City animals act in the same brazen ways around the world

Urban animals worldwide exhibit similar bold, opportunistic behaviours, such as food-stealing and reduced fear of humans, due to shared city environments and selective pressures favouring these traits. This behavioural homogenization is accompanied by a loss of behavioural and genetic diversity, reducing species' resilience to environmental change and complicating conservation efforts. The trend also increases potential for human-wildlife conflict and loss of unique, socially learned behaviours.

original article.

Loss of microbiota alters the profile of cells that protect the intestinal wall, experiments reveal

Research by scientists has made significant progress in understanding the relationship between gut microbiota and intestinal cells. The study, published in the journal Gut Microbes, showed how microbiota and the compounds it produces, such as butyrate, influence the functioning of cells that line the large intestine. This intestinal layer is in close contact with bacteria and produces mucus that contributes to its barrier function, helping to prevent bacteria from entering the body.
Loss of gut microbiota increases the abundance of a dual-function intestinal epithelial cell capable of both mucus secretion and nutrient absorption, a process regulated by microbiota-derived butyrate and its receptor GPR109A. This cell population expands in conditions of dysbiosis or aging, indicating adaptive epithelial plasticity and altered barrier function.
Among the findings is a description of the dual function of a cell that was previously thought to be exclusively mucus-secreting. The researchers discovered that the cell also absorbs nutrients and that its abundance in the epithelium is regulated by signals from the gut microbiota. The number of these cells increases when the gut microbiota is reduced.

The abundance of this cell is regulated by the production of butyrate—a compound resulting from the fermentation of dietary fiber—and its receptor, GPR109A. The more butyrate produced, the fewer of these cells there are.

This study paves the way for a better understanding of the role of microbiota and its metabolites in conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and in developing treatments. Furthermore, the study demonstrates how the integrity of the intestinal wall can change, particularly in older individuals.
When the microbiota is reduced, the large intestine—which under normal conditions prioritizes mucus production—begins to express characteristics linked to nutrient absorption typically associated with the small intestine. We still don't know why this happens, but this change may be related to the expansion of dual-function cells and represent an adaptive response to the decrease in bacteria in this portion of the intestine, say the researchers.

Matheus de T. Moroti et al, Historical shifts, geographic biases, and biological constraints shape mammal species discovery, Journal of Systematics and Evolution (2026). DOI: 10.1111/jse.70040

Can drugs skip the blood-brain barrier?
Researchers have skipped the blood-brain barrier altogether by injecting drug-loaded nanoparticles into the space between skull bone layers. Immune cells then ferried these nanoparticles into the brain. In a randomized study of 20 stroke patients, clinical outcomes were better in the group where treatment was also injected through the skull, compared to the standard of care. The ability to skip the blood-brain barrier in its entirety could be massively useful for treating many brain-based disorders, but there’s a lot more work in store, writes medicinal chemist Derek Lowe.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867425014217...

"Ghost Murmur"

Mammal ancestors laid eggs

A remarkable new discovery is shedding light on one of the greatest survival stories in Earth's history, and answering a decades-old scientific mystery. Lystrosaurus, a hardy, plant-eating mammal ancestor, rose to prominence in the wake of the End-Permian Mass Extinction some 252 million years ago, the most devastating extinction event our planet has ever experienced.

While countless species vanished, Lystrosaurus not only survived but thrived in a world marked by extreme environmental instability, intense heat, and prolonged droughts.

Now, groundbreaking research published in PLOS ONE reveals a discovery that transforms our understanding of this iconic survivor. An international research team has identified, for the first time, an egg containing an embryo of Lystrosaurus, dating back approximately 250 million years.

This extraordinary fossil represents the first-ever egg discovered from a mammal ancestor, finally answering a long-standing question: Did the ancestors of mammals lay eggs?

The answer is yes!

The researchers suggest these eggs were likely soft-shelled, explaining why they have remained elusive for so long. Unlike the hard, mineralized eggs of dinosaurs, which fossilize readily, soft-shelled eggs rarely preserve, making this find exceptionally rare. But the implications go far beyond reproduction.

