New strategies help slow myopia progression in children and teens

Myopia is increasingly recognized as a disease with serious complications, not just a correctable refractive error. Environmental factors such as outdoor time, screen use, and healthy lifestyle choices significantly influence its progression in children. Modern treatments—including orthokeratology, multifocal lenses, and low-dose atropine—can slow myopia, but must be tailored to each patient. Red laser therapies pose safety risks and are not recommended.

While genetics determines about 30% of the risk of developing myopia, environmental factors are also critical. Small changes in one's environment can make a big difference for the health of your eye.

Multiple studies have shown that spending at least two hours a day outdoors helps protect children against myopia. Natural light stimulates retinal dopamine, a molecule that limits eye elongation, while exposing children to a richer visual environment. Delaying the onset of myopia by even a few months significantly reduces the risk of severe myopia in adulthood.

Managing screen time is another important factor. "Parents shouldn't use tablets to soothe a baby in a stroller. They should aim for zero screen time before age two. The screen itself isn't so harmful; the problem is the viewing distance."

Between ages two and 10, studies recommend limiting recreational screen time to about an hour per day, excluding time spent on homework. Ideally, children should take a two- to three-minute break every 30 minutes and stay at least 35 to 40 centimeters away from the screen. Phones are particularly problematic because they are often held much closer.

A third preventive recommendation is maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Regular physical activity, adequate sleep and a low-sugar, low-salt diet help reduce inflammation and insulin resistance, two factors linked to faster progression of myopia. Preventing childhood obesity, another well-documented aggravating factor, is also important.

Myopia treatment was revolutionized by the discovery that the peripheral retina, rather than central vision, plays the dominant role in the growth of the eye.

Modern treatments must therefore correct central vision while inducing a therapeutic blur on the periphery. Conventional single-vision glasses and contact lenses are not recommended, as they "send the wrong signals to the retina, causing the eye to continue elongating

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Many tools are now available to slow the progression of myopia. Orthokeratology uses night-wear lenses to temporarily reshape the cornea and create a defocusing effect that is beneficial for the periphery of the retina. The latest designs use a smaller central zone to increase this effect and strengthen control of eye elongation, which is responsible for the progression of myopia. Orthokeratology is considered safe and effective when proper hygiene and care are observed.

Multifocal soft lenses are designed to provide higher convex power at the periphery, whereas peripheral defocus glasses create a significant degree of peripheral blur.

Low-dose atropine is the only pharmacological treatment considered effective for managing myopia. A 0.05% dose appears to be optimal, balancing clinical efficacy with minimal side effects. A 0.01% dose can stabilize refraction but not axial length.
All these treatments work, but none is suitable for every patient. The right choice depends on various factors, including age, rate of progression, axial length, ethnicity, patient preferences, ability to handle lenses and family budget.

Langis Michaud et al, A look at literature on myopia over the past 25 years: a personal review, Clinical and Experimental Optometry (2025). DOI: 10.1080/08164622.2025.2579173

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Eye-surgery laser could be adapted for other organs, say scientists

Deep-ultraviolet, ultrashort-pulsed lasers, similar to those used in eye surgery, can remove soft tissue with axial precision of about 10 micrometers and minimal collateral damage. This technique could enable far greater accuracy than current neurosurgical tools, potentially transforming tumor removal and other delicate procedures in soft organs.

Tatiana K. Malikova et al, Deep ultraviolet ultrashort laser pulses for precise ablation of soft biological tissue, Biomedical Optics Express (2025). DOI: 10.1364/boe.578629

Fish allergy risk varies by fish size and which part is eaten, research reveals

Fish allergies vary by region and may affect up to 3% of the population.

A new study reveals allergy risks from fish depend not just on species but also on the size of the fish and which part you eat.

With increasing frequency, the consumption of fish or fish products triggers severe allergic reactions. This form of allergy is associated with a higher probability of life-threatening anaphylactic shock than many other food allergies. Even skin contact with fish or accidentally inhaling fish fumes can trigger an allergic reaction.

If you have an allergy, your immune system overreacts by producing allergen-specific IgE antibodies in your blood. Those antibodies sit on certain cells, which when exposed to fish proteins release substances, causing an allergic reaction.

He said while more than 1,000 different fish species are consumed globally, knowledge about species–specific and fish-specific allergenicity remains limited. 

Research Results showed protein profiles varied markedly by fish size and muscle region, but not between farmed or wild-caught fish. Smaller fish contained higher amounts of the major allergens parvalbumin and creatine kinase, while larger specimens had elevated levels of heat-labile allergens.

Allergen distribution also differed across body regions, suggesting that various cuts of the same fish may pose different risks for allergic consumers. For example, the head region contained more than twice the amount of the major fish allergen compared to the tail.

However, differences linked to production origin—e.g., whether the fish were wild-caught or farmed—were minimal, affecting only two of the 11 registered fish allergens.

 Fish allergy is highly complex and many people allergic to fish react to multiple allergens, so the scientists could not recommend eating smaller or larger fish as a safer option.

Thimo Ruethers et al, Fish size matters – Variable food allergen profiles in farmed and wild Malabar red snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus), Food Chemistry (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2026.147950

People are swayed by AI-generated videos even when they know they're fake!

Generative deep learning models are artificial intelligence (AI) systems that can create texts, images, audio files, and videos for specific purposes, following instructions provided by human users. Over the past few years, the content generated by these models has become increasingly realistic and is often difficult to distinguish from real content.

Many of the videos and images circulating on social media platforms today are created by generative deep learning models.

 Some computer scientists have proposed strategies to mitigate the possible adverse effects of fake content diffusion, such as clearly labelling these videos as AI-generated.

Researchers recently carried out a new study set out to better understand the influence of deepfake videos on viewers, while also assessing user perceptions when AI-generated videos are labeled as "fake." Their findings, published in Communications Psychology, suggest that knowing that a video was created with AI does not always make it less "persuasive" for viewers.

Some past psychological studies suggest that people can be influenced by information they are presented with even if they know it to be false, unreliable, or irrelevant. The researchers wondered whether this pattern also applies to the deep fake videos that people watch online.

What happens when people encounter a deepfake video that has already been identified and clearly flagged as fake?

To assess people's perceptions of "flagged" deepfake videos, the researchers carried out three online experiments involving 175, 275, and 223 participants, respectively. The participants were asked to watch short videos that showed a person admitting that they had committed a crime or a moral transgression.

Crucially, in some conditions, participants were shown a warning before watching the video, stating that it had been identified and flagged as a deepfake, while other participants saw no warning, or a generic warning about the existence of deepfakes. They also added a control condition, in which participants watched a version of the video with all relevant information obscured by background sounds.

After watching each of the videos, participants were asked a series of simple questions. They were asked whether they thought the video was fake and if they believed the person was guilty of a crime or moral transgression.

