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Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 8, 2026 at 11:09am

194-year-old tortoise reveals stable gene switches that may help resist aging

Researchers studying a giant tortoise named Jonathan say it's not just good genes but a lack of genetic wear and tear that has kept him going for nearly two centuries.

An estimated 194-year-old giant tortoise carried 287 unique gene variants linked to DNA repair, inflammation, insulin regulation and cancer suppression. Epigenetic regulation of DNA repair and metabolism resembled that of younger tortoises, indicating limited age-associated changes in these pathways.
In a study published in the journal Science Advances, scientists have pinpointed 287 unique gene variants in this remarkably old giant tortoise that reduce the usual effects of aging. These control key processes in the body, including repairing DNA damage, reducing inflammation, regulating insulin and suppressing cancer.

Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea), is estimated to be 194 years old. This makes him the oldest living giant tortoise and the oldest land animal in the world today. He's thought to have hatched in 1832—making him a contemporary of Charles Darwin .

The team also compared the giant tortoise's epigenome—the "on/off" switches on his genes—with those of younger giant tortoises of the same species. Remarkably, they found the switches controlling Jonathan's DNA repair and metabolism genes were very similar to those in his younger relatives. Usually, the epigenome changes over time, contributing to the aging process—this is a key reason why things start to go wrong in older bodies.
Researchers found that the gene regulators involved in energy production and DNA repair have remained incredibly stable in Jonathan over almost two centuries.

Benjamin Vaisvil et al, Epigenetic insights into extreme longevity in the world's oldest terrestrial animal, Jonathan, Science Advances (2026). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adw8887. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adw8887

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 8, 2026 at 10:58am

Cricket's day-night pink ball not always so pretty

A new study has found that players with colour vision deficiency (CVD) struggle to see the pink ball around dusk or against the crowd and grass.

Color blindness affects about 8% of men (1 in 12) and 0.5% of women (1 in 200) globally
Spectral modelling indicates that pink cricket balls can be harder to see with colour vision deficiency, depending on lighting, background and ball condition. Red balls generally provide more consistent and equitable visibility, though no ball is optimal in every setting. Injuries and on-field performance were not measured.
Cricket balls are hard and travel very fast, so anything that makes them harder to see warrants attention. We also need to consider whether the choice of ball places some players at a greater disadvantage than others.

Peter M. Allen et al, Not So Pretty in Pink: Computational Modelling of Cricket Ball Visibility with Colour Vision Deficiency, Sports Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.1007/s40279-026-02518-0

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 8, 2026 at 10:46am

IVF-conceived babies had a higher overall proportion of L-1 DNA in their genomes than naturally conceived babies, a statistically significant difference. This difference was also seen in all three sibling pairs studied. When the researchers examined the surrounding base pairs, they found a high concentration of genes linked to metabolic conditions, cardiovascular diseases, neuropsychiatric disorders and cancer development.

The levels of L-1 DNA did not differ significantly between children conceived through standard IVF and those conceived through ICSI.

This study sheds fresh light on a possible genomic mechanism that may connect the embryonic stress of in vitro fertilization (IVF) to a higher risk of disease. The findings make a strong case for further research on ways to optimize IVF protocols so that embryonic stress and its consequences for the genome can be kept as low as possible.

Jian Li et al, In vitro fertilization–conceived offspring exhibit altered Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements-1 retrotransposition dynamics associated with long-term disease risks, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2026.05.005

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 8, 2026 at 10:46am

IVF-conceived children show more 'jumping gene' DNA, study finds

Infertility affects more than 15% of couples worldwide. Thanks to medical science, infertility treatments have come a long way over the past few years. For millions of people, in vitro fertilization (IVF) has opened a medical pathway to having biological children. This procedure gives fertilization a helping hand outside the body. It involves retrieving eggs from the ovaries and fertilizing them with sperm in a laboratory to create embryos.

Despite its benefits, IVF has also raised questions about the long-term health of children conceived through the procedure. Large epidemiological studies have found that these children have a slightly higher risk of developing certain health conditions later in life.

A recent study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology examined whether the stress embryos experience during IVF laboratory procedures could alter how certain DNA elements move within the genome, potentially putting babies conceived through the process at higher risk of these long-term health conditions.

IVF-conceived babies had a higher overall amount of LINE-1 (short for Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements-1) DNA in their genomes compared with naturally conceived babies. Most of our DNA stays in one place, but LINE-1 (Long Interspersed Nuclear Element-1) is part of a family of transposable elements that can remodel the human genome. These jumping genes can copy themselves and insert those copies into new locations, and this movement showed up at specific points in the genome.