The study reveals that Lystrosaurus laid relatively large eggs for its body size.

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In modern animals, larger eggs typically contain more yolk, providing all the nutrients an embryo needs to develop independently, without parental feeding after hatching.

This strongly suggests that Lystrosaurus did not produce milk for its young, unlike modern mammals. Large eggs also offer another crucial advantage: they are more resistant to drying out. In the harsh, drought-prone environment following the extinction, this would have been a critical survival trait.

The findings further suggest that Lystrosaurus hatchlings were likely precocial, born at an advanced stage of development. These young animals would have been capable of feeding themselves, escaping predators, and reaching reproductive maturity quickly.

In other words, Lystrosaurus succeeded by living fast and reproducing early.
In a world on the brink, this strategy proved unstoppable. This discovery not only provides the first direct evidence of egg-laying in mammal ancestors but also offers a powerful explanation for how Lystrosaurus came to dominate post-extinction ecosystems.

PLOS One (2026). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0345016

Part 2

The 4 Minutes That Will Decide if Artemis II Astronauts Survive

One DNA letter can trigger complete sex reversal

Researchers have discovered that changing just one letter in DNA can completely alter sex development in mice. In the new study, published in Nature Communications, a single-letter insertion in a non-coding regulatory region caused XX mice, which would normally develop as females, to develop instead as males with testis and male genitalia.

The finding is especially striking because the mutation was not made in a gene itself, but in a distant stretch of DNA that helps control a key developmental gene. The study highlights the major role of the non-coding genome—the 98% of DNA that does not make proteins but helps regulate when and how genes are turned on and off.
This is a remarkable finding because such a tiny change—just one DNA letter out of approximately 2.8 billion—was enough to produce a dramatic developmental outcome. It shows that non-coding DNA can have a profound effect on development and disease.

The mutation was introduced into a regulatory element known as Enh13, which controls the activity of Sox9, a gene essential for testis development. For ovaries to develop normally, Sox9 must be kept turned off. The researchers found that Enh13 acts as a kind of molecular battle site/switch: in males, factors that promote testis development bind to it and activate Sox9 whereas in females, factors that promote ovary development bind to it and repress Sox9.

When the researchers introduced the mutation using CRISPER genome editing, that female repression failed. As a result, Sox9 was activated in XX mice, and testis developed, leading to complete internal and external male development.

The team created several mouse models with very small mutations in Enh13, including a one-base-pair insertion and a three-base-pair deletion. Both mutations caused XX mice to develop testis. The researchers then used cell-line reporter assays to understand how the mutation disrupted the normal regulatory mechanism.

Nature Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-71328-9

Why amphibians regenerate limbs but mammals cannot

Some animals can regrow lost body parts. Salamanders and frog tadpoles can rebuild entire limbs after amputation. Mammals cannot. For decades, biologists have tried to understand why. Now a research  team has discovered that oxygen plays a crucial role in limb regeneration. By comparing amputated limbs from frog tadpoles and embryonic mice, the researchers found that the way cells sense oxygen determines whether regeneration can even begin. The study is published in Science.

Limb regeneration begins with wound healing. After amputation, cells at the injury site must rapidly seal the wound and switch into regenerative cell types. In amphibians, this process runs smoothly. In mammals, it stalls early. Wound closure is slow and scar formation takes over, blocking regeneration.

One key difference lies in the environment. Amphibian larvae develop in water, where oxygen levels are lower than in the air. Moreover, many regeneration-competent species live in aquatic environments. Meanwhile, mammalian tissues are typically exposed to higher oxygen levels after injury.

What is unclear is whether this difference has played a direct role in regeneration or is merely a consequence of lifestyle.

The researchers amputated developing limbs from frog tadpoles and mouse embryos and cultured them outside the body under controlled oxygen conditions. Oxygen levels were lowered to match aquatic environments or raised to levels close to air.

