged as a promising class of catalytic materials capable of addressing challenges in selective hydrogenation. Experimental advances and mechanistic insights highlight their potential to deliver high efficiency and selectivity with minimal metal usage. The review also discusses challenges and opportu...
A recent study found that people with atherosclerotic heart disease who received the shingles vaccine had nearly half the rate of serious cardiac events compared to those who did not get vaccinated. The vaccine was associated with significant reductions in cardiovascular risk, including heart attacks, strokes, and death.
Research suggests that amyloid beta and tau proteins compete for microtubule binding sites, driving Alzheimer's disease pathology. The microtubule nexus hypothesis proposes a unifying theory for the underlying cause of Alzheimer's, with potential therapeutic strategies targeting tau displacement from microtubules.
Genetic analysis reveals the Tokara Leaf Warbler, a small insectivorous songbird, has been isolated from a similar species for 2.8-3.2 million years. The discovery suggests a need for reevaluation of conservation status due to threats from introduced weasels and environmental modification.
Researchers at Binghamton University found a significant shift in moth flight patterns over a century, with some species emerging later in the year. The study also identified missing moth species in the region, highlighting the impact of anthropogenic change on ecosystems.
Consuming ultra-processed foods daily is associated with a higher risk of adverse cardiac events, particularly among Black Americans. The study found that each additional serving increases the risk by over 5%, with Black Americans seeing an amplified risk compared to other racial groups.
Researchers analyzed 2.2 million public statements from the 118th US Congress to understand the incentives behind divisive rhetoric. They found that a small minority of politicians, mostly Republicans, use personal insults to gain media attention, rather than policy gains.
Researchers reveal that skin-cell calcium channel TRPV3 is activated by plant-derived fragrant molecules, leading to enhanced immune responses and potential new vaccine adjuvants. The study provides a novel understanding of immune crosstalk and offers a safer approach to enhancing vaccine efficacy.
A study by Jeonbuk National University researchers highlights the potential risks of chemical-enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) sewage sludge, but also shows that thermal treatment can lead to secondary heavy metal pollution. The team recommends using lower pyrolysis temperatures to enhance sustainability.
Activation of hypoxia signaling improved metabolism and limited fat accumulation in obese mice, while preserving vascular networks and bone health. The intervention also enhanced fracture healing and glucose tolerance, suggesting a dual beneficial effect on metabolism and bone integrity.
Researchers developed an expert consensus to standardize the use of ultrasound-derived fat fraction for assessing liver steatosis. The study found that UDFF showed strong correlations with histological steatosis grades and MRI-PDFF, demonstrating excellent reliability and robust diagnostic accuracy.
Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children have mapped how tuberculosis bacteria fuel themselves during infection. They discovered the protein EtfD, which extracts energy from lipids, and developed a laboratory test to measure its activity. This breakthrough provides new insights into treating TB and may lead to shorter treatment re...
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania developed lipid nanoparticles that modify immune metabolism to strengthen mRNA vaccines and reduce common side effects. The new lipid boosts the metabolism of immune cells, providing energy for the body's defenses while dialing down inflammatory signals.
The report highlights three major trends in democratic backsliding: democratic backsliding in stable democracies, reversals in democratized countries, and deepening autocracy in existing autocracies. Freedom of Expression and liberal aspects of democracy show the most drastic declines globally.
A study by Frontiers in Science argues that ultra-sensitive food safety tests may drive food waste and unavailability, but not always translate to health risk. The researchers propose a more balanced approach that considers trade-offs between food safety, sustainability, and nutritional health.
A new study reveals a dramatic increase in wildfires in tropical peatlands during the 20th century, releasing large amounts of stored carbon into the atmosphere. Human activities, such as agriculture and deforestation, are identified as the root cause of this surge.
Scientists from the University of Manchester led the discovery of the new Ξcc+- (Xi-cc-plus) particle, a heavy proton-like particle containing two charm quarks and one down quark. The particle was identified using the upgraded LHCb detector and has a mass of 3619.97 MeV/c².
Scientists have discovered that cancer cells exploit healthy lung cells to support metastatic tumor growth in the lungs. Decreasing lipid production in lung cells can hinder cancer growth. The study suggests targeting lung cell lipid production as a new approach to treating lung cancer.
Scientists have added millions of protein complex structures to the AlphaFold Database, shedding light on how proteins interact. The dataset prioritizes human health and disease research, enabling researchers to test, refine, and build upon it.
Dr. Phillips's laboratory identifies abnormalities in prefrontal-striatal-limbic circuitry as biomarkers for bipolar disorder before symptoms appear. Her team tracks neural network development from infancy through young adulthood.
Dr. Cazares co-founded Colors of the Brain and advocated for GRE removal to support students from underprivileged backgrounds. He aims to bring neuroscience to underserved communities through portable, affordable, and non-invasive methods.
Researchers in Taiwan studied oviraptor incubation patterns, finding that oviraptors used the sun's warmth to hatch eggs, unlike modern birds. This study sheds light on the evolution of avian-style incubation and reveals that oviraptors may not have been as efficient at hatching eggs as modern birds.
A team of computer scientists developed an algorithm that mimics bird flocking to help AI produce more reliable summaries of long documents. The framework reduces repetition and preserves key points, resulting in more accurate and concise summaries.
