When influencers raise a glass, young viewers want to join them

Exposure to social media influencer posts featuring alcohol increases young adults' immediate desire to drink by 73% compared to similar posts without alcohol. This effect is amplified when influencers are perceived as trustworthy, honest, and knowledgeable. The findings highlight the subtle influence of everyday social media content on drinking intentions among young viewers.

Exposure to Alcohol-Related Social Media Content and Desire to Drink Among Young Adults, JAMA Pediatrics (2026). DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.6335

Why do falls rise with age? Study points to cerebellar neuron firing
Age-related declines in Purkinje cell firing in the cerebellum directly impair motor coordination, balance, and gait. Experimental reduction of Purkinje cell activity in young mice induced motor deficits, while enhancing firing in older mice improved performance. These findings highlight cerebellar neuron dysfunction as a key factor in increased fall risk with aging.
A new study has found a direct link between age-related declines in neuron activity in the cerebellum and worsening motor skills, including gait, balance and agility. While it is well known that these abilities diminish with age, this is the first research to pinpoint how changes in Purkinje cells—a key type of cerebellar neuron—drive this decline and translate into measurable changes in behaviour and physical function.
Purkinje cells process sensory input and internal signals from the body and send corrective messages that finetune movement. However, unlike other neurons, they can also spontaneously fire electrical signals. To test how aging affects this activity, the researchers examined motor coordination in mice ranging from young adults (two months old) to elderly (18 to 24 months old). Older mice performed worse on several coordination tasks, including crossing an elevated beam and staying on a rotating rod (Rotarod), mirroring motor decline in humans.
The team then recorded electrical activity from Purkinje cells and found significantly lower firing frequencies in older mice. To determine whether this caused the behavioral decline, they used a genetically targeted tool called a DREADD, a type of designer receptor that increases or decreases neuron excitability when activated.
When they turned on the DREADD for young mice, which made their Purkinje cells fire at lower rates, mimicking the older Purkinje cells, the researchers found that they jumped off the Rotarod sooner than young mice who did not have the DREADD.
The reverse was also true: when the researchers boosted neuron firing in older mice, those mice stayed on the Rotarod longer, suggesting improved motor coordination.
The researchers showed that spontaneous firing rates in older Purkinje cells are reduced, and if we reverse this, we improve coordination. This indicates that the change plays a direct role in the age-related decline of motor coordination.

Eviatar Fields et al, Cerebellar Purkinje cell firing reduction contributes to aging-related declining motor coordination in mice, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2525795122

Your gut microbes can be anti-aging—scientists are uncovering how to keep your microbiome youthful
The gut microbiome changes with age, typically losing diversity and increasing inflammation-promoting bacteria, which correlates with aging. Maintaining a youthful microbiome is linked to healthier aging and longevity. Diets high in fiber and regular exercise support a beneficial microbiome, while interventions like fecal transplants, postbiotics, and targeted drugs or phages are being explored to promote healthy aging.

Women may face heart events at lower plaque levels than men, study finds

Less artery-clogging plaque in women's arteries did not appear to protect them from heart disease compared to men, according to a study published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging. While heart disease is the leading cause of illness and death worldwide, according to the American Heart Association's 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, women tend to have a lower prevalence of artery plaque than men, according to previous research.

The study evaluated health data for more than 4,200 adults (more than half of whom were women) to compare how quantity of plaque influenced the risk of major heart conditions. The study included people with stable chest pain and no prior history of coronary artery disease. Participants were randomized to undergo diagnostic evaluation via coronary computed tomography angiography (X-ray images of the heart and blood vessels) and followed for about two years. Key findings of the study: Fewer women had plaque in their coronary arteries than men (55% of women vs. 75% of men). Women also had a lower volume of artery plaque than men (a median of 78 mm3 among women vs. 156 mm3 in men). Despite less plaque, women were just as likely as men to die from any cause, have a non-fatal heart attack or be hospitalized for chest pain (2.3% of women vs. 3.4% of men). In addition, women faced increased heart risk at lower levels of plaque compared to men. For total plaque burden, women's risk began to rise at 20% plaque burden, while men's risk started at 28%. With increasing plaque levels, risk rose more sharply for women than for men.

The findings underscore that women are not 'protected' from coronary events despite having lower plaque volumes.

Risk in Women Emerges at Lower Coronary Plaque Burden Than in Men: PROMISE Trial, Circulation Cardiovascular Imaging (2026). DOI: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.125.019011

Microplastics discovered in prostate tumors
Microplastic particles were detected in 90% of prostate tumor samples and at higher concentrations than in adjacent noncancerous tissue, averaging 2.5 times more plastic per gram. These findings suggest a possible association between microplastic accumulation and prostate cancer, though further research with larger cohorts is needed to clarify causality and underlying mechanisms.
Experts have found that when plastic from food packaging, cosmetics, and other sources is used, heated, or chemically treated, it can break down into smaller pieces and become ingested. People are also exposed to plastics by inhaling them from the air and by absorbing them through the skin. Past studies have identified these microplastics in nearly every human organ, as well as in bodily fluids and the placenta. However, how they may affect human health has remained poorly understood.

Analyzing tissue samples collected from 10 patients with prostate cancer, the research team identified plastic particles in 90% of tumor samples and 70% of benign tissue samples.

In addition, the cancerous tissue contained on average 2.5 times the amount of plastic as the healthy prostate tissue samples (about 40 micrograms of plastic per gram of tissue compared with 16 micrograms per gram).
This pilot study provides important evidence that microplastic exposure may be a risk factor for prostate cancer.

Microplastics Identified in Human Prostate Cancer, American Society of Clinical Oncology's Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (2026).

https://scitechdaily.com/90-of-prostate-cancer-tumors-contained-mic...

Are one in 200 men really related to Genghis Khan? Maybe not, according to a new study

In present day Kazakhstan, both local folklore and genetic evidence found buried in royal tombs have shone a light on the region's ties to Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire. New DNA analysis of ruling elites from the Golden Horde—the northwestern extension of the Mongol Empire—reveals implications for the genetic ancestry of the broader Mongolian Empire. The findings were recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The Golden Horde was founded and ruled by Genghis Khan's eldest son, Joshi, and his descendants. According to local folklore, one of the four tombs analyzed for this study belongs to Joshi himself and houses his remains. The additional three tombs analyzed in this study belonged to other Golden Horde ruling elites and provide evidence of Mongol cultural practices blending with local culture.

Inspired, Askapuli and his archaeologist colleagues in Kazakhstan decided to investigate whether the tales were true, in collaboration with researchers at the National Institute of Genetics, Japan.

About twenty years ago, researchers traced fragments of DNA found on the Y-chromosome, called the C3* cluster, back to medieval inhabitants of the Mongolian plateau. Today, many people across central Eurasia have this C3* cluster in their genome. Some scholars have hypothesized one reason the C3* cluster is so widespread is because of the Mongol Empire's vast sphere of control. It's even fueled the popular belief that one in 200 men is related to Genghis Khan.

But this new study's data reveal a more complicated possibility: While they did find evidence of the C3* cluster in the genome of the ruling elites, it appears in the genome of modern individuals at a much lower frequency.

Ayken Askapuli et al, Genomes of the Golden Horde elites and their implications for the rulers of the Mongol Empire, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2531003123

**

Thunderstorms conjure ghostly coronae in treetops, observed outdoors for the first time

Scientists have speculated about weak electrical discharges on plants under thunderstorms for almost a century but have never observed or measured them in the wild until now, only inferring their existence from anomalies in the electric field in forests during storms.

For the first time, researchers have observed and measured weak electrical discharges, known as coronae, on trees during thunderstorms. A new study describes the near-invisible sparkles appearing similarly on branches of several tree species up and down the U.S. East Coast during the summer of 2024, implying that thunderstorms may paint entire canopies with a scintillating blue glow, albeit too faintly for human eyes to see.

Coronae also burn the very tips of leaves. Given the ubiquity with which they may occur across forests during storms, the researchers speculated that these coronae could harm the canopy, potentially shaping the evolution of trees to limit that damage.