When they analyzed the participants' responses, the researchers found that most participants were still influenced by the content of a video, even if they were warned that it was fake and generated with AI. Interestingly, many participants acknowledged that a video was fake but still judged the person in the video as guilty of the crime or transgression that they confessed to.

Warnings do reduce the effect, but they do not eliminate it, even among participants who say they believe the warning and know the video is a deepfake.

They also showed that different types of warnings have different effects. Specific warnings referring to a particular video are more effective at convincing people that a video is fake, whereas generic warnings do not reliably do so. At the same time, generic warnings can still alter how people interpret a video's content, which has implications for how such warnings are used.

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In their analyses, the researchers looked at both yes/no responses and more detailed explanations provided by participants. This allowed them to gain insight into how people reasoned about deepfake videos that are "flagged" as AI-generated.

Many participants continued to engage with the video itself rather than simply deferring to the warning, which helps explain why transparency reduces influence without fully neutralizing it. This has clear implications for regulation, where disclosure is often treated as a sufficient safeguard.

Simon Clark et al, The continued influence of AI-generated deepfake videos despite transparency warnings, Communications Psychology (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s44271-025-00381-9

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 Brain scans reveal the cerebellum's crucial role in human language

Even though the cerebellum makes up only about 10% of the brain's size, it carries an outsized load, containing nearly 80% of all the brain's neurons.

For a long time, its function was mainly linked to movement and coordination, but years of research has made it evident that the little brain isn't a one-trick pony. It plays an important role in human thinking, including language, and may have even helped make abilities like language possible over the course of evolution.

The cerebellum, often called the little brain, plays a much bigger role in language processing than once thought. Located at the base of the brain, the cerebellum has long been thought to be mainly responsible for motor response, balance, and basic coordination.

A recent large-scale study analyzing brain scans from over 900 participants revealed a surprising new specialization within this region.

Four specific regions in the cerebellum are closely connected to the brain's main language network, constantly communicating with it to help process human language. What was especially surprising is that one of these regions, called LangCereb3, appears to be a true language specialist, responding almost exclusively to language processing rather than to other kinds of mental tasks.

The researchers think that since  LangCereb3  works closely with the brain's main language center, it can be used as the target when treating patients with loss of ability to understand or express speech due to stroke or language disorders like aphasia.

Colton Casto et al, The cerebellar components of the human language network, Neuron (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2025.12.030

AI unlocks hundreds of cosmic anomalies in Hubble archive

An AI-based tool analyzed nearly 100 million Hubble Space Telescope images, identifying over 1,300 rare cosmic anomalies, including galaxy mergers, gravitational lenses, and previously unclassified objects. More than 800 of these had not been documented before. This approach demonstrates AI's effectiveness in rapidly detecting unusual phenomena within vast astronomical datasets.

David O'Ryan et al, Identifying astrophysical anomalies in 99.6 million source cutouts from the Hubble legacy archive using AnomalyMatch, Astronomy & Astrophysics (2025). DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202555512

Milky Way is embedded in a 'large-scale sheet' of dark matter, which explains motions of nearby galaxies
Simulations indicate that the Milky Way and Andromeda are embedded in a large-scale, flat sheet of dark matter, with voids above and below. This structure explains the observed motions and distribution of nearby galaxies, aligning with the Hubble-Lemaître law and resolving longstanding discrepancies in local galactic dynamics.

Ewoud Wempe et al, The mass distribution in and around the Local Group, Nature Astronomy (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-025-02770-w. www.nature.com/articles/s41550-025-02770-w

The many faces of monster galaxies

Observations of three early universe "monster galaxies" reveal diverse growth mechanisms, including major mergers, internal gravitational instabilities, and minor interactions. High-resolution data from ALMA and JWST show that rapid star formation in these galaxies does not follow a single pathway, indicating multiple evolutionary routes for the ancestors of today’s giant ellipticals.

Ryota Ikeda et al, Formation of Substructure in Luminous Submillimeter Galaxies (FOSSILS): Evidence of Multiple Pathways to Trigger Starbursts in Luminous Submillimeter Galaxies, The Astrophysical Journal (2026). DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ae157e

Unseen world: Cuttlefish use polarized light to create a dramatic mating display invisible to humans

Many organisms leverage showy colors for attracting mates. Because color is a property of light (determined by its wavelength), it is easy for humans to see how these colors are used in animal courting rituals. Less obvious to humans is the polarization of light—a property of light related to the direction the wave is oriented in. Humans can't perceive polarization, which may be why we weren't aware of the interesting way cuttlefish use it to attract mates.

A new study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, takes a closer look at the way male cuttlefish put on a show by polarizing light waves with their arms during courtship.

Unlike humans, cephalopods, like cuttlefish, have the ability to perceive the polarization of light. If some light waves are oriented vertically and others are oriented horizontally, cuttlefish differentiate these in a similar way that humans might differentiate blue and red light. On the other hand, cuttlefish don't have the ability to perceive color. Instead, cephalopods can use their polarization vision to aid in functions such as navigation, target detection, or visual noise reduction.

Prior studies have also found that the bodies of some species can reflect strongly polarized light, which could potentially be used as a signal or means of communication. This idea made some researchers curious about the role of polarization in sexual signaling among those species lacking color vision.

The study focuses on the Andrea cuttlefish (Doratosepion andreanum). When trying to attract a mate, the male Andrea cuttlefish extends its two sexually dimorphic arms (SDAs), which are around three times longer than the equivalent arms of female Andrea cuttlefish. He also extends his body and turns a pale color. However, observing this ritual with a specialized camera for analyzing polarization patterns, revealed that there was more to this dance than what humans could see.

The camera showed that male cuttlefish also displayed a unique courtship signal using vertically and horizontally polarized light on their specialized arms. When the team observed the cuttlefish outside of the courtship ritual, only horizontally polarized light was seen, matching the pattern on female cuttlefish. Further analysis showed that these horizontally and vertically polarized light patterns would appear highly conspicuous to cuttlefish polarization vision, maximizing contrast for potential mates.

Arata Nakayama et al, Transmission through muscle tissue shapes polarization signals during cuttlefish courtship, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2517167123

Scientists develop technique to identify malfunctions in our genetic code
An international team of researchers have developed a way to reveal the smallest of malfunctions in the biochemical machinery that makes proteins in our bodies. According to the researchers, these malfunctions, however small, can trigger neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, as well as cancer and developmental disorders.

A new technique enables real-time detection of structural malfunctions in individual tRNA molecules by analyzing them as they pass through nanopores in a silicon membrane. Mutations in tRNA can cause abnormal shapes, disrupting protein synthesis and contributing to diseases such as neurodegeneration and cancer. This approach may facilitate early diagnosis and drug screening targeting tRNA stability.
The technique, which works by squeezing molecules through tiny holes in a silicon-based membrane, helps scientists understand how a mutation in a transfer RNA (tRNA) molecule—tRNA is a molecular messenger essential for building proteins—affects the molecule's real-time structure.