They tracked how cells responded by measuring wound closure, cell movement, gene activity, metabolism, and epigenetic states, including changes to DNA packaging. The work focused on HIF1A, a protein that acts as a cellular oxygen sensor. When oxygen is low, HIF1A becomes stable and activates programs that set the stage for wound healing and regeneration.

Lowering oxygen levels had a clear effect on the limbs of mouse embryos. Under reduced oxygen, mouse cells closed wounds faster and showed signs of entering a regenerative program. Stabilizing HIF1A produced similar effects, even when oxygen levels remained high.

Low oxygen also changed cell behavior, with skin cells becoming more mobile and altering their mechanical properties. Metabolism shifted toward glycolysis, a process that takes place in low-oxygen states. At the same time, chemical marks on DNA-associated proteins shifted to favor the activation of regeneration-related genes.

Frog tadpoles behaved differently. Their limbs regenerated efficiently across a wide range of oxygen levels, including levels well above those normally found in air. Molecular analysis showed that their cells maintain stable HIF1A activity even when oxygen increases, due to low expression of genes that normally shut this pathway down.

By comparing frogs, axolotls, mice, and human datasets, the team found a consistent pattern. Regeneration-competent amphibians show reduced oxygen-sensing capacity, allowing regenerative programs to be initiated and sustained. Mammals show the opposite pattern. Their cells respond strongly to oxygen and switch regenerative programs off soon after injury.
The results suggest that mammalian limbs retain latent regenerative potential at early stages, depending on how cells respond to environmental signals such as oxygen. This means that adjusting oxygen-sensing pathways might one day improve wound healing or regenerative responses in humans.

Species-specific oxygen sensing governs the initiation of vertebrate limb regeneration, Science (2026). DOI: 10.1126/science.adw8526

Part 2

CAR-T therapy drives remission in patient with three autoimmune diseases

For the first time, scientists have used a modern cell therapy called CAR-T to treat a patient with three different life-threatening autoimmune diseases that had resisted years of treatment. The patient, who once required daily blood infusions, has been in remission without needing additional treatment for a year since the CAR-T therapy. The case report, published in Med, suggests that CAR-T therapies can help treat complex and severe autoimmune diseases.
After being sick for more than a decade, the patient is now in treatment-free remission and able to return to an almost normal life. This therapy significantly improved her quality of life.

CD19 CAR-T therapy induces remission in refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia with ITP and antiphospholipid syndrome, Med (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2026.101075

A 1.9 billion-year-old bedrock will soon house the world's first permanent nuclear waste site
Finland's Onkalo facility will be the world's first permanent deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel, designed to isolate 6,500 tons of radioactive waste in stable bedrock for hundreds of thousands of years. The approach uses copper canisters and bentonite clay to contain radioactivity until it decays to safe levels, but uncertainties remain regarding long-term canister corrosion and future risks. Deep underground storage is considered safer than above-ground alternatives, though challenges persist in ensuring information preservation and minimizing risks to future generations.

-finland-spent-nuclear-future-ge...

Wildlife trade increases pathogen transmission: What 40 years of data say about spillover
Analysis of 40 years of wildlife trade data shows that traded wild mammals are 1.5 times more likely to share pathogens with humans than non-traded species, with risk increasing for illegally or live-traded animals. Each decade a species is present in trade adds, on average, one additional shared pathogen. These findings underscore the need for enhanced biosurveillance and reduced wildlife trade to limit zoonotic disease emergence.
Hedgehogs, elephants, pangolins, bears or fennec foxes: many wild species are sold as pets, hunting trophies, for traditional medicine, biomedical research, or for their meat or fur. These practices, whether legal or illegal, concern one-quarter of all mammal species. Now a study quantifies the impact of wildlife trade on the exchange of germs and parasites between animals and humans. The work, titled "Wildlife trade drives animal-to-human pathogen transmission over 40 years," appears in Science.
The team combined forty years of legal and illegal wildlife import-export data with compilations of host–pathogen relationships. Their analyses, led to the following result: Wild mammals that are traded are 1.5 times more likely to share infectious agents with humans than those that are not involved in trade.