Lab experiments over the past half-century had at least demonstrated how they could form in the wild: The charge of a thunderstorm overhead induces an opposite charge in the ground below. That ground charge, attracted to the one above, travels toward the highest point it can reach—in this case, the tips of leaves in the treetops—through which electricity discharges, forming coronae.

In the laboratory, if you turn off all the lights, close the door and block the windows, you can just barely see the coronae. They look like a blue glow

P. J. McFarland et al, Corona Discharges Glow on Trees Under Thunderstorms, Geophysical Research Letters (2026). DOI: 10.1029/2025gl119591

AI provides a more precise time of death post-mortem

Artificial intelligence can be used to provide a more precise time of death, which could be crucial in murder investigations. The method was developed by researchers.
Artificial intelligence analyzing blood metabolites enables more precise estimation of time since death, improving accuracy to about one day even up to 13 days post-mortem. This method outperforms traditional forensic techniques and requires relatively modest data sets, making it applicable in various laboratories. Further refinement aims to enhance precision and determine the time of day of death.
When the body dies, a number of biological processes set in. Organs and tissues begin to break down, leading to changes in small molecules in the blood called metabolites. They are broken down in a predictable way that correlates with how much time has elapsed since the time of death.
This enables us to assess the actual time of death of an individual, which is very important in forensic investigations, but also to the work of the police. For example, they need to spend their resources on the right witnesses in the right period of time in the deceased person's life.
Limits of today's forensic methods
The methods currently used to determine the time of death, also known as the post-mortem interval, include body temperature, rigor mortis, and the amount of potassium in the vitreous of the eye. However, these methods yield less accurate results when a few days have passed since the time of death.

The method now developed by researchers instead uses artificial intelligence to analyze the metabolites in blood samples collected at autopsy.
Blood samples from more than 45,000 autopsies have been collected by RMV over a period of almost 10 years, resulting in a world-unique database. The samples are used to find various chemical substances such as drugs, pharmaceuticals, or toxins. But body metabolites can also be found in the blood samples. Of these 45,000 samples, 4,876 with known post-mortem interval were used to train the AI model.
The researchers showed that their new model could predict the time from death to autopsy with a precision of about one day, even for those deceased for up to 13 days. A clear improvement on current methods.
Many external factors affect body decomposition but the signal from the body's metabolites was so strong when it comes to predicting the post-mortem interval.

So the researchers' next step is to produce a data set with more precise information about the time of death, and then train models that will provide more reliable estimates of the post-mortal interval as well as be able to determine during which part of the day a death occurred.
Forensic assessments often involve puzzle-like detective work. This new tool gives us better opportunities to assess how long someone has been deceased, even when a long time has passed since their death, which is of great importance, especially in more complex cases.

Rasmus Magnusson et al, The human metabolome and machine learning improves predictions of the post-mortem interval, Nature Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-69158-w

Engineered bacteria can consume tumors from the inside out

A research team is developing a novel tool to treat cancer by engineering hungry bacteria to literally eat tumors from the inside out. "Bacteria spores enter the tumor, finding an environment where there are lots of nutrients and no oxygen, which this organism prefers, and so it starts eating those nutrients and growing in size.
Engineered Clostridium sporogenes bacteria have been modified to survive in low-oxygen tumor environments and selectively activate oxygen resistance via quorum sensing. This approach enables the bacteria to colonize and degrade tumors from within while minimizing risk to healthy, oxygen-rich tissues. Pre-clinical trials are planned to test this targeted cancer therapy.

Key to the approach is a bacterium called Clostridium sporogenes, which is commonly found in soil and can only grow in environments with absolutely no oxygen. The core of a solid, cancerous tumor is comprised of dead cells and is oxygen-free, making it an ideal breeding ground for the bacterium to multiply.
But there is a biological catch: when the cancer-eating organisms reach the outer edges of tumors, they are exposed to low levels of oxygen and die without completing their mission to fully destroy them.

To solve that problem, the researchers first added a gene to the organism from a related bacterium that can better tolerate oxygen, enabling it to live longer near the outside of a targeted tumor.

They then found a way to activate the oxygen-resistant gene at just the right time—critical to preventing bacteria from inadvertently growing in oxygen-rich places such as the bloodstream—by leveraging a phenomenon known as quorum sensing.

Part 1

In simple terms, quorum sensing involves chemical signals released by bacteria. Only when many bacteria have grown in a tumor is the signal strong enough to turn on the oxygen-resistant gene, ensuring it doesn't happen too soon.

In a 2023 study, researchers demonstrated that Clostridium sporogenes can be modified to tolerate oxygen. Now, in a follow-up study published in the journal ACS Synthetic Biology, they tested their quorum sensing system by making bacteria produce a green fluorescent protein.
Researchers now plan to combine the oxygen-resistant gene and the quorum-sensing timing mechanism in one bacterium and test it on a tumor in pre-clinical trials.

Sara Sadr et al, Construction and Functional Characterization of a Heterologous Quorum Sensing Circuit in Clostridium sporogenes, ACS Synthetic Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.5c00628

Part 2

Why our immune system remembers vaccinations for decades
Long-lived immunological memory after vaccination is maintained by memory T cells that enter an energy-saving, low-metabolic state early after activation. This metabolic restraint enables them to persist for decades and rapidly respond to future infections. The principle applies broadly, including to COVID-19 vaccination, and may inform improved vaccine design.

Sina Frischholz et al, Metabolic quiescence of naive-like memory T cells precedes and maintains antigen-specific T cell memory, Nature Immunology (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41590-026-02421-w

Urine tests confirm alcohol consumption in wild African chimpanzees

 If you want to measure the alcohol intake of chimps in a Ugandan rain forest, where a breath-analyzer is impractical, collecting urine for analysis is your only choice.

In 2025, researchers documented that the fruits chimps eat in the wild contain enough alcohol from fermentation to provide around 14 grams per day—the equivalent of two standard drinks. But the proof is in the urine.

So they collected the urine of Chimps to test. 

Their new results, published in the journal Biology Letters, show that the urine of most chimps sampled contains a metabolic by -product of alcohol, ethyl glucuronide, that proves they ingest significant quantities of ethanol in their diet—likely from those fermenting fruits.

Of the 20 urine samples from 19 different chimps (the Western chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes), 17 tested positive on commercial strips sensitive to 300 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) or more ethanol. Eleven samples were tested with strips sensitive to 500 ng/ml or more; 10 were positive (making a total of four out of 20 below the 500 ng/ml cutoff).

In humans, 500 ng/ml is a level expected after light drinking—one to two standard drinks—within the previous 24 hours. Similar levels would be expected in a chimpanzee that had spent the morning scarfing down slightly fermented fruit.

This confirms that the drunken monkey hypothesis—that there's enough alcohol in the environment for animals to experience alcohol in a way analogous to humans.

Urinary concentrations of a direct ethanol metabolite indicate substantial ingestion of fermenting fruit by chimpanzees, Biology Letters (2026). DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2025.0740

Dry eye often precedes autoimmune disease diagnosis, new study finds

Frequent dry eyes may signal more than simple irritation and could be an early warning sign of an autoimmune disease. This symptom has long been associated with Sjögren's Disease, a chronic autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the tear ducts and salivary glands, causing inflammation that leads to dry eyes and dry mouth. Now, a study of 67,264 patients in Taiwan with autoimmune diseases found that dry eye disease (DED) preceded the autoimmune diagnosis by about three years.

Predictably, in Sjögren's Disease, the prevalence of diagnosis following the occurrence of DED exceeded 80%. Across nine other autoimmune conditions, rates consistently exceeded 20%, with rheumatoid arthritis ranking second highest at 39.3%, while Crohn's disease recorded the lowest rate at 23.0%.

DED provides a vital window of opportunity for doctors to perform earlier clinical evaluations for underlying autoimmune issues and plan effective treatment plans to deal with the symptoms. The findings are published in JAMA Network Open.

Greater awareness of DED as a potential early warning sign could encourage more people to seek evaluation, leading to earlier detection of underlying autoimmune disease when present, and if not, proceed with a general DED treatment plan.