Shankar Dutt et al, Solid-state nanopore sensing reveals conformational changes induced by a mutation in a neuron-specific tRNA^Arg, Nucleic Acids Research (2026). DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaf1411

Red flowers have a 'magic trait' to attract birds and keep bees away

Evolution: UV-absorbing pigments decide between bee or bird pollinators

For flowering plants, reproduction is a question of the birds and the bees. Attracting the right pollinator can be a matter of survival—and new research shows how flowers do it is more intriguing than anyone realized, and might even involve a little bit of magic.

A single genetic trait in some flowering plants reduces UV reflection, making red flowers less visible to bees while enhancing their visibility to birds, which have different color vision. This adaptation helps attract bird pollinators and deter bees, improving pollination efficiency for larger flowers that benefit from bird visits.

https://www.cell.com/current-biology/abstract/S0960-9822(25)01550-7?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982225015507%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

How gut bacteria share antibiotic resistance genes and fuel dangerous hospital infections

Researchers have uncovered how a high-risk class of genetic vectors can efficiently spread antibiotic resistance within the gut, enabling even highly virulent bacteria to acquire drug resistance under real-world conditions.

A distinct group of plasmids, PTU-P2, efficiently transfer antibiotic resistance genes between gut bacteria, especially under oxygen-poor conditions typical of the intestine. This enables highly virulent bacteria to acquire resistance, fueling persistent, hard-to-treat infections in hospitals. Standard laboratory conditions may underestimate this risk, highlighting the need for surveillance targeting high-risk plasmids.
Crucially, once these plasmids entered a new bacterial host, they could continue spreading even when the original donor bacteria were no longer present, allowing resistance to persist and amplify within the gut microbial community.
The team discovered that a distinct group of plasmids, known as PTU-P2 plasmids, are particularly well adapted to the oxygen-poor (anaerobic) environment of the gut. These plasmids transferred resistance genes far more efficiently than closely related plasmids under gut-like conditions, mirroring their much higher prevalence in human and clinical bacterial isolates worldwide.

The findings shed new light on how so-called "superbugs," bacteria that are both highly virulent and antibiotic-resistant, can emerge and persist, particularly in health care settings.

Melvin Yong et al, Differential gut transmission of IncP plasmid clades involving hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae reveals plasmid-specific ecological adaptation, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-66413-4

How your life story leaves epigenetic fingerprints on your immune cells

Our immune cells carry a molecular record of both our genes and our life experiences, and those two forces shape the immune system in very different ways

The COVID-19 pandemic gave us tremendous perspective on how wildly symptoms and outcomes can vary between patients experiencing the same infection. How can two people infected by the same pathogen have such different responses? It largely comes down to variability in genetics (the genes you inherit) and life experience (your environmental, infection, and vaccination history).

These two influences are imprinted on our cells through small molecular alterations called epigenetic changes, which shape cell identity and function by controlling whether genes are turned "on" or "off."

Researchers are debuting a new epigenetic catalog that reveals the distinct effects of genetic inheritance and life experience on various types of immune cells. The new cell type-specific database, published in Nature Genetics, helps explain individual differences in immune responses and may serve as the foundation for more effective and personalized therapeutics.

This work shows that infections and environmental exposures leave lasting epigenetic fingerprints that influence how immune cells behave. By resolving these effects cell by cell, we can begin to connect genetic and epigenetic risk factors to the specific immune cells where disease actually begins.

All the cells in your body share the same DNA sequence. And yet, there are many specialized cell types that look and act entirely differently. This diversity is due, in part, to a collection of small molecular tags called epigenetic markers, which decorate the DNA and signal which genes should be turned on or off in each cell. The many epigenetic changes in each cell collectively make up that cell's epigenome.

Unlike the base genetic code, the epigenome is far more flexible—some epigenetic differences are strongly influenced by inherited genetic variation, while others are acquired experientially across a lifetime. Immune cells are no exception to these forces, but it was unclear whether these two types of epigenetic changes—inherited versus experiential—affected immune cells in the same way.

Ultimately, both genetic inheritance and environmental factors impact us.

 By collecting and analyzing blood samples from 110 individuals, the researchers were able to observe the effects of a variety of genetic profiles and life experiences, including flu; HIV-1, MRSA, MSSA, and SARS-CoV-2 infections; anthrax vaccination; and exposure to organophosphate pesticides.

The researchers then compared the epigenetic profiles of four major immune cell types: T and B cells, known for their long-term memory of past infections, and monocytes and natural killer cells, which respond more broadly and rapidly. From these many samples and cells, the team built a catalog of all the epigenetic markers, or differentially methylated regions (DMRs), in each cell type.

They found that disease-associated genetic variants often work by altering DNA methylation in specific immune cell types.

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"By mapping these connections, we can begin to pinpoint which cells and molecular pathways may be affected by disease risk genes, potentially opening new avenues for more targeted therapies."

The findings demonstrate the unique and substantial influence of both nature and nurture on immune cell identity and immune system performance. Furthermore, the catalog offers an exciting jumping-off point for creating new personalized treatment plans.

Wenliang Wang et al, Genetics and environment distinctively shape the human immune cell epigenome, Nature Genetics (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41588-025-02479-6

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Smoke from wildfires linked to 17,000 strokes in the US alone

Long-term exposure to wildfire smoke, measured by PM2.5 levels, is associated with an increased risk of stroke in older adults, with each 1 µg/m3 rise linked to a 1.3% higher risk. Wildfire smoke may be more harmful than other pollution sources and is estimated to contribute to about 17,000 strokes annually in the US, with no clear safe exposure threshold identified.

Long-term exposure to wildfire smoke particulate matter and incident stroke: a US nationwide study, European Heart Journal (2026). DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf875

Menopause linked to loss of gray matter in the brain, poorer mental health and sleep disturbance
Menopause is associated with reduced gray matter volume in key brain regions, increased anxiety and depression, and more frequent sleep disturbances. Hormone replacement therapy does not prevent gray matter loss or mental health issues but may slow age-related decline in reaction times. No significant differences in memory performance were observed among groups.

Zühlsdorff, K et al. Emotional and cognitive effects of menopause and hormone replacement therapy, Psychological Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.1017/S0033291725102845

Scientists once thought the brain couldn't be changed. Now we know different
The adult brain retains the capacity for neuroplasticity, allowing structural and functional changes in response to experience, learning, and injury. This adaptability is shaped by factors such as practice, physical exercise, sleep, and stress, but operates within biological limits. Neuroplasticity is experience-dependent, value-neutral, and persists throughout life, though meaningful change requires sustained effort.

Neuron position found less crucial for brain connectivity than once thought

The human brain contains billions of connected neurons that collectively support different mental functions, including the processing of sensory information, the encoding of memories, attention processes, and decision-making. For a long time, neuroscientists have assumed the position of specific neurons in the brain plays a key role in the brain's connectivity and proper functioning.