Researchers found 11 locations where the two groups differed in how often LINE-1, or L-1, was inserted and 14 where they differed in how often it was deleted. Genes located near these sites have been linked to metabolic conditions and cancer.
Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 8, 2026 at 10:11am

Levitating glass sphere becomes entangled with light at room temperature

Today, many physicists are actively exploring how light could be used to link objects through quantum entanglement. By fully harnessing the effect, they hope to unlock a wide array of applications, from secure communication networks spanning vast distances to sensitive new tests of the fundamental laws of physics.
When two quantum particles become entangled, their properties are so deeply intertwined that neither can be fully described without the other. However, this delicate link is easily broken by tiny disturbances from the surrounding environment and becomes ever harder to protect as objects grow larger.

In previous experiments, researchers have created brief bursts of entanglement between photons and vibrating macroscopic particles, but only at temperatures close to absolute zero. More recently, physicists have recognized that tiny glass spheres levitated by light could offer a promising alternative, since they float almost completely isolated from their surroundings.
Researchers explored this idea using a glass sphere just 100 nanometers across. They held the sphere in a tightly focused laser beam called an "optical tweezer," positioned between two facing mirrors inside a near-vacuum chamber.

On its own, the light needed to create entanglement also tended to induce unwanted oscillations in the sphere, eventually knocking it out of its trap. To solve this, the researchers combined two lasers of slightly different colors. The first cooled and steadied the sphere's back-and-forth motion, while the second was free to entangle this movement with the light.

As the sphere oscillated, information about its motion became imprinted on the light leaving the mirrors. By measuring this light over many hours, the team reconstructed the full pattern of connections between the sphere's motion and the light.

Even when the surrounding lab was at room temperature, their measured correlations crossed a mathematical threshold confirming that the two had become genuinely entangled. Crucially, the entanglement persisted in light traveling away from the mirrors.
The team now hopes to strengthen the entanglement through refined experimental techniques and to control it actively rather than simply observe it.
It could also pave the way for quantum networks in which information passes seamlessly between moving objects that store it and light that carries it across extensive distances.

Q. Deplano et al, Stationary entanglement of a levitated oscillator with an optical field, Science (2026). DOI: 10.1126/science.aeh1375

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 7, 2026 at 11:07am

Antifungal use during pregnancy shows link to altered hormone levels in babies

Many pregnant women develop fungal infections, which are often treated with widely used azole-based antifungal medicines. A new study suggests that the use of these medicines during pregnancy may be associated with changes in fetal hormone production, with effects persisting in children after birth.
In 589 mother–child pairs, azole antifungal use during pregnancy was associated with altered infant adrenal hormone levels at three months, still within normal ranges. Human fetal tissue and rat experiments supported the findings. Causality and long-term health effects remain unclear, warranting further safety research.

Gylli Mola et al, Prenatal antifungal exposure disrupts fetal steroidogenesis and is associated with persistent effects in children, Communications Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s43856-026-01815-z

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 7, 2026 at 9:56am

Blue light could cut food poisoning from raw chicken

While cooking kills Campylobacter, cross-contamination from handling raw meat is thought to be the main route of infection. Symptoms typically last about a week and include stomach cramps, fever, nausea and, in many cases, bloody diarrhea.
A low-power blue light could be the key to significantly reducing food poisoning caused by raw chicken .

In a study published in the journal Microbiology, researchers working in collaboration with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, tested a new technique known as violet-blue photodynamic inactivation (VB-PDI) against 64 different strains of Campylobacter, which is found in around three-quarters of all raw chicken sold in the U.K. Every strain was killed by the treatment, regardless of species or antibiotic resistance profile.

The findings build on previous research that showed blue light treatments could work more effectively than treating chicken with chlorine to kill specific strains of bacteria.
Violet-blue light killed all 64 tested Campylobacter strains, including antibiotic-resistant strains, without added chemicals. One strain showed no increased tolerance after 15 exposure rounds. Trials on naturally contaminated poultry in processing settings are needed before commercial use.
VB-PDI works by shining a safe, visible violet-blue light onto bacteria, causing molecules naturally found inside their cells to produce lethal levels of destructive compounds called reactive oxygen species. Crucially, the method needs no physical contact with the food and no added chemicals, making it a promising option for use on poultry carcasses in processing plants after slaughter, before products reach consumers.