Nan-Ni Chen et al, Epidemiology of Dry Eye in Patients With Autoimmune Disease, JAMA Network Open (2026). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.60275

Women show greater tau buildup and faster cognitive decline than men in Alzheimer's

Tau proteins act like the brain's maintenance crew, helping maintain the structure and proper function of brain cells. In neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, the tau proteins can form tangles that disrupt normal cell function. A recent study published in JAMA Neurology found that women show significantly higher levels of tau protein accumulation and experience faster cognitive decline than men.

A multinational team of researchers analyzed data from 1,200 participants across five major studies—one clinical trial and four observational studies—to better understand how Alzheimer's disease progresses differently in men and women. Their focus was on a trigger protein called amyloid-beta that leads to tau abnormalities.

The data indicated that when amyloid levels were high in both women and men, women had significantly higher levels of p-tau217 than men, suggesting that the tau protein clumps together more quickly in a woman's brain, making them more susceptible to the very early stages of the disease process. On the other hand, when the p-tau217 levels are lower, women seem to do better at cognitive tests than men.

Gillian T. Coughlan et al, Sex Differences in P-Tau217, Tau Aggregation, and Cognitive Decline, JAMA Neurology (2026). DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2025.5670

How a one‑eyed creature gave rise to our modern eyes

There is a tiny cyclops among your oldest ancestors, and humans share these remarkable ancestral roots with all other vertebrates. Researchers have found that all vertebrates evolved from a distant ancestor that had a single eye located at the top of its head. The study, published in Current Biology, also reveals that the remnants of this so-called median eye have today become the pineal gland in our brains.

This cyclops-like creature, which is our very distant relative, existed almost 600 million years ago. It was a small, worm-like organism that had adopted a sedentary lifestyle and fed by filtering plankton from seawater. Previously, this creature had some form of paired eyes, like most other animals.

We don't know whether the paired eyes in our branch of the evolutionary tree were just light-sensitive cells or simple image-forming eyes. We only know that the organism later lost them.
The increasingly calm lifestyle meant that the worm-like creature no longer needed paired eyes, and therefore that function was lost over the course of evolution. However, the animal kept a group of light-sensitive cells in the middle of its head. These cells developed into a small, primitive median eye that could keep track of night and day, and sense what was up and down.
Over the following millions of years, our distant ancestor once again began to live an active, swimming life, increasing the need for paired eyes. From parts of the small median eye, new image-forming eyes in pairs developed, the researchers conclude in the study.
Now we finally understand why the eyes of vertebrates differ so radically from the eyes of all other animal groups, such as insects and squid. The film of our eyes—the retina—developed from the brain, whereas the eyes of insects and squid originate in the skin on the sides of the head.
In other words, vertebrate eyes constitute a more modern model that evolved thanks to this peculiar detour via a cyclops' sedentary life. The conclusion that our modern eyes evolved through this specific evolutionary path, and not via some other ancient animal, is based on the researchers' extensive analysis of light-sensitive cells in all animal groups, as well as the physiology and placement of these cells in the body.
All vertebrates evolved from an ancestor with a single median eye atop its head, which later became the pineal gland in the brain. This median eye, originally used for light detection, was retained after the loss of paired eyes and eventually gave rise to the paired, image-forming eyes of modern vertebrates. The retina’s brain origin distinguishes vertebrate eyes from those of other animals.

George Kafetzis et al, Evolution of the vertebrate retina by repurposing of a composite ancestral median eye, Current Biology (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.12.028

Why corals bleach: Neutrons show algae photosynthesis breaking down

Rising sea temperatures are causing coral reefs around the world to bleach. For the first time, a research team has investigated the biological processes behind coral bleaching directly in living corals. With the help of neutrons, they were able to visualize structural changes during the bleaching process.
Rising sea temperatures disrupt photosynthesis in coral-associated algae by altering the structure of their thylakoid membranes. Using small-angle neutron scattering, researchers directly observed these structural changes in living corals, linking membrane stress to the breakdown of symbiosis and subsequent coral bleaching. Persistent bleaching can lead to coral death.

Robert W. Corkery et al, In hospite and ex hospite architecture of photosynthetic thylakoid membranes in Symbiodinium spp. using small-angle neutron scattering, Journal of Applied Crystallography (2025). DOI: 10.1107/s1600576725007332

Women with severe burn injuries are more likely than men to develop blood poisoning

The skin forms a natural barrier that prevents bacteria entering the body. Severe burns stop this protective function from working properly, and germs can enter the blood more easily through the wounds. If the airways have suffered thermal or chemical injury through the inhalation of hot and toxic substances, they are also a gateway for infection.
Bacteria can multiply in the blood and spread throughout the body. In the worst case, this can cause blood poisoning—also known as sepsis—which can lead to multiple organ failure. This is a common cause of death in people with burn injuries. A new study has identified for the first time which patients are affected by such infections. The study was carried out before the disaster in Crans-Montana, but it can now help to better understand the physiological processes in critically ill burn patients.

The study focused on sex-specific differences. It analyzed data from 269 patients with severe burn injuries who were treated at the Center for Severe Burn Injuries at the University Hospital Zurich between 2017 and 2021. The insights, published in Burns, should help to prevent sepsis in patients with severe burn injuries or get it under control at an early stage.

Women with severe burn injuries are nearly twice as likely as men to develop bacteremia, which can progress to sepsis. This increased risk is not due to different bacterial species but may relate to altered immune or hormonal responses following burns. Understanding these mechanisms could improve prevention and management of sepsis in burn patients.
Women's immune systems often seem better able to cope with pathogens, and a number of studies have observed a stronger immune response.
In burn victims, however, it seems that this is not necessarily the case. The researchers are not yet able to answer the question of why the women with severe burn injuries in this cohort were much more likely to develop bacteremia.
One explanation that can be ruled out, however, is the presence of different pathogens, as predominantly the same bacteria were identified in the blood of male and female patients. These are species that colonize the skin and mucous membranes as part of the natural microbiome. They are usually harmless but can become dangerous if they enter the bloodstream in large quantities.
Sex hormones have an effect on human immune cells, which also fight infections. Female sex hormones such as estrogen are actually associated with a better response. But it is possible that burn injuries alter hormone metabolism, which then weakens the immune response, say the researchers.
While patients are usually given antibiotics early to fight the bacteria, the damaged barrier means that new infections keep occurring. Resistant bacteria can also quickly develop, for which very few effective antibiotics are available.

Nicole J.M. Schweizer et al, Impact of sex on the development of bacteremia in critically ill burn patients: A retrospective cohort study, Burns (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2025.107845

Single-celled organism becomes multicellular via three different pathways

Some single-celled organisms are known to transition to multicellularity during their lifetimes, usually either by cloning themselves or when many similar cells come together to form a larger multicellular organism. A new study published in Nature suggests that a combination of the two routes may be more common than previously thought—even in organisms distantly related to animals.

Choanoflagellates are single-celled flagellate eukaryotes considered to be the closest living relatives of animals. They are bacterium-eating aquatic organisms with a flagellum (a long, hair-like appendage that helps them swim) and a collar of microvilli, primarily used for absorption, secretion, and sensory functions.

Choanoflagellates possess the ability to form multicellular bodies. Like animals, they were thought to be purely clonal, but this has not been previously tested across different types. The choanoflagellate Salpingoeca rosetta, for example, only exhibits clonal multicellularity. However, other close relatives of animals have been shown to form aggregative groups.

Although animal multicellularity is purely clonal, other close relatives of animals exhibit diverse forms of multicellularity, including aggregation in filastereans and cellularization of multinucleated cells or cleavage-like serial cell divisions in ichthyosporeans.

The researchers set out to determine whether choanoflagellates can ever form aggregate groups. They were surprised by what they found. Not only did the choanoflagellates form clonal groups and aggregate groups separately, but they also formed mixed clonal-aggregative groups under certain conditions. They also found that the purely aggregative sheets were morphologically, behaviourally, and functionally equivalent to clonally grown sheets.