Researchers recently gathered evidence that contradicts this long-standing assumption, showing misplaced neurons can still retain their "identity," connect with other neurons and support the processing of sensory information.

Their paper, published in Nature Neuroscience, could reshape the present understanding of developmental disorders and other conditions linked to the rearrangement of neurons or cortical malformations.

When they were conducting experiments focusing on brain malformations known as cortical heterotopias, the researchers were surprised to discover that alterations in the brain's structural organization did not appear to alter neurons or prevent them from connecting with other neurons.

This inspired them to widen the scope of their investigation, to determine if the position of neurons contributes to the brain's connectivity and function.

Contrary to their original expectations, the researchers observed that the rearrangement of neurons does not impair the brain's connectivity and functions. This finding could have important implications for the understanding and treatment of developmental disorders linked to brain malformations.

Contrary to their original expectations, the researchers observed that the rearrangement of neurons does not impair the brain's connectivity and functions. This finding could have important implications for the understanding and treatment of developmental disorders linked to brain malformations.

This shows that spatial organization is not critical for neuronal identity acquisition and maturation.

Sergi Roig-Puiggros et al, Position-independent emergence of neocortical neuron molecular identity, connectivity and function, Nature Neuroscience (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-025-02142-7.

Microplastics found in a third of surveyed fish off the coasts of remote Pacific Islands
Microplastics were detected in about one-third of coastal fish from Pacific Island Countries and Territories, with Fiji showing contamination in nearly 75% of sampled fish—well above the global average. Reef and bottom-dwelling species, especially those feeding on invertebrates, had higher contamination rates. The findings highlight vulnerabilities in remote regions and underscore the need for stronger global plastic regulations.

Dehm J, et al. Considering ecological traits of fishes to understand microplastic ingestion across Pacific coastal fisheries, PLOS One (2026). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0339852

Which countries are paying the highest price for particulate air pollution?

Polluted air causes an estimated 7 million deaths worldwide each year, according to the World Health Organization. Much of the mortality comes from PM_2.5, particulate pollution smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter that can enter the lungs and bloodstream and cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems. In addition to particles emitted directly into the atmosphere, ammonia (NH₃), nitrogen oxides (NO_X), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂), which are emitted by factories, ships, cars, and power plants, are all precursors that can contribute to the formation of PM_2.5. The effects of particulate pollution are not evenly distributed, however.

The largest mortality reductions came from China and India, where cutting emissions would save 184,000 and 124,000 lives, respectively, each year. The largest cost savings were found in China, followed by Europe and North America. Health benefits also varied by type of emissions and sector. NH₃ causes more issues in China, whereas NO_X is relatively more harmful in Europe than in other places.

The authors note that caution is warranted when comparing results across similar studies, in part because the link between pollutant concentrations and health outcomes is not always linear and in part because different regions may have different methodologies when accounting for emissions by sector. Also, their study focuses only on PM_2.5-related mortality and does not consider other pollutants, such as ozone. Overall, they suggest their work offers a meaningful reference for comparing the effects of different pollutant mitigation strategies in the Northern Hemisphere.

Y. B. Oztaner et al, Source Attribution of PM_2.5Health Benefits Over Northern Hemisphere Using Adjoint of Hemispheric CMAQ, GeoHealth (2026). DOI: 10.1029/2025gh001533

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Environmental trade-offs of biodegradable plastics revealed
Replacing conventional plastics with biodegradable alternatives could reduce ecotoxicity by up to 34% and global waste accumulation by up to 65% by 2050, provided proper waste management systems like industrial composting are in place. Without such infrastructure, greenhouse gas emissions could double. Biodegradable plastics also increase water use, highlighting the need for improved disposal systems and labeling.

Zhengyin Piao et al, The role of biodegradable plastics in the global plastic future, Nature Reviews Clean Technology (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s44359-025-00142-1

Fast-growing trees are taking over the forests of the future and putting biodiversity, climate resilience under pressure
Forests are increasingly dominated by fast-growing tree species, while slow-growing, specialized species face heightened risk of extinction, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. This shift leads to reduced biodiversity, ecosystem homogenization, and diminished climate resilience, as fast-growing trees are less stable and store less carbon long-term. Human activities are the main drivers of these changes.

Guo, WY., et al. Global functional shifts in trees driven by alien naturalization and native extinction, Nature Plants (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41477-025-02207-2

Scientists grow specialized nerve cells that degenerate in ALS and are damaged in spinal cord injury
A method has been developed to direct cortical progenitor cells, specifically SOX6+/NG2+ cells, to differentiate into corticospinal-like neurons in vitro. These lab-grown neurons exhibit key molecular and functional features of native corticospinal neurons, which are affected in ALS and spinal cord injury, providing a foundation for future disease modelling and regenerative research.

Directed differentiation of functional corticospinal-like neurons from endogenous SOX6+/NG2+ cortical progenitors, eLife (2026). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.100340.3

No more jet lag! Scientists discover oral compound that helps 'reset' the body clock forward

A  research team has discovered a new compound that can advance the body's internal clock—offering hope for faster recovery from jet lag and better adaptation to night-shift work. The compound, called Mic-628, specifically activates the transcription of a clock gene named Period1 (Per1). When given orally to mice, it advanced their body clocks and activity rhythms, regardless of dosing time.

Mathematical modeling revealed that the compound's stable and unidirectional phase-advancing effect is mediated by a negative auto-regulatory feedback of the PER1 protein itself.

Adapting to eastward travel, such as west-to-east transmeridian flights, or to night-shift work requires advancing the internal clock, a process that normally takes longer and is physiologically harder than delaying it.

Existing methods, such as light therapy or melatonin, are heavily constrained by timing and often yield inconsistent results. Mic-628's consistent phase-advance effect, regardless of when it is administered, represents a new pharmacological strategy for resetting the circadian clock.

The findings, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest a new approach to controlling circadian rhythms through drug action rather than light exposure.

The researchers plan to investigate the safety and efficacy of Mic-628 in further animal and human studies. Because it reproducibly advances the body clock through a well-defined molecular mechanism, Mic-628 may serve as a prototype "smart drug" for managing jet lag, shift work-related sleep problems, and other circadian misalignment disorders.

Yoshifumi Takahata et al, A Period1 inducer specifically advances circadian clock in mice, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2509943123

What causes chronic pain? New study identifies key culprit in the brain

About one in four adults have chronic pain and nearly one in 10 people say chronic pain interferes with their daily life and work.

Those with nerve-related pain often suffer from a condition called allodynia, an extreme sensitivity in which even light touch hurts.

Acute and chronic pain work differently. Acute pain serves as a temporary warning sign, initiated when an injured tissue—like a stubbed toe—sends a signal to the spinal cord and onward to the brain's pain center. Chronic pain is more like a false alarm, in which pain signals persist in the brain for weeks, months or years after the initial tissue injury has healed.