Dr. Gobbi challenges the global drug-development system, stating that promising treatments for mental illness are failing to reach patients due to venture capital and profit motives. Her research focuses on cannabis, melatonin, and psychedelics, with a goal of improving public-health decisions and treatment outcomes.
A new seawater electrolysis system developed by KIER overcomes precipitate formation issue, enabling repeated precipitate formation and removal without external cleaning processes. The dual-electrode system shows improved performance and stability compared to conventional single-electrode systems.
A new automated tobacco treatment system integrated into pediatric care helped drive a significant increase in smoking cessation among mothers. The system showed improved behavior among mothers, potentially protecting hundreds of thousands of children from secondhand smoke exposure.
A new benchmarking study shows that AI coding tools struggle with structured outputs in software development, with even advanced models achieving only 75% accuracy. This highlights the need for human oversight and suggests that AI systems are not yet reliable enough to operate without human supervision.
Researchers have developed a monolithically integrated VCSEL technology achieving linewidth compression to approximately 1 MHz, enabling stable single-mode operation for precision applications. The device demonstrated impressive performance in a cesium vapor-cell atomic clock, with a frequency stability of 1.89×10^−12 τ^−1 /^2.
A new study proposes that the brain's reward system is built to optimize energy, not pleasure. Researchers argue that dopamine and opioids function as physiological agents to manage the body's energetic budget, guiding behavior and learning.
This study reveals the regulatory role of BCAT2-mediated BCAA catabolism in VSMCs and its impact on intraplaque calcification in diabetic atherosclerosis. BCAT2 deficiency attenuates vascular calcification severity, decreases calcium salt deposition, and suppresses osteogenic phenotypic transition of VSMCs.
Scientists in China have designed MOFs with 3D pyr-topology frameworks and polyhedral cages to efficiently purify methane from natural gas. The materials exhibit high adsorption capacities for C3H8 and C2H6 but extremely low CH4 uptake.
This study presents a polyhydroxy hydrogel electrolyte with in situ regulated interface chemistry suitable for biosensing-compatible zinc batteries, achieving unprecedented cycling stability and high-performance biosensing. The hydrogel electrolyte enables a conformal and continuous interface, promoting uniform ion transport and deposi...
Researchers at Tufts University and Wyss Institute created neurobots by adding nerve cells to tiny living forms called xenobots, which exhibit complex movements with simple neural networks. The resulting neurobots display unique behaviors and demonstrate the formation of primitive nervous systems.
A research team from NUS has shown that compounds extracted from red dragon fruit peel can be incorporated into bread to increase antioxidant activity and slow starch digestion, offering a potential pathway to healthier staple foods and reduced food waste. The study found that optimal fortification levels of 0.75 per cent improve dough...
A phase 3 clinical trial found romiplostim significantly reduced chemotherapy dose delays and improved platelet counts in patients with gastrointestinal cancers who developed persistent low platelet counts during treatment. The therapy enables patients to maintain chemotherapy intensity, potentially preserving the integrity of cancer c...
Aging silicon-rich biochar reduces cadmium uptake in leafy vegetables, improving plant resistance to heavy metal stress. The material reshapes soil microbial communities, contributing to reduced cadmium availability.
Researchers have presented a new design paradigm for 2D flash memory devices using monolayer Janus MoSSe, achieving ultrafast charge trapping and superior retention. The device exhibits high-speed program/erase operations, stable data retention exceeding 10^8 seconds, and energy efficiency with reduced operating voltages.
Researchers develop oxychar, a highly efficient, budget-friendly alternative to traditional charred organic materials for toxic cadmium removal. The new material soaks up both agricultural ammonia and cadmium, promising a practical win for sustainable farming.
A Japanese registry study reveals widespread underdiagnosis and undertreatment of metabolic acidosis in chronic kidney disease patients. Nearly half of patients with bicarbonate measured had metabolic acidosis, and diagnosis and treatment rates were low, highlighting a need for routine bicarbonate testing in CKD care.
Researchers identified key health indicators for a new global system to monitor people's health before pregnancy. The study found that mental health, physical health, supportive relationships, and finances are prioritized by both healthcare professionals and the general public.
A new study published in The Lancet reveals that fathers' health and well-being play a significant role in shaping pregnancy and child outcomes. The research emphasizes the importance of investing in the well-being of boys and young men to reduce health disparities and improve outcomes for future generations.
A comprehensive review of 54 randomized controlled trials found no evidence that medicinal cannabis is effective in treating anxiety, depression, or PTSD. However, the study suggests that medicinal cannabis may be beneficial for certain conditions, such as reducing seizures associated with epilepsy and managing pain.
A new study models the impact of climate change on physical activity globally, predicting millions will be driven into inactivity by 2050. The study suggests this could lead to hundreds of thousands of premature deaths and billions of dollars in lost productivity.
Researchers found that bull sharks have active social preferences and choose their social partners, similar to humans. The study revealed that adult sharks form the core of the social network, while younger sharks are less socially connected.
A new study found that climate action consistent with the two-degree-Celsius target would avoid more than 13.5 million premature deaths from air pollution between 2020 and 2050, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. However, the distribution of health gains depends on how the global mitigation burden is shared.