Furthermore, the team showed that the push to aggregative multicellularity was an active process.

They found that as salinity rises, multicellular sheets tend to dissociate, and cells turn into tough, unicellular cysts. When the pools are rehydrated, these cysts "wake up" and reform sheets using both division and aggregation methods.

The team also found that cell density had an interesting effect on whether the cells chose clonal or aggregative routes to multicellularity.

Núria Ros-Rocher et al, Clonal-aggregative multicellularity tuned by salinity in a choanoflagellate, Nature (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10137-y

Neanderthal males, human females? How ancient attraction shaped the human genome

The human genome is a rich, complex record of migration, encounters, and inheritance written over thousands of millennia. Genomic research is revisiting a particularly intimate chapter, suggesting that ancient mating patterns between modern humans and Neanderthals shaped why Neanderthal DNA is largely missing from the human X chromosome.

Along our X chromosomes, we have these missing swaths of Neanderthal DNA scientists call 'Neanderthal deserts".

For years, researchers just assumed these deserts existed because certain Neanderthal genes were biologically 'toxic' to humans—as tends to be the case when species diverge—so they thought the genes may have caused health problems and were likely purged by natural selection.

Now,  this new research work has discovered a more social explanation.

In a paper published in Science, their analysis of Neanderthal and modern human genomes suggests that long-standing mating preferences—rather than genetic incompatibility—shaped which Neanderthal DNA sequences persisted in modern humans and which were gradually lost.

Their findings reveal the role social interactions in sculpting the human genome, challenging the idea that human evolution was driven solely by survival of the fittest.

Researchers found a pattern indicating a sex bias: gene flow occurred predominantly between Neanderthal males and anatomically modern human females.

Roughly 600,000 years ago, the ancestors of anatomically modern humans and their closest-related species, the Neanderthals, diverged, forming two distinct groups.

Our ancestors evolved in Africa, while the ancestors of Neanderthals evolved in and adapted to life in Eurasia. But that separation was far from permanent.

Over hundreds of millennia human populations migrated into Neanderthal territories and back again, and when these groups met, they mated, swapping segments of DNA.

Part 1

To determine whether Neanderthal X chromosomes contain alleles from humans, the team identified modern human DNA preserved in three Neanderthals—Altai, Chagyrskaya, and Vindija—and compared this dataset against one of diverse African genomes, a control group who had historically never encountered a Neanderthal.
What the researchers found was a striking imbalance. While modern humans lack Neanderthal X chromosomes, Neanderthals had a 62% excess of modern human DNA on their X chromosomes compared to their other chromosomes.
This mirrorlike reversal was their answer. If the two species were biologically incompatible, modern human DNA should have been missing from Neanderthal X chromosomes as well. But because the team found an abundance of human DNA in Neanderthal X chromosomes, they were able to rule out reproductive incompatibility or toxic gene interactions as the barrier.

The remaining explanation, the team argues, lies in sex-biased interbreeding.
Because females carry two X chromosomes and males carry only one, mating direction matters. If Neanderthal males partnered more often with modern human females, fewer Neanderthal X chromosomes would enter the human gene pool, and more human X chromosomes would enter Neanderthal populations.
Mathematical models confirmed that this bias could reproduce the observed genetic patterns. Other possibilities, such as sex-biased migration, could theoretically produce similar results—but only through complex, shifting scenarios that varied across time and geography.

Mating preferences provided the simplest explanation.
With the "who" and "how" of these ancient trysts established, the team is now turning their attention to the "why," investigating whether similar genetic comparisons—specifically the ratio of diversity between X chromosomes and autosomes—can reveal the gender dynamics of Neanderthal society, such as whether females stayed with their birth families while males migrated to new groups.

By mapping these ancient interactions, the researchers hope to further illuminate the complex social lives of human's closest evolutionary cousins.

Alexander Platt et al, Interbreeding between Neanderthals and modern humans was strongly sex biased, Science (2026). DOI: 10.1126/science.aea6774. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aea6774

Part 2

**

Wildfire smoke linked to rise in violent assaults

A new study spanning 11 years of data has revealed a clear link between wildfire smoke pollution and an increase in violent assaults.

These findings represent the first direct causal evidence that short-term exposure to wildfire-driven air pollution can increase interpersonal violence in an urban environment. The work is published in Environmental Research Letters .

The authors of the study, warns that air-quality deterioration may be driving social as well as health consequences.

The researchers  analyzed daily air pollution levels and police-reported assaults from 2013 to 2023, found that:
Wildfire smoke increased daily PM2.5 levels by an average of 7 μg/m³.
On smoke-affected days, assaults rose by approximately 3.6%.
Each additional 1 μg/m³ of PM2.5 was linked to a 0.5% increase in daily assaults.

Although the study did not test individual biological changes due to wildfire smoke pollution, the pattern of results points to short-lived physiological and psychological responses to fine particulate pollution—such as discomfort, inflammation or stress reactions—as likely contributors to the rise in assaults.

Importantly, the researchers ruled out other factors that might drive increased violence. For instance, traffic collisions and police response times remained stable on smoke-affected days, ruling out explanations related to inattention or reduced police capacity.

Domestic violence call volumes also did not increase, suggesting that the effect is concentrated in outdoor settings where exposure to wildfire smoke is highest and incidents of low severity police use of force did rise on smoke days, mirroring the uptick in interpersonal assaults and further supporting an exposure-driven behavioural response.

What really stands out in the study is that the burden of wildfire smoke won't be shared equally. Outdoor workers, people without access to clean indoor air, and those experiencing homelessness are likely to feel the effects most intensely, and that's something we can't ignore.

Wildfire smoke increases assaults: evidence from Seattle, Environmental Research Letters (2026). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ae436c

Middle-aged men are most vulnerable to faster aging due to 'forever chemicals,' study finds

"Forever chemicals" in common parlance—are a class of thousands of synthetic chemicals often used in non-stick coatings, water-resistant fabrics, fire-fighting foams, food packages, cleaning products, and plastics. They contain exceptionally strong molecular bonds, which makes them hard to break down.

PFAS pollution is increasingly detectable in water, soil, and tissues of organisms, and some have been implicated in human cancers, obesity, infertility, and hormonal imbalances.

PFAS have wide-ranging toxic effects. Now, researchers have found that two non-legacy PFAS, namely perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA), appear to speed up biological aging in middle-aged men, but not women. These results suggest that newer PFAS are not necessarily risk-free and should be considered for stricter regulation.

But why would the effects of PFNA and PFOSA be strongest in middle-aged men?

Midlife is a sensitive biological window where the body becomes more susceptible to age-related stressors, which may explain why this group responds more strongly to chemical exposure, say the researchers.

 Men may be at higher risk because the aging markers we analyzed are heavily influenced by lifestyle factors such as smoking, which can compound the damaging effects of these pollutants.

 To reduce risk, individuals can try to limit their consumption of packaged foods and avoid microwaving fast-food containers.

Ya-Qian Xu, et al. Emerging PFAS Contaminants PFNA and PFSA Amplify Epigenetic Aging: Sex-and Age-Stratified Risks in an Aging Population, Frontiers in Aging (2026). DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2025.1722675

Ancient mosquitoes developed a taste for early hominins, research reveals

The preference of some mosquitoes in the Anopheles leucosphyrus (Leucosphyrus) group—including those that transmit malaria—for feeding on humans may have evolved in response to the arrival of early hominins in Southeast Asia around 1.8 million years ago.
A preference for feeding on humans is uncommon among the 3,500 known mosquito species, yet this feeding preference is the main factor influencing the potential of mosquitoes to spread disease-causing pathogens.
Mosquitoes in the Anopheles leucosphyrus group developed a preference for feeding on humans between 2.9 and 1.6 million years ago in Sundaland, coinciding with the arrival of Homo erectus. This shift from feeding on non-human primates likely required genetic changes in odour detection and provides independent evidence for early hominin presence in Southeast Asia.

Researchers estimate that the preference for feeding on humans evolved once within Leucosphyrus between 2.9 and 1.6 million years ago in a region known as Sundaland, which includes the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, and Java. Prior to this, ancestors of the group fed on non-human primates.