Earlier work suggested that the CGIC—a sugar-cube-sized cluster of cells hidden deep within the folds of a portion of the human brain called the insula—plays an important role in allodynia. Human studies have also shown that chronic pain patients have an overactive CGIC.

A neural circuit hidden in an understudied region of the brain plays a critical role in turning temporary pain into pain that can last months or years, according to new  research.

The animal study, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, found that silencing this pathway, known as the caudal granular insular cortex (CGIC), can prevent or halt chronic pain.

The researchers discovered that while the CGIC plays a minimal role in processing acute pain, it plays a vital role in making pain persist.

According to the study, the CGIC signals the brain's pain processing center, or somatosensory cortex, which in turn tells the spinal cord to keep the pain going.

When the team turned off cells within this pathway immediately after injury, the rat's pain from injury was short-lived. In animals already experiencing chronic allodynia, disabling this pathway made the pain cease.

Now that scientists have access to tools that allow you to manipulate the brain, not based just on a general region but on specific sub-populations of cells, the quest for new treatments is moving much faster.

Jayson B. Ball et al, Caudal Granular Insular Cortex to Somatosensory Cortex I: A critical pathway for the transition of acute to chronic pain, The Journal of Neuroscience (2025). DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1306-25.2025

Genes influence the microbes in our mouths to shape dental health

No matter how much they brush their teeth, some people still get more cavities than others, in part because of differences in genetics and the make-up of the microbes in their mouths. A new study has found human genetic factors that influence the oral microbiome and may increase risk of cavities and tooth loss in some people.

The abundance of many bacterial species in our mouths is strongly influenced by human genetics. We know that the microbial environment in one person's mouth is going to be quite different from another person's mouth due to many factors, but genetics is a pretty strong one.
Human genetic variation significantly influences the composition of the oral microbiome, affecting susceptibility to cavities and tooth loss. Specific genes, such as AMY1 and FUT2, are linked to changes in the abundance of numerous oral bacterial species. These genome-to-genome interactions shape oral health outcomes, with AMY1 copy number correlating with increased risk of tooth decay and denture use.

The study, led by scientists at the Broad Institute and Mass General Brigham, found a surprisingly large effect of human genetics on the abundance of microbes in the mouth. The researchers discovered genome-to-genome interactions between human DNA and the DNA of the oral microbiome. For example, they found that a human gene, AMY1, was strongly linked to the composition of the oral microbial community, and even to denture use, suggesting that the relationship between this gene and the bacteria in the mouth plays a role in oral health.

The paper, published in Nature, is an analysis of the largest collection of oral microbiome profiles to date.

To find human-microbiota associations, the team analyzed whole-genome sequences from saliva-derived DNA from more than 12,500 individuals. Typically, the microbial DNA in human samples is tossed aside, but the team found a new purpose for the bacterial data sequenced together with each human genome. They measured the abundances of 439 common microbial species, and found 11 regions of the human genome associated with differences in the levels of dozens of species of bacteria in the mouth.

They also found that the same 11 human loci influence natural selection on dozens of different bacterial genes, so it seems like there's a lot of interaction between human genetics and the oral microbiome,

Notably, the scientists found the strongest relationship between a genetic variant that breaks the FUT2 gene—which has previously been linked to gut microbiome composition—and the levels of 58 oral bacterial species.

Nolan Kamitaki, Human and bacterial genetic variation shape oral microbiomes and health, Nature (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-10037-7. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-10037-7

The two viruses that can become the next public health threats according to scientists

Influenza D virus and canine coronavirus, both originating from animals, have shown potential to infect humans and may pose future public health threats. Influenza D has been detected in livestock workers and can evolve for human transmission, while canine coronavirus has caused rare human respiratory infections and is circulating internationally. Enhanced surveillance and diagnostics are needed to mitigate outbreak risks.

Gregory C. Gray et al, Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats from Influenza D and Canine Coronavirus HuPn-2018, Emerging Infectious Diseases (2026). DOI: 10.3201/eid3201.251764

Fecal transplant capsules show promising results in clinical trials for multiple types of cancer

Fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) can dramatically improve cancer treatment, suggest two groundbreaking studies published in the Nature Medicine journal. The first study shows that the toxic side effects of drugs to treat kidney cancer could be eliminated with FMT. The second study suggests FMT is effective in improving the response to immunotherapy in patients with lung cancer and melanoma.

Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) capsules have been shown to reduce toxic side effects of immunotherapy in kidney cancer and significantly improve response rates in lung cancer and melanoma. Clinical trials indicate FMT is safe and may enhance treatment efficacy, with response rates rising to 80% in lung cancer and 75% in melanoma, compared to standard immunotherapy alone.

Fernandes, R., Jabbarizadeh, B., Rajeh, A. et al. Fecal microbiota transplantation plus immunotherapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: the phase 1 PERFORM trial. Nature Medicine (2026). doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-04183-8

Duttagupta, S., Messaoudene, M., Hunter, S. et al. Fecal microbiota transplantation plus immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma: the phase 2 FMT-LUMINate trial. Nature Medicine (2026). doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-04186-5

Researchers unveil simpler, faster way to make vaccines

A new vaccine development platform enables rapid, low-cost production using inactivated bacteria engineered with synthetic DNA, bypassing the cold storage and complexity of mRNA vaccines. The method yields shelf-stable vaccines suitable for global distribution and can generate candidates for testing within three weeks. Early trials show strong immune responses, with up to eightfold improvement over initial versions.

Juan Sebastian Quintero-Barbosa et al, Engineering Enhanced Immunogenicity of Surface-Displayed Immunogens in a Killed Whole-Cell Genome-Reduced Bacterial Vaccine Platform Using Class I Viral Fusion Peptides, Vaccines (2025). DOI: 10.3390/vaccines14010014

'Holiday mode': Why our green habits vanish on vacation

Tourists tend to act less environmentally responsible while on vacation due to a shift into a "vacation place identity," which reduces feelings of accountability for sustainable behavior. This identity switch occurs even though core environmental values remain unchanged, leading to increased waste and less conservation compared to behavior at home. Subtle prompts evoking home routines before travel may encourage more sustainable actions.

Dorine von Briel et al, Does activating home place identity on vacation have the potential to alter environmentally significant tourist behaviour?, Tourism Management (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2025.105321

Do trees prevent landslides? What science says about roots, rainfall and stability

Tree roots can enhance slope stability by reinforcing soil and intercepting rainfall, but their removal is only one of many factors influencing landslide risk. Slope failures are primarily driven by underlying geology, clay-rich soils, intense rainfall, and historical instability. Vegetation loss may contribute, but landslides often result from a complex interplay of natural and human-induced factors.

Do trees prevent landslides? What science says about roots, rainfal...

Can desert sand be used to build houses and roads?
Desert sand, typically too fine for conventional concrete, can be used to create strong building materials when combined with plant-based additives and heat, forming botanical sand concrete. This material is suitable for paving stones and may reduce environmental impacts by utilizing abundant desert sand and decreasing reliance on river and crushed rock sand. Further testing is needed for broader applications.