The researchers estimate that if the technique could reduce contamination of chicken carcasses by a factor of 100, the proportion of highly contaminated carcasses reaching retail could fall from around 1 in 10 to just 1 in 50.
The team also found no evidence that Campylobacter bacteria could develop resistance to the treatment. Strains that were already resistant to antibiotics were killed just as effectively as fully susceptible ones. When one strain was repeatedly exposed to the light over 15 rounds in the laboratory, in an attempt to force resistance to evolve, no increase in tolerance was seen.
Because VB-PDI uses simple, low-power LEDs with a long lifespan and minimal running costs, the team also thinks it could offer a low-cost option for poultry producers, including in low- and middle-income countries where food safety infrastructure is limited.

Finlay Bembridge et al, One light to rule them all: photodynamic inactivation of diverse Campylobacter, Microbiology (2026). DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001769

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 7, 2026 at 9:48am

Stem cells survive rough space travel

In early 2024, laboratory-grown neurospheres (i.e. clusters of neural stem cells) were sent to the International Space Station (ISS) to be exposed to microgravity. The return trip was delayed several times due to bad weather in the landing zone. As a result, the cells were outside controlled culture conditions for longer than anticipated—beyond the limit of what they were expected to survive.
Despite being subjected to severe stress, some of the cells survived. After recovery, they were still able to develop into nerve cells and glial cells and functioned normally in the researchers' tests.

A key finding is that cells placed in 3D-printed support structures fared particularly well across all groups. They survived and continued to divide.

Some neural stem cells survived prolonged uncontrolled conditions during their return from the ISS. After recovery, they retained the ability to form neurons and glial cells and functioned normally in tests. Cells in 3D-printed support structures showed particularly good survival and continued to divide.

Robert Fredriksson et al, Boundary cap neural crest stem cells exhibit remarkable resilience to environmental stressors associated with International Space Station mission, npj Microgravity (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41526-026-00646-5

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 7, 2026 at 9:35am

Laughter, sighs and screams reveal unwritten social rules in everyday life

Alongside words, humans have a treasure trove of nonverbal tools to help express themselves. We chuckle, sigh and gasp to communicate our feelings without uttering a word. What has amazed researchers for ages is how we rarely stop to think about how we know which sound belongs in which situation. Could unwritten social rules guide these everyday nonverbal sounds?
Of the 10 nonverbal vocalizations studied, laughter topped the list at 7.55 on a nine-point scale, followed by sighs at 6.69 and gasps at 6.63. Moans, groans and grunts landed above 6 on the acceptability scale. The ones that drew the strongest disapproval were growls, cries, screams and retches.

These same sounds landed very differently depending on the setting. Laughter was rated highest in positive, lively social situations but was heavily restricted in formal settings or those marked by power differences. Screams weren't always frowned upon; instead, they were more acceptable in high-energy, positive settings. Sighs stood out as being considered appropriate only when alone.

Vocalizations were rated significantly more appropriate at home and in social settings like bars or parties than at work or in public places such as stores or libraries. These sounds were less welcome in formal settings, especially when there was a clear power difference between people, but became more acceptable in positive, relaxed social settings.

These findings reveal the situational principles behind everyday vocal display rules.

Roza G. Kamiloğlu, Vocal display rules in everyday life: when is it appropriate to laugh, sigh or scream?, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2025.0151

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on October 7, 2026 at 8:52am

Blood counts, kidney function markers, electrolytes and most liver enzymes gave the same results no matter how long patients had fasted. Across 121 routine laboratory tests, only a handful needed fasting to be accurate.

In the paired within-person comparisons, only 10 tests showed differences large enough to exceed clinical error thresholds. With fasting under 8 hours, blood glucose was 10.8% higher, triglycerides were 20.1% higher and lipase, a pancreatic digestive enzyme, was 36.4% higher. Glucose then dropped steadily, by about 4.3 mg/dL for each additional hour of fasting.

They also found that whether patients fasted for 8–12 hours or longer than 12 hours made no clinically meaningful difference to any of the test results. Extending the fast beyond 12 hours did nothing for the accuracy of test results and instead caused unnecessary discomfort for patients.

Based on these results, researchers proposed replacing a one-size-fits-all fasting rule with test-specific requirements, since fasting duration mattered for only a handful of tests. To ensure these findings hold water beyond the South Korean population, further research involving more diverse populations is required before clinical standards can be redefined.

Sunghwan Shin et al, Fasting Duration and Differences Across Routine Laboratory Tests, JAMA Internal Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2026.4718

Liv Tybjærg Nordestgaard et al, Time to Stop Fasting Before Blood Sampling, JAMA Internal Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2026.4726

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