This overlaps with the earliest proposed date for the arrival of the hominin species Homo erectus in the region around 1.8 million years ago and predates the arrival of modern humans between 76,000 and 63,000 years ago. It also predates previously published estimates of the evolution of a preference for feeding on humans among the mosquito lineage that gave rise to the major African malaria carriers Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii.

Upasana Shyamsunder Singh, Early hominin arrival in Southeast Asia triggered the evolution of major human malaria vectors, Scientific Reports (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-35456-y. www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-35456-y

Frequently distracted? Your brain rhythms may be to blame
Attention naturally shifts rhythmically about 7–10 times per second, creating alternating periods of heightened and reduced focus. These cycles, once advantageous for environmental monitoring, now increase susceptibility to distractions from digital stimuli. EEG data show that during low-focus phases, individuals are more easily distracted, suggesting implications for understanding conditions like ADHD.

Zach V. Redding et al, Frequency-specific attentional mechanisms phasically modulate the influence of distractors on task performance, PLOS Biology (2026). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3003664

Study finds more parents saying 'no' to vitamin K at birth, putting babies' brains at risk

Increasing numbers of parents are refusing vitamin K shots for their newborns, putting infants at greater risk of avoidable brain injuries, according to a preliminary systematic review released February 26, 2026.

A vitamin K injection is a supplement that provides babies with an essential vitamin that is naturally low in newborns. It is not a vaccine. Vitamin K is needed to help blood clot. Getting a vitamin K shot right after birth can prevent a rare but serious condition called vitamin K deficiency bleeding. This condition can cause an intracerebral hemorrhage, a type of stroke, when a blood vessel bursts in the brain, which can lead to death or lifelong brain problems.
Refusal of vitamin K injections at birth is increasing in several regions, raising the risk of vitamin K deficiency bleeding in newborns, which can cause brain hemorrhage, death, or long-term neurological disability. Infants without the injection are 81 times more likely to develop this condition. Refusal is also linked to declining other newborn health interventions.

Researchers found that among case series reports of babies who had vitamin K deficiency bleeding, approximately 14% of the babies died, about 40% had long-term neurological disabilities such as cognitive impairment, seizures or motor deficits, and about 63% of babies had brain bleeds.

They also found that parents who refused vitamin K for their babies were more likely to skip other recommended health protections.

Parental concerns included pain, preservatives and belief in inaccurate information.

Source: A preliminary systematic review released February 26, 2026, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 78th Annual Meeting taking place April 18–22, 2026, in Chicago and online.

A tick bite can cause a deadly meat allergy

Tick bites can introduce the alpha-gal sugar molecule into the bloodstream, leading some individuals to develop IgE antibodies and become sensitized to mammalian meat allergy. Subsequent consumption of red meat or products containing alpha-gal can trigger allergic reactions, including potentially fatal anaphylaxis. Most cases occur in older adults, with incidence rising mainly due to increased awareness and testing.
There is no cure for mammalian meat allergy. So preventing tick bites is best:

wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when walking or working in areas where there are ticks
tuck pants into long socks
wear a wide-brimmed hat
wear light-colored clothing
use insect repellent, particularly ones containing DEET.

https://theconversation.com/how-can-a-tick-bite-cause-a-deadly-meat...

Could nanoplastics nudge Salmonella toward antibiotic resistance?
Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics prompts Salmonella enterica to increase expression of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes and enhances biofilm formation, indicating heightened pathogenicity. Prolonged exposure shifts bacterial behavior toward persistence rather than aggression. These findings suggest nanoplastics may contribute to antibiotic resistance in foodborne pathogens.
Researchers examined the physiology of Salmonella in response to nanoplastics, and they found an increased expression of virulence-related genes. The bacteria also formed thicker biofilms, which further indicates they are becoming more virulent.
Biofilm is an agglomeration of microorganisms growing together to form a protective layer, increasing survival for pathogenic bacteria under physiological stress. You might see biofilms as a slimy film in your kitchen sink or on your cutting board after handling raw meat.

However, while Salmonella initially showed increased virulence, prolonged exposure to nanoplastics slowed its stress response.

Jayita De et al, Polystyrene nanoplastics and pathogen plasticity: Toxic threat or tolerated stressor in Salmonella enterica? Journal of Hazardous Materials (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141264

How a tick could help prevent autoimmune diseases 

A research team  has identified a tick-derived evasin that can bind to two major classes of chemokines, a discovery that is important for the development of therapeutics targeting inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The work is published in the journal Structure.

When the immune system detects a harmful or foreign agent, it triggers an inflammatory response. Small proteins called chemokines direct immune cells to the site of the injury or infection, resulting in the invader being inactivated.

More commonly known as parasites, ticks are able to attach and draw blood from us or our pets without triggering an immune reaction, because they produce proteins called evasins, which attach to these chemokines, preventing them from warning the immune system that it is under attack.

These chemokines can also "turn bad," overstimulating the immune system, resulting in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS), cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.

Until now, scientists had identified only evasins that selectively block chemokines within a single class.

But this new study is important because a broad-acting evasin such as they have discovered is a potential therapy for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and cancer.

 In this study, the researchers have identified a naturally occurring evasin that can inhibit both major classes of chemokines.

The discovery opens up new opportunities to develop therapies that target chemokines driving inflammatory diseases such as RA and MS. 

Discovery of an evolutionarily distinct evasin with dual CC and CXC chemokine inhibitory activity, Structure (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2026.02.001. www.cell.com/structure/fulltex … 0969-2126(26)00043-2

Deer Create Mysterious Ultraviolet Signals That Glow in Forests

Deer have the ability to see ultraviolet light, and a recent study shows they can also leave a glowing trail visible in those wavelengths, too.

The discovery casts a whole new light on the way deer are communicating with each other, and how they perceive their environment.
Male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are known for making their mark on the forest during their autumn mating season. They rub their antlers against trees and the forest floor, shedding antler velvet – the soft, blood-rich velveteen 'skin' that covers their calcified antlers as they're growing – and leaving scent marks in the form of glandular secretions, urine and poop.

These marks, known as 'deer rubs' (on trees and shrubs) and scent-marking scrapes (on the ground), act as signposts to other animals of a deer's presence: a warning to rivals, a catcall to potential mates.

But scent, it seems, is not the only language with which the deer communicate.
Scientists at the University of Georgia (UGA) in the US have discovered that these marks 'glow' in ultraviolet wavelengths, which previous studies have shown deer eyes are capable of seeing.

"The resulting photoluminescence would be visible to deer based on previously described deer visual capabilities," the team writes in their published paper describing the phenomenon.

This is the first time scientists have documented evidence of any mammal actually using photoluminescence in their environment, although UV-induced photoluminescence in mammals.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.72618

High-fat diet accelerates triple-negative breast cancer growth in engineered tumours

A multidisciplinary team of researchers  conducted a study to find out what patients diagnosed with breast cancer should eat to ensure the best prognosis.

The interplay between the immune system, human tissues involved in metabolism, and the microbiome of trillions of microorganisms in the body affects how cancer cells behave.

In addition, cells in the body are bathed in a water-based fluid, called interstitial fluid, that flows continuously around cells.

The researchers engineered a tumor model using a human plasma-like medium to re-create a more realistic microenvironment around tumors. This allowed them to replicate the biochemical effects of nutrients from food. As a result, they could isolate specific nutrients and their effects and closely examine the metabolic reprogramming that occurs in cancer cells.
Their study focused on triple-negative breast cancer, a subtype that is particularly difficult to treat with standard methods. They carefully examined the structure, growth, and spread of cancer cells and how these characteristics differ in four different dietary conditions that can occur in a human body: high-insulin, high-glucose, high-ketone, and high-fat.

They discovered a high-fat diet accelerates tumor growth and invasion. They also found it causes an increase in the enzyme MMP1, which degrades the extracellular matrix, and is associated with a poor prognosis. Using their results, the researchers will be able to apply their method to other breast cancer subtypes and scenarios.
The study shows that tumor cells behave differently when cultured in media that matches the biochemical composition of human plasma.