Ren Wei et al, Botanical sandcrete: An environment-friendly alternative way to the mass utilization of fine (desert) sand, Journal of Building Engineering (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2025.114078

How fire-loving fungi learned to eat charcoal

Wildfire causes most living things to flee or die, but some fungi thrive afterward, even feasting on charred remains.
Certain fungi thrive after wildfires by metabolizing charcoal, enabled by specific genetic adaptations. These include gene duplication for increased enzyme production, sexual recombination for rapid evolution, and rare horizontal gene transfer from bacteria. Some fungi survive fires via heat-resistant structures or by recolonizing soil. Insights into these mechanisms may aid in bioremediation of pollutants.

Research finds the secret to post-fire flourishing hidden in their genes. The study is among the first to investigate how fungi that are barely detectable in the soil before a fire are able to proliferate wildly once an area has burned.

Scientists knew certain fungi were heat resistant, that some could grow quickly in scars where competitors have been burned away, and that others could consume nutrients in charcoal. Now we know the genetics behind these incredible abilities.

Over a period of five years, researchers built a collection of fungi gathered from seven different wildfire burn sites across California. The researchers sequenced their genes and exposed some of them to charcoal. They found three main ways through which pyrophilous fungal genes have evolved.

Some fungi use gene duplication, like a biological copy-paste mechanism, to make more of the enzymes needed to digest charcoal. Aspergillus, the green mold sometimes found on bread, reproduces asexually using this method. The more copies of charcoal-digesting genes it has, the more enzymes it can produce to consume burned matter full of carbon.

By contrast, Basidiomycota, a large group that contains the classic Mario Brothers-style mushroom-forming species, relies on sexual reproduction. This strategy allows it to recombine genes during mating, and quickly evolve the ability to metabolize char.

Most surprising to the researchers, however, is that one fungus, Coniochaeta hoffmannii, acquired its most useful genes from bacteria, essentially borrowing genetic tools from another kingdom of life.

Humans share genes via vertical transfer, from parents to babies. Bacteria commonly swap genes with each other horizontally.

Horizontal gene transfer is like you sharing genes with your friend or sibling. This is why bacteria are so diverse.

However, it is uncommon to find examples of this happening between bacteria and other life forms.

This kind of gene sharing across kingdoms is incredibly rare. But it gives this fungus the genes it needs to break down burn scars.

The team also identified how some fungi survive fire itself. Some produce sclerotia, heat-resistant structures that can lie dormant underground for decades, waiting for the right conditions to regrow.

Others survive deeper in the soil, then rise to colonize nutrient-rich, competitor-free ground after the fire passes. For example, Pyronema does not possess as much of the genetic machinery to break down charcoal. Instead, it quickly forms tiny orange cup-shaped mushrooms in a competitor-free environment.

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Understanding how certain fungi are able to break down charcoal could ultimately benefit humans. Charcoal is chemically similar to a lot of pollutants left behind by human activities like oil spills, mining waste, and other industrial processes. If researchers gain a better understanding of the ways fungi digest such things, they could one day be used to clean up contaminated environments.

Ehsan Sari et al, Gene duplication, horizontal gene transfer, and trait trade-offs drive evolution of postfire resource acquisition in pyrophilous fungi, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2519152123

Part 2

What is a heart murmur?

A heart murmur can sound scary—literally.

"Lub-dub…lub-dub…lub-dub…" That's the sound a healthy heart makes as its valves close after each pump. Your doctor wants to hear this sound when listening to your heartbeat with a stethoscope. But if the sound your doctor hears is more of a "whoosh" or "swish," that may signal that you have a heart murmur.

What causes a heart murmur?

A whooshing or swishing sound in your heart will perk up your doctor's ears because it means that the blood is flowing a little faster or more turbulently than usual.

In the case of what's known as a functional, or innocent, heart murmur, that turbulence is completely harmless and not even uncommon in healthy people, including children, athletes and pregnant women. Pathological murmurs, on the other hand, may indicate a problem with one or more of the heart valves.

These valve problems can arise with age and the normal wear-and-tear a heart experiences over a lifetime. But heart defects present from birth, as well as prior infections like rheumatic fever and infective endocarditis, which affects the heart's lining and valves, might also be to blame.

Finally, cardiomyopathies, or diseases of the heart muscle itself, can cause heart murmurs, particularly when the muscle becomes abnormally thick.

Part 1

How do doctors diagnose a heart murmur?
If a doctor hears a particularly unusual whooshing or swishing sound, they might refer you to a cardiologist for further tests to determine what's going on.

Those tests will often start with an electrocardiogram (EKG) and echocardiogram, or ultrasound of the heart. But should your doctor need a better idea of how your heart muscles, chambers and valves are operating, they might order a chest X-ray, cardiac MRI or CT scan or other tests, too.
People diagnosed with heart murmurs might not notice any symptoms, even if their murmurs are caused by heart muscle or valve conditions. But if such conditions progress, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, fatigue and difficulty exercising, swollen legs, trouble sleeping and lying flat at night and even dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting could develop.

"If any of these symptoms appear, especially if they're new or worsening, it's time to call your doctor."
How do you treat a heart murmur?
What happens if a heart murmur goes untreated?

In the case of an innocent murmur, possibly nothing. But heart murmurs caused by severe valve or heart-muscle disease can overwork the heart, leading to complications like heart failure, stroke or irregular heart rhythm.

Cardiomyopathy-related heart murmurs respond well to medications and, in some cases, surgery, pacemakers or defibrillators. And patients can usually manage mild to moderate valve-related murmurs with medications that lower strain on the heart and control blood pressure and heart rhythm.
Severe valve disease, however, may require valve repair or replacement. The approach varies depending on the valve involved and the patient's overall condition, and it may range from minimally invasive procedures to traditional open-heart surgery.
A skilled care team knows how to determine the right treatment.
Part 2

Most patients, especially those with innocent murmurs, live completely normal and full lives. They can work, exercise, travel and enjoy normal activities. Even those with valve disease can remain active and healthy when they follow up regularly with their doctor and receive treatment at the right time.
That's great news, because staying active is an important part of managing a heart murmur.

And while we can't prevent all heart murmurs, we can reduce the risk of developing valve-related ones—and in some surprising ways.

Treating strep throat promptly helps prevent rheumatic fever, which can damage valves. Good dental hygiene lowers the risk of infections that can spread to the heart, too. Managing blood pressure and cholesterol also helps protect the heart, and avoiding intravenous drug use reduces the chance of infective endocarditis.
But if you do develop a heart murmur, rest assured. "A heart murmur is simply a clue—not a verdict. With routine checkups, healthy habits and the right care team, most people with a heart murmur can expect to live long, active, fulfilling lives.

What Is a Heart Murmur? A Cardiologist Explains. | Keck Medicine of...

