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What animal societies can teach us about ageing

Research shows that animals, including humans, can become less sociable as they age to avoid diseases and parasites. This phenomenon, known as social ageing, may bring benefits, such as reduced competition and increased safety.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London·TypeLiterature review·DateOct 28, 2024

Asymmetric placebo effect in response to spicy food

Researchers found that positive expectations lead to increased activity in pleasure-related brain regions, while negative expectations prime pain processing. The study suggests a dissociable impact of hedonic information, with positive expectations facilitating reward processing and negative expectations heightening anxiety.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 8, 2024

Early release from NEJM Evidence

Researchers have developed a new treatment for deep diabetic foot ulcers, using intact fish skin grafts to promote healing. The study found that this innovative approach showed promising results in improving wound closure and reducing infection rates.

SourceNEJM Group·JournalNEJM Evidence·DateOct 4, 2024

A breakthrough in chiral capsule tools for advanced optical technologies

Researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo create terpene-based chiral capsules that facilitate the easy preparation of well-defined host–guest composites with tunable chiroptical properties. The resulting composites can be used in water without organic solvents, paving the way for advances in cutting-edge optical technologies.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2024

Fitness loss through spontaneous mutations will not impact viability of human populations in the near future

A new study using a mammal model suggests that fitness loss through spontaneous mutations will not significantly affect human populations. The research indicates that even without natural selection, the rate of fitness decline is not a cause for concern, providing reassurance about human viability in the near future.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 26, 2024

This fish has legs

The study reveals that sea robin legs are sensitive to both mechanical and chemical stimuli, and are covered in papillae similar to human taste buds. The research provides new insights into the evolution of this unique trait, which could offer clues about how humans developed bipedalism.

SourceHarvard University·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 26, 2024

UVA develops a ‘Google earth’ view of bone — with an eye toward disease prevention

A University of Virginia engineer developed a workflow to combine advanced imaging technologies for improved understanding of porous bone, which could inform disease detection. The method allows for three-dimensional rendering of bone structure across various length scales.

SourceUniversity of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalScientific Reports·TypeImaging analysis·DateSep 25, 2024

Risky play in childhood exercises an ancestral need to push limits

Dartmouth anthropologists argue that jungle gyms and monkey bars are essential for childhood development, allowing children to build resilience and confidence through risk-taking play. The research cites fossil evidence showing early humans spent extensive time in trees, and modern nonhuman primates exhibit similar climbing skills.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalEvolution Medicine and Public Health·TypeLiterature review·DateSep 11, 2024

Chromosome copying errors pinpointed in embryo development

Researchers at RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics found multiple specialized types of DNA replication in early-stage embryos, including a period of instability prone to chromosomal copying errors. This discovery could lead to improved methods of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and better strategies for minimizing chromosomal abnormalities.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature·DateAug 28, 2024

UVA engineers design lookalike drug carrier to evade lung’s lines of defense

Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science have designed a drug-carrying molecule that can slip past the lung's natural defenses. The nanocarrier, called PEG-BB, is shaped like a bottlebrush and mimics the properties of mucus, allowing it to move quickly through the airway.

Live longer, die healthier

Researchers discovered a monthly treatment that extended the lives of mice by 9%, allowing them to live healthier for longer periods. The treated mice retained their physical function and overall frailty until the end of their lives, unlike controls, which showed significant declines in health.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalCell Metabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 6, 2024

Humans are born to run

Researchers found that humans were born to run due to their unique physiological traits and social benefits of endurance pursuits. Studies reveal that humans were engaging in endurance hunting tactics for thousands of years, with similar patterns observed across diverse environments.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 31, 2024

Pagliarini named HHMI Investigator

Pagliarini's research aims to shed light on the underlying genetic causes of mitochondrial disorders, which affect one in 5,000 people. He will use this funding to expand his work on mitochondrial proteins and their functions, with a focus on coenzyme Q.