Fat promotes growth and invasion in a 3D microfluidic tumor model of triple-negative breast cancer, APL Bioengineering (2026). DOI: 10.1063/5.0291646

Synthetic gene medicines may disrupt DNA repair
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), used in gene therapies, can bind to key DNA repair enzymes and induce the formation of nuclear condensates, triggering DNA repair signals in the absence of actual damage. This may disrupt normal DNA repair processes and potentially lead to harmful DNA alterations, highlighting the need for careful safety assessment in the development of genetic medicines.

Linn Hjelmgren et al, Dysregulation of the DNA damage response by phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides, Nature Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-69980-2

Sting in the tail of scorpion venom accelerates blood clotting, could help save lives

A new study has shown that a deadly scorpion's venom carries an extra biochemical sting that could be used to guide future medical treatments and tests. The paper is published in the journal Biochimie.
Found in the Middle East and North Africa, scorpions in the genus Androctonus have a potentially lethal neurotoxic venom that can overwhelm the nervous system, leading to heart failure.
Their venom also causes rapid clots in human blood. Clinical reports had hinted that some scorpion sting patients had abnormal clotting, but until now the mechanism behind it wasn't known.
By introducing the venoms to human plasma, the researchers saw them accelerate clotting and then mapped the molecular steps responsible.
The research revealed that Androctonus venoms activate major clotting factors in blood, particularly Factors VII and X, and this process depends on Factor V being in its activated form.
While the available antivenom is effective against the neurotoxic effects of the scorpion venom, it did not affect the clotting.

Sam I.D. Campbell et al, The sting that clots: The Factor VII and Factor X activating procoagulant effects of Androctonus scorpion venoms are potentiated by Factor Va as a cofactor, Biochimie (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2026.02.018

Faecal transplants from older mice found to significantly improve ovarian function and fertility in younger mice

Faecal transplants from older female mice into young mice led to improved ovarian function, reduced ovarian inflammation, and increased fertility in recipients. The findings indicate a direct link between gut microbiome composition and ovarian health, suggesting that targeted microbiome interventions may influence reproductive aging and overall health.

Estropausal gut microbiota transplant improves measures of ovarian function in adult mice, Nature Aging (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s43587-026-01069-3

Bacteria found in mouth and gut may help protect against severe peanut allergic reactions
One of the big mysteries in food allergy is why two people with similar levels of peanut-specific antibodies can react so differently. It turns out the answer may be in the mouth and gut's bacteria. A new study by researchers and published online in Cell Host & Microbe on March 3, 2026, shows for the first time how gut bacteria break down parts of an allergenic food and influence how a person reacts to peanuts.

Certain bacteria in the mouth and gut, particularly Rothia species, can break down peanut allergens and reduce their ability to trigger immune responses. Individuals with higher levels of these bacteria tolerate greater amounts of peanut before reacting. These findings suggest the oral and gut microbiome influences peanut allergy severity and may inform future prevention and treatment strategies.

Elisa Sánchez-Martínez et al, Microbial metabolism of food allergens determines the severity of IgE-mediated anaphylaxis, Cell Host & Microbe (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2026.02.013

AI could end online anonymity

The internet is rife with anonymous accounts as users adopt pseudonyms, sometimes for genuine reasons like speaking freely, and other times for nefarious ones. But this era of online privacy could be coming to a close. In a study available on the arXiv preprint server, researchers demonstrate that large language models (LLMs) can identify the people behind these accounts at scale.

The study authors thought that LLMs had become powerful enough to break online invisibility. To test whether this was the case, the team designed an automated framework to replicate a human investigator's decision-making process.

First, the AI reads through a user's post history on either Reddit or Hacker News, examining unstructured text. This is raw, unorganized information like comments, jokes, education, and subtle writing quirks. It then turned this micro-data into a mathematical representation of the person's profile to find candidate matches across millions of other profiles on the open web or on separate sites like LinkedIn.

When the AI found possible matches, it weighed up the evidence that both profiles belonged to the same person. Then it assigned a confidence score to its predicted match. If the LLM wasn't sure, it didn't write anything. This helped ensure it was not making wild guesses.

The researchers tested their framework on nearly 1,000 LinkedIn profiles to see if it could match them to accounts on Hacker News. These were profiles where the real-world identity was known to the team, who removed names, links, and other obvious identifiers from the bios.

The AI-powered framework successfully linked accounts with up to 67% accuracy at 90% precision, whereas the best non-AI methods struggled to succeed. It was also able to match individuals across Reddit communities, even if those users spread their activities across different accounts and time periods. The researchers also found that user identification is cheap, costing only $1 to $4 in computing power per account successfully linked.

"The practical obscurity that has long protected pseudonymous users... no longer holds," wrote the researchers in their paper.

The results show that, if further developed, this system could find applications in numerous fields, such as law enforcement and cybersecurity.

Simon Lermen et al, Large-scale online deanonymization with LLMs, arXiv (2026). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2602.16800

Female astronauts face clotting risks, five-day weightlessness simulation suggests

Simulated microgravity over five days altered blood clotting in women, with delayed initiation but faster, more stable clot formation. Menstrual hormones showed no effect on coagulation. These changes may increase clot risk in critical areas like the jugular vein during spaceflight, highlighting the need for enhanced monitoring protocols for female astronauts.

Just a few days in simulated microgravity can subtly change the way women's blood clots, sparking bigger questions about health monitoring protocols for astronauts who can spend six months or more in orbit, say researchers. First reported in 2020, an International Space Station mission detected an unexpected blood clot in a female astronaut's jugular vein. To date, space-health research has had more male participants, but with the number of female astronauts on the rise, a new SFU–European Space Agency study examined how microgravity affects blood clotting specifically in women.
On Earth, clotting in men and women can vary with age, but we have little information till now on whether these will be different when in space.
In this microgravity environment, researchers found the female participants took longer for their blood to start clotting. But once that clotting began, it formed faster and was more stable, making it harder to break down.

This combination—slower initiation, faster formation, stronger clots—was not shown to be inherently dangerous in the short term. But it does raise concerns for astronauts because of how and where in the body these dangerous blood clots can form while in space and far from emergency medical care.
If left untreated, blood clots can dislodge and travel through the bloodstream. If they reach the lungs, heart, or brain, they can cause pulmonary embolism, heart attack, or stroke.

Gravity on Earth means blood clots most commonly form in the legs, buying the body more time to break the clot up on its own, or be treated by doctors before causing a life-threatening event.

But without the force of gravity, blood pools in the head, and in some cases even reverses direction, creating conditions where clots are more likely to form.

 In space, blood clots are more likely to form in the jugular vein. From there, it doesn't have to travel far to reach the lungs or heart, and trigger a serious medical event. Space is not a place where you want these things to happen.

Space agencies are already paying close attention. Astronaut crews now regularly perform jugular-vein ultrasound scans during missions.

T.E. Stead et al, Blood coagulability changes in females exposed to dry immersion: examining a mechanism for the development of venous thromboembolism in microgravity, Acta Astronautica (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.11.065

Why some tiny tumors vanish and others grow: Discovery could help treat cancer at very earliest stages
The persistence of early tumors depends not only on genetic mutations but also on interactions with surrounding healthy tissue. Tumor cells emit signals that prompt nearby fibroblasts to form a fibrotic scaffold, creating a supportive micro-environment that enables tumor survival and growth. Disrupting this communication reduces tumor persistence, suggesting new avenues for early cancer intervention and diagnosis.
Scientists have shown that when tumors first emerge, interactions with healthy cells in the underlying supportive tissue determine their ability to survive, grow, and progress to advanced stages of disease.
The study, carried out in mice and further validated using human tissue, may explain why some tiny, newly-formed tumors disappear, while others manage to survive and eventually grow into cancer.

Tumors arise when our DNA accumulates errors, or mutations, causing the cells to grow faster and ignore signals that would otherwise instruct damaged cells to die before they can cause harm. However, these same mutations can also accumulate in the tissues of healthy people during aging without developing into cancer.