Part 3

Why is my migraine worse in summer?
Migraine symptoms can worsen in summer due to factors such as heat-induced blood vessel dilation, dehydration from increased sweating, heightened sensitivity to light and glare, disrupted routines, and sudden changes in air pressure or allergens. Identifying personal triggers and maintaining hydration, consistent routines, and proper medication storage can help reduce attack frequency and severity.

People who survive cancers are less likely to develop Alzheimer's. This might be why
Mouse studies indicate that tumors can release cystatin‑C, a protein that crosses the blood–brain barrier and promotes microglial clearance of amyloid beta, reducing Alzheimer‑like plaques and improving memory. This suggests a biological link between cancer and reduced Alzheimer's risk, though relevance to humans remains unproven.

Xinyan Li et al, Peripheral cancer attenuates amyloid pathology in Alzheimer's disease via cystatin-c activation of TREM2, Cell (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.12.020

Snakes on trains: When king cobras prefer rail travel

King cobras are the world's longest venomous snakes. So, imagine seeing one a few feet away as you embark on a train in India. The Western Ghats King Cobra (Ophiophagus kaalinga)—a vulnerable king cobra species found in India's Western Ghats—has reportedly been caught aboard many trains in the Goa region of India. A new study, published in Biotropica, takes a closer look at these reports, where these snakes end up and whether this strange mode of animal migration is putting snakes into unsuitable habitats.

To learn more about the geographical spread of the Western Ghats King Cobra, the researchers compiled 22 years' worth of king cobra rescue records and verified local reports, spanning from 2002 to 2024. They found 47 georeferenced localities for O. kaalinga in Goa, with 18 in North Goa and 29 in South Goa.

Out of these, five king cobra records were found near busy railway corridors. Informal questioning also revealed that local residents reported king cobra encounters in the village and forested areas, but no such reports came from agricultural plots or paddy fields.

In 2017, study author Dikansh Parmar was volunteering with a local animal rescue group that received a call about a snake onboard a train. The incident is now included as part of this study. Another train rescue occurred in 2019, which ended up in a newspaper report in Uttarakhand. An incident occurred in 2023, in which a snake catcher from Gujarat State snapped a picture of an Indian Cobra sitting in a train window.

The study team writes, "With the increased global availability of low-cost smartphones and social media in recent years, the number of reports of snakes on and around trains in India has increased, with three incidents recorded in a 30-day period, and many more emerging on social media."

They also note that a combination of prey, in the form of other snakes and rodents, and shelter might lure a king cobra to enter a goods train at a location near their normal habitat.

"The findings suggest a different, more passive mechanism: railways may act not just as corridors for active movement, but as high-speed conduits. This contrasts with the typically negative impact of roads, which often function as barriers or significant mortality sinks for snakes. The potential for railways to inadvertently connect populations across otherwise unsuitable habitats represents a novel and underappreciated aspect of human-wildlife interaction," the study authors explain.

Clearly, the movement of these snakes to less suitable habitats has implications for the survival of an already vulnerable species. In addition, their presence onboard a train can present a threat to both the snakes and humans on the train. When humans are bitten by king cobras, fatalities can occur within 15 minutes. To avoid a bite, humans will also often resort to killing snakes even when other measures could be taken.

The team notes that the train-transport hypothesis is based on correlative and anecdotal evidence, not direct observation of movement to poorly suited habitats. Still, direct observations have been made of snakes being on trains, and mitigating these occurrences can help reduce risks for snakes and humans alike. The study team discusses the importance of snake rescue organizations and the need for public education on these matters.

Dikansh S. Parmar et al, Snakes on Trains: Railways May Sway Goa's King Cobra Distribution, Biotropica (2026). DOI: 10.1111/btp.70157

AI-supported mammography screening results in fewer aggressive and advanced breast cancers

Artificial intelligence (AI)-supported mammography identifies more cancers during screening and reduces the rate of breast cancer diagnosis by 12% in the years following, finds the first randomized controlled trial of its kind. The trial involved over 100,000 Swedish women, and its results are published in The Lancet.

The interim safety results of the MASAI trial, published in The Lancet Oncology in 2023, found a 44% reduction in screen-reading workload for radiologists. Additionally, a different early analysis of the trial, published in The Lancet Digital Health, found a 29% increase in cancer detection without an increase in false positives.

The full results of the latest trial show that AI-supported mammography also reduces cancer diagnoses in the years following a breast cancer screening appointment by 12%—a key test of screening program effectiveness.

Interval cancer, sensitivity, and specificity comparing AI-supported mammography screening with standard double reading without AI in the MASAI study: a randomised, controlled, non-inferiority, single-blinded, population-based, screening-accuracy trial, The Lancet (2026). DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)02464-X

Scientific 'spam filter' flags over 250,000 potentially fake cancer studies

A new machine learning tool has identified more than 250,000 cancer research papers that may have been produced by so-called "paper mills." Developed by QUT researcher Professor Adrian Barnett, from the School of Public Health and Social Work and Australian Center for Health Services and Innovation (AusHSI), and an international team of collaborators, the study, published in The BMJ, analyzed 2.6 million cancer studies from 1999 to 2024.

The study, "Machine Learning-Based Screening of Potential Paper Mill Publications in Cancer Research: Methodological and Cross-Sectional Study," found more than 250,000 papers with writing patterns similar to articles already retracted for suspected fabrication.

Paper mills are companies that sell fake or low-quality scientific studies. They are producing 'research' on an industrial scale, and these findings suggest the problem in cancer research is far larger than most people realized.

Selling authorships and entire ready-made research papers, paper mills often use recycled text, awkward phrasing or fabricated data and images.

Most likely, they're relying on boilerplate templates which can be detected by large language models that analyze patterns in texts.

Researchers trained a language model called BERT to recognize the subtle textual "fingerprints" that repeatedly appear across known paper-mill products.

When tested on verified examples, the model correctly identified suspicious papers 91% of the time.

Key findings from the large-scale analysis include: Flagged papers have increased dramatically over two decades, rising from around 1% in the early 2000s and peaking at over 16% in 2022. The issue affects thousands of journals across major publishers, including high-impact titles. The problem is most concentrated in fields such as molecular cancer biology and early-stage laboratory research. Some cancer types, including gastric, liver, bone and lung cancer, show especially high rates of suspicious papers.

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Three scientific journals are already piloting the tool as part of their editorial screening. It will allow editors to identify potentially fabricated manuscripts before they are sent for peer review.

The team plans to expand the tool to other fields of research and improve the model as more confirmed cases of paper-mill activity become available. They stress the findings are not confirmed cases of research fraud and should be checked by human specialists.
Cancer research influences clinical trials, drug development and patient care.
If fabricated studies make their way into the evidence base, they can mislead real scientists and ultimately slow progress for patients. That's why it's vital we get ahead of this problem.