To examine why this should be the case, scientists have been studying what additional factors influence tumor formation at the very early stages and what determines whether they persist and develop into cancer.
Previous collaborative work by the team had shown that when a newly-formed microscopic tumor first emerges in a tissue, it can be removed by other mutant cells surrounding it, which compete for space within the tissue. But this does not always happen.

Scientists have puzzled for some time over why some of these so-called "incipient tumors" manage to outwit the body's defenses and flourish, creating the conditions for advanced disease to develop.

To answer this question, a team led by scientists at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, modeled early stages of cancer in the upper part of the mouse digestive tract.

The researchers replicated key features of human disease by exposing mice to a chemical found in tobacco smoke, a known cancer risk factor. This causes mutations in the cells lining the esophagus, leading to the development of microscopic tumors, most of which disappear naturally as described above—but some persist.

The team then tracked these nascent tumors over time, from the point when they were made up of just over a handful of altered cells (around 10 cells) through to later stages of disease.
They analyzed the tumors and surrounding cells using high‑resolution confocal microscopy and a range of tools, including single‑cell RNA sequencing and genetic cell tracking, to understand what each cell was doing. In addition, the team grew three-dimensional tissue in the lab, allowing them to model the interactions between the tumor cells and surrounding tissue.

In findings published in Nature, the researchers found that at these early stages, the tumor sends a "distress signal" to nearby fibroblasts—supportive "first-aid" cells in the underlying tissue. This communication triggers a response that closely resembles wound healing.

The fibroblasts behave as though the tissue has been damaged, producing a fibrotic scaffold around the tumor cells. This creates a supportive micro‑environment—a "pre-cancerous niche"—that shelters the tumor from being cleared and helps it persist and grow.

Part 1

Remarkably, the researchers found that this fibrotic scaffold alone was enough to give healthy, non-mutant cells tumor-like properties, even in the absence of cancer-causing mutations. This suggests that beyond genetic alterations, early tumors are shaped by how healthy cells in the underlying tissue respond, with lasting consequences for disease progression.
When the researchers examined tissue from early-stage esophageal cancers in humans, they found similar clusters of tumor cells sending stress signals, as well as the same fibrotic scaffolding seen in the mouse models, demonstrating that this mechanism is also relevant in people.

Maria Alcolea, Precancerous niche remodelling dictates nascent tumour persistence, Nature (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10157-8. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10157-8

Part 2

Estrogen helps protect women from high blood pressure

Estrogen protects against hypertension primarily by promoting vasodilation, which relaxes and widens blood vessels, thereby lowering blood pressure. Mathematical modeling indicates this effect is central to estrogen's protective role. After menopause, angiotensin receptor blockers may be more effective than ACE inhibitors for managing hypertension in women with reduced estrogen levels.
Using a mathematical model of the cardiovascular and kidney systems, researchers have identified which of estrogen's many effects play the biggest role in protecting against hypertension. Their findings suggest that estrogen's ability to relax and widen blood vessels, known as vasodilation, is the key factor.

The research also points to more effective treatment options for women after menopause, when estrogen levels naturally decline.

Anita T. Layton, Modulation of blood pressure by estrogen: A modeling analysis, Mathematical Biosciences (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2025.109610

Severe irritability in teens can be reduced by daily doses of vitamins and minerals—new research
Daily supplementation with broad-spectrum vitamins and minerals significantly reduced severe irritability in adolescents, particularly among those with disruptive mood dysregulation disorder and from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Improvements were observed in emotional reactivity, conduct, quality of life, and suicidal ideation, with minimal side effects, suggesting micronutrients as a safe, accessible intervention.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41643810/

https://theconversation.com/severe-irritability-in-teens-can-be-red...

The fats we eat shape our ability to fight disease

The types of fats we consume directly impacts the survival and strength of the body's immune cells and ability to fight disease, researchers have found.
Diet could change the fat composition inside T cells—the immune cells that help protect a person from infections and cancer. The research is published in Nature.
The research showed a diet with a lower ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) makes T cells much more resilient and resistant to cell death. Our immune system relies on T cells to manage the body's immune response.
The kinds of fats you eat change the fat composition inside your T cells and those changes can make T cells either weaker or stronger in terms of immune protection.

"How our bodies and cells process dietary fats—called lipid metabolism—is a critical part of the immune system.

"This discovery shows that dietary changes could potentially boost the effectiveness of vaccines and cancer therapies."

Examples of foods high in PUFAs include fatty fish and soybeans, while MUFAs include olive oil and avocados.
T-cells were vulnerable to a type of cell death that occurred when oxidized fats build up and destroy the cell's outer membrane.

When T cells are protected from this oxidation-induced cell death, specific T cells (called follicular helper T cells) become much better at assisting the body in producing antibodies, which could suggest enhanced vaccine protection. Stronger, more resilient T cells are also better at multiplying and actively attacking tumors.
Experimental models demonstrate that dietary fat modifications could improve the success of cancer treatments which could help eliminate tumors and significantly prolong survival.

Di Yu, Lipid metabolism drives dietary effects on T cell ferroptosis and immunity, Nature (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10193-4. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10193-4

Microbe exposure may not protect against developing allergic disease

The "hygiene hypothesis" suggests exposure to diverse types of microbes may protect against developing diseases caused by allergens, but a new study in mice reveals that adults' exposure to diverse microbes and allergens may in fact worsen certain allergic conditions.
Exposure to diverse microbes in adulthood can worsen allergic airway inflammation in mice, challenging the idea that microbial exposure always protects against allergic diseases. The protective or aggravating effect of microbial exposure appears to depend on the timing and life stage, with early-life exposure potentially offering more benefit than adult exposure.
Data suggests that it's important to think about how we go through the world and protect ourselves from exposure to microbes, because depending on your condition, if you're moving from a clean to a dirty environment, or dirty to clean environment, you might have a different response in terms of developing allergic disease.
The "hygiene hypothesis" posits that exposure to a diverse array of microbes protects against allergic-type diseases, according to the paper. For example, the hypothesis would suggest that growing up on a farm or in less-clean environments protects against allergic responses. Published epidemiological and experimental data have provided strong support for this hypothesis. However, the current study finds that such protection may be nuanced and could depend on life stage and timing of exposure.

The critical question is, where's that break point between when exposure to a broad diversity of antigens is protective and when it may aggravate?
In their experiments, the researchers found that exposure to microbes as adults worsened the development of allergic airway inflammation compared to newborns exposed to these microbes.

Jessica Elmore et al, Diverse microbial exposure exacerbates the development of allergic airway inflammation in adult mice, The Journal of Immunology (2026). DOI: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf331

Pollution, noise and climate stress all pose a serious threat to heart health
Environmental stressors such as air pollution, noise, chemical exposure, and climate-related factors significantly increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, contributing to over 13 million deaths annually. These factors interact through shared biological pathways and disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Integrating environmental risks into CVD prevention is essential for effective public health strategies.
For decades, cardiologists have developed treatments and prevention measures that focus solely on the individual: controlling blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, quitting smoking, and so on. Environment is also a key determinant of CVD risk, but it has been persistently overlooked. Environmental risk factors are estimated to contribute to more than 13 million deaths annually, exceeding the burden of many well-established risk factors.
According to the World Health Organization, 99% of the world's population breathes air that exceeds its recommended pollution levels. But air pollution is not the only risk factor—chronic exposure to noise, nighttime light pollution, chemical pollutants, poor water and soil quality, and the increasingly frequent impacts of climate change such as heat waves and fires all play a fundamental role in heart health.
The combined impacts of environmental factors accumulate over the years, affecting our overall cardiovascular health. The joint article by the cardiology societies emphasizes that these factors do not act in isolation—they interact through shared biological pathways such as inflammation and oxidative stress.
Reducing pollution, noise and urban heat is therefore not just a matter of ecology—it literally prevents heart disease.

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.125.079034

Chemists shed light on how age-related cataracts may begin
A specific oxidative modification in the γS-crystallin protein of the eye lens increases its tendency to aggregate under stress, even though the protein remains structurally stable. This subtle chemical change, which accumulates with age and environmental exposure, may initiate cataract formation by promoting protein clumping and impairing lens transparency.
The research, published in Biophysical Reports, focuses on proteins called crystallins, which help keep the eye lens clear. These proteins are meant to last a lifetime. But unlike most cells in the body, the lens cannot replace damaged proteins, so chemical changes can gradually accumulate over decades.
The protein can still look mostly normal, but even a small chemical change makes it much more likely to stick to other proteins.

Yeonseong Seo et al, Mimicking oxidative damage in γS-crystallin with site-specific incorporation of 5-hydroxytryptophan, Biophysical Reports (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.bpr.2026.100251

Scientists create a hexagonal diamond that could be even harder than the real thing

Cubic diamond is the hardest mineral on Earth and is used in everything from precision cutting tools to high-performance semiconductors as well as expensive jewelry. But there is a rare and potentially tougher form called hexagonal diamond (HD), which has long been the subject of theories and debate over its actual existence. But now researchers  claim to have created this elusive form of carbon in the lab.

Hexagonal diamond (also known as lonsdaleite) is usually found at sites of meteorite impacts. But because the quantities are so small and mixed with minerals, some scientists doubted it was a distinct material. In a paper published in the journal Nature, researchers describe how they made a bulk piece of pure HD using extreme pressure and heat.

Their starting material was highly oriented graphite, which is a highly ordered form of graphite similar to the carbon found in pencils. They placed it between anvils made of tungsten carbide and applied 20 gigapascals of pressure (around 200,000 times the pressure of our atmosphere) at temperatures between 1,300–1,900 °C. The material was squeezed along its c-axis, which means the pressure came from the top of the stacked carbon layers, not the sides. The result, the team says, was a millimeter-sized piece of pure HD.

To confirm that they really had synthesized HD, the team used X-ray diffraction. This technique bounces X-rays off atoms to map their positions and proved the sample was structurally pure. They also used atomic-resolution electron microscopy to clearly see the unique hexagonal stacking patterns of the carbon atoms.

The scientists also tested the mechanical properties of their HD with the Vickers hardness test. They pressed a diamond tip into the sample to assess how much it resisted scratching or denting. This showed that it had a hardness of around 114 gigapascals. Many natural diamonds are typically 110 gigapascals, meaning the team may have created a substance slightly harder than natural diamonds.

"These findings resolve the long-standing controversy on the existence of HD as a discrete carbon phase and provide new insight into the graphite-to-diamond phase transition, paving the way for future research and practical use of HD in advanced technological applications," commented the study authors in their paper.

Shoulong Lai et al, Bulk hexagonal diamond, Nature (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10212-4

Natural dye produced by Amazonian fungus can be used in cosmetics

Initial tests with a natural dye produced by the Amazonian fungus Talaromyces amestolkiae show that eco-friendly cosmetics, such as face creams, gel sticks, and shampoos, can be developed with antioxidant and antibacterial properties. This finding is significant because microbial dyes, which are still underexplored in cosmetic research, can serve as a sustainable alternative to synthetic dyes.

Juliana Barone Teixeira et al, Redefining Red: Microbial Polyketides in Eco-Friendly Cosmetic Development, ACS Omega (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.5c10255

Tundra tongue: The science behind a very cold mistake

Licking frozen metal rarely causes serious harm, but forcibly pulling the tongue away can result in tissue damage, especially at temperatures between -5 and -15 °C. Laboratory tests using pig tongues showed tearing in 54% of cases when pulled. Most real-world incidents are mild, though 18% required medical attention. Warming the metal is the safest way to detach the tongue.
The short answer is that most of the time, licking a piece of frozen metal is probably not going to result in serious harm.

Boys are boys. They do all strange things. Licking frozen metal is one of them!

You'll want to warm the metal where the tongue is stuck to loosen it, maybe by breathing on the metal or using a little warm water.

Whatever you do, however, do not yank the tongue off, say experts. Don't pull your tongue off too fast.
But fully 18% of the cases researchers found resulted in visits to a doctor or hospital to deal with problems like avulsion. That's the clinical way to describe a piece of your tongue getting torn off, such as when yanking it off a frozen piece of metal.
In fact, in 54% of the experiments the researchers conducted, parts of the tongue were torn. The harder they pulled, the greater the likelihood that a piece of the tongue would get torn off.

The greatest risk of having a piece of your tongue torn off, their experiments showed, was when temperatures were between -5 and -15 °C.
They don't know exactly why, but they think it's because the tongue freezes hard enough so it can resist being torn when yanked free from the icy grip of frozen metal.
What to do when tongue meets frozen metal
Do not yank the tongue off rapidly. This makes it most likely that a piece of the tongue will be torn or removed.
To loosen the tongue, warm the metal where the tongue is stuck, perhaps by breathing on the metal or using a little warm water.
In lab tests using pig tongues, pulling them caused tearing 54% of the time—and the harder the pull, the more likely a piece tore off.
However, in a search of almost 250 years of Scandinavian newspaper reports about tongues freezing to metal, only about 18% mentioned a visit to a doctor or hospital.

Anders Hagen Jarmund et al, Demography and outcomes of frozen tongue: a scoping review of Scandinavian tundra tongue cases, International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2026.112740

Anders Hagen Jarmund et al, The trauma of the tundra tongue: an experimental and computational study of lingual tissue damage following adhesion to a cold metal lamp post, Head & Face Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.1186/s13005-025-00581-y

A Universal Vaccine That Blocks Multiple Viruses
Imagine if each year, a simple spray of medicine up the nose could protect you from respiratory viruses, the common cold, bacterial pneumonia, and even spring allergies.

That would transform medical practice.
Researchers are now inching closer to that possibility.
Scientists from institutions across the US have now developed a strikingly "universal" vaccine, which has protected mice against a range of viruses, bacteria, and even allergies.
The new GLA-3M-052-LS+OVA vaccine can be delivered as a nasal spray. Three doses protected mice from infection from SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses for three months, and reduced the viral load in their lungs 700-fold, compared to unvaccinated mice.

The vaccine also accelerated the mice's immune response to SARS-CoV-2. While their lungs' adaptive immune systems typically take up to two weeks to respond to the virus, those with the vaccine took as little as three days to launch a counter-attack.
In follow-up tests, the vaccine was also found to protect the animals against bacterial infections. That included Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii, both of which are often acquired in hospital settings and are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics.
Most surprisingly, the vaccine also cut the risk of asthma. When vaccinated mice were exposed to dust mites, their asthmatic responses, such as increased immune cell production and excess lung mucus, were reduced for three months as well.
In mice, a ‘universal’ vaccine can now protect against a host of viruses, bacteria, and allergies. It can even cut the risk of allergy-induced asthma.

Unlike other available vaccines, this new spray doesn’t require a jab, and it works using a unique mechanism.

The next step is to test the nasal spray in human clinical trials to ensure it is both safe and effective for our species.
Most vaccines work by presenting the immune system with a harmless fragment of a pathogen, allowing the body to prepare an arsenal of targeted antibodies to fight off the real thing if it ever appears. This is working on what's known as adaptive immunity.
This new vaccine works on a different mechanism. Rather than target the pathogen itself, it focuses on the body's response. Essentially, it's designed to link the two main arms of the immune system: The long-lasting but specific adaptive immunity that most vaccines work on, and the short-lived but diverse innate immunity.

The latter is our first line of defense against unfamiliar threats, but it generally wanes after a few days as the adaptive immune system learns to fight off the pathogen.

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aea1260

Tracking the toxic metals left behind by wildfires

Wildfire heat can convert benign chromium-3 in soil to toxic chromium-6 at around 600oC, but this reverts to the safer form at higher temperatures typical of wildfires (800–1200oC). Iron in soil influences these transformations, suggesting post-fire monitoring of iron content could help assess chromium toxicity risks efficiently.

Alireza Namayandeh et al, Nonlinear Redox Transformations of Chromium in Soil during Wildfire Heating: The Critical Role of Iron Mineralogy, Environmental Science & Technology (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5c10407