Machine Learning-Based Screening of Potential Paper Mill Publications in Cancer Research: Methodological and Cross-Sectional Study, BMJ (2026). DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2025-087581

Part 2

Gut bacteria may tip the balance between feeding tumors and fueling immunity

A new study reveals how bacteria in the gut can help determine whether the amino acid asparagine from the diet will feed tumor growth or activate immune cells against the cancer, according to researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine. This casts the gut microbiome, comprising the trillions of microorganisms that live in the intestine, as a central player in the body's response to cancer and to modern cancer treatments like immunotherapies.

The findings, published in Cell Microbe and Host, could lead to a novel cancer treatment approach and monitoring strategy: Instead of targeting tumors directly, clinicians may one day be able to reshape the gut microbiome or diet to starve tumors while supercharging immune cells.

This study suggests that we need to think about how the interplay of diet, gut microbiota and tumor-infiltrating immune cells could affect cancer growth and response to therapy. We can't overlook this key level regulation.

Microbes deplete intestinal asparagine The researchers first established in mouse models with human gut microbiota that some bacteria could deplete amino acids and affect tumor progression. Next, they focused on asparagine, an amino acid that supports protein synthesis and promotes cell survival. Both cancer cells in the nutrient-poor environment inside tumors and CD8+ T cells, the cytotoxic immune cells that directly attack and destroy tumor cells, require the amino acid to be active.

To understand the impact of microbiota asparagine metabolism, the team worked with Bacteroides ovatus, a common gut bacterium with a gene called bo‑ansB, which encodes an enzyme that breaks down asparagine. Using mouse models, the researchers showed that when the bo‑ansB gene is present, B. ovatus consumes more asparagine in the gut, so less of it is absorbed into the bloodstream and delivered to tumors.

When the bo‑ansB gene was knocked out, the bacteria was not able to deplete asparagine in the intestine, so more of the amino acid reached the blood circulation and tumor. This demonstrated that the bacteria control the overall level of asparagine that leaves the gut and shapes the battlefield that tumors and immune cells share.

In mouse models of colorectal cancer fed extra dietary asparagine, bacteria with bo-ansB helped tumors grow. In mice with the bo‑ansB‑deleted bacteria, the same asparagine‑rich diet had the opposite effect: More asparagine reached the tumor and was taken up by CD8+ T cells. This triggered the immune cells into a "stem-like" state associated with long-lasting, effective anti-tumor responses. In contrast, without sufficient asparagine, CD8+ T cells were less effective at suppressing tumor growth.

The study showed that higher asparagine levels in the tumor microenvironment—when bo‑ansB was removed—drove CD8+ T cells to express more of a protein transporter (SLC1A5) on their cell surface, which was important in fighting cancer cells. Stem-like CD8⁺ T cells serve as a renewable source of immune cells that can mature into cancer-killing T cells. Once activated, these killer cells attack tumors by producing strong immune factors that help destroy cancer cells. Blocking SLC1A5 erased the gains from the higher asparagine levels.

Many studies suggest that enzymes produced by our microbiota, as well as the metabolites like small molecules and proteins, could be potential biomarkers for cancer progression.

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This raises the possibility that future cancer care could pair immunotherapy with tailored diets and microbiome-targeted strategies, such as the design of probiotics, engineered native gut bacteria or personalized dietary plans that fine-tune amino acid availability.

Shanshan Qiao et al, Microbiota utilization of intestinal amino acids modulates cancer progression and anticancer immunity, Cell Host & Microbe (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2025.12.003

Part 2

Radiotherapy is more effective when administered at the right time of day, study finds

A team of researchers have identified a fundamental mechanism that links the 24-hour circadian cycle to the precise repair of DNA breaks. This study, conducted by researchers focused on the circadian protein Cryptochrome1 (CRY1), suggests that the time of day when radiotherapy is administered can significantly influence the effectiveness of treatment for certain types of cancer. The paper is published in Nature Communications.

Maintaining genomic stability is essential to prevent the onset of cancer. It is therefore important that DNA breaks are repaired as accurately as possible. Indeed, it is relatively common for cancer cells to be unable to repair their DNA efficiently. Consequently, multiple cancer treatments, such as radiotherapy, exploit this weakness by generating DNA breaks that tumor cells are unable to repair.

This study shows that DNA break repair in human cells exhibits a circadian oscillation. In other words, its efficiency is not homogeneous, but varies cyclically depending on the time of day. In a normal human cycle, repair activity peaks in the early morning and then decreases gradually until nightfall, subsequently increasing again during the night.

The research has identified that this regulation depends on a central component of the biological clock, namely the CRY1 protein. This protein acts as a timer and its abundance changes naturally during the day/night cycle. In fact, the repair process reacts directly to CRY1 levels.

When CRY1 levels are low (corresponding to early morning in humans), efficient DNA repair is stimulated. Conversely, when CRY1 levels increase (which occurs naturally in the afternoon/evening), repair is reduced, thereby increasing the sensitivity of cells to DNA-breaking agents such as ionizing radiation.

This circadian regulation has a direct impact on cancer progression and response to radiotherapy in specific tumors. The study findings suggest that the reduction in repair that occurs when CRY1 levels are high can be exploited therapeutically.

Thus, breast cancer patients with tumors expressing higher levels of CRY1 were found to be more sensitive to radiotherapy. In addition, a retrospective analysis of patient data from the Virgen Macarena University Hospital revealed a significant difference in overall survival based on the time of irradiation: treatment in the afternoon/evening, when CRY1 levels are naturally higher, made tumor samples more sensitive to radiotherapy and improved patient prognosis. This effect was also observed in patients with prostate cancer and breast cancer, but not in lung cancer or gliomas.

Therefore, these findings open the door to exploring the therapeutic potential of irradiation at specific times of the day, a phenomenon known as chronoradiotherapy.

Amador Romero-Franco et al, Circadian regulation of homologous recombination by cryptochrome1-mediated dampening of DNA end resection, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65854-1

AI is failing 'Humanity's Last Exam'—so what does that mean for machine intelligence?
Current AI models perform poorly on "Humanity's Last Exam," a benchmark of 2,500 expert-level questions designed to probe the limits of machine capabilities, with top models initially scoring below 10%. Improved scores reflect targeted optimization, not human-like understanding. Benchmark results do not equate to general intelligence, as human and machine intelligence differ fundamentally.

A benchmark of expert-level academic questions to assess AI capabil...

Scientists teached microorganisms to build molecules with light

Engineered Escherichia coli were shown to perform light-driven enzymatic reactions in vivo, enabling new chemical transformations such as hydroalkylations, hydroaminations, and hydroarylations without external radical precursors. This integrated photobiocatalytic platform expands the biosynthetic capabilities of microbes, offering potential for sustainable production of complex molecules.

Yujie Yuan et al, Harnessing photoenzymatic reactions for unnatural biosynthesis in microorganisms, Nature Catalysis (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41929-025-01470-y

Scientists teach microorganisms to build molecules with light