In other words, these species have a 50% higher probability of sharing at least one virus, bacterium, fungus or parasite with us. That is not all: the risk is even higher when species are traded illegally or alive (for example as exotic pets).
The most striking finding, according to the research team, is that "the length of time an animal has been present in trade plays a key role: On average, a species shares one additional pathogen with humans for every ten-year period spent on the market.
The results of the study highlight the need to improve biosurveillance of animals and animal-derived products in order to detect infectious agents and assess their potential for transmission to humans.

Jérôme M. W. Gippet, Wildlife trade drives animal-to-human pathogen transmission over 40 years, Science (2026). DOI: 10.1126/science.adw5518. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adw5518

Non-coding genes cause diabetes in babies, study reveals

Bi-allelic variants in the non-coding RNA genes RNU4ATAC and RNU6ATAC were identified as causes of syndromic monogenic autoimmune neonatal diabetes in 19 children. These mutations disrupt splicing and affect the expression of approximately 800 genes, many involved in immune function, highlighting the pathogenic potential of non-coding genomic regions in rare autoimmune diabetes.

Matthew B. Johnson et al, Bi-allelic variants in the non-protein-coding minor spliceosome components RNU6ATAC and RNU4ATAC cause syndromic monogenic autoimmune diabetes, The American Journal of Human Genetics (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2026.02.017

Non-coding genes cause diabetes in babies, study reveals

Bi-allelic variants in the non-coding RNA genes RNU4ATAC and RNU6ATAC were identified as causes of syndromic monogenic autoimmune neonatal diabetes in 19 children. These mutations disrupt splicing and affect the expression of approximately 800 genes, many involved in immune function, highlighting the pathogenic potential of non-coding genomic regions in rare autoimmune diabetes.

Matthew B. Johnson et al, Bi-allelic variants in the non-protein-coding minor spliceosome components RNU6ATAC and RNU4ATAC cause syndromic monogenic autoimmune diabetes, The American Journal of Human Genetics (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2026.02.017

People use the same neurons to see and imagine objects, study shows

Why can images of things we have seen seem so real when we later recall them from memory? A new study led by Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University investigators sheds light on the answer. The research shows that the same brain neurons are activated when we imagine something and when we perceive something. The research, led by Cedars-Sinai, is the first to provide a detailed understanding of the shared mechanism that underlies visual perception and creation of mental images in the human brain. It was published in the journal Science.
Visual perception and imagination activate overlapping populations of neurons in the human fusiform gyrus, with about 40% of visually responsive neurons reactivating during mental imagery using the same neural code as during perception. This shared neural mechanism underlies the vividness of visual imagination and may inform understanding of psychiatric disorders involving altered mental imagery.
We generate a mental image of an object that we have seen before by reactivating the brain cells we used to see it in the first place.
The new study revealed the code that we use to re-create the images.
The findings provide a biological basis for visual imagination, a process that is also critical for creative arts.

"Further insight into this neural process has the potential to open pathways toward developing new therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other mental conditions that involve uncontrolled vivid imagery.
To conduct the study, investigators asked 16 adults with epilepsy, who had electrodes temporarily implanted in their brains for diagnosing their seizures, to view a series of images of faces and objects.

After viewing them, a subset of the participants were asked to imagine those same images from memory. Meanwhile, researchers recorded the electrical activity of hundreds of individual neurons in each participant's brain.

When the patients viewed the images, neurons were activated in their fusiform gyrus, an area of the brain essential for high-level visual processing, particularly for faces. For 80% of the visually responsive neurons recorded in the study, the researchers uncovered the aspects of the images they reacted to, thereby revealing their neural code.
When the patients later imagined the images, about 40% of these neurons reactivated using the same code, thereby recreating the pattern of activity that occurred during the initial viewing of the images.

V. S. Wadia et al, A shared code for perceiving and imagining objects in human ventral temporal cortex, Science (2026). DOI: 10.1126/science.adt8343. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adt8343

Artemis Re-Entry | NASA Most Dangerous 20 Minutes

Moon Joy, Courtesy of NASA's Artemis II Astronauts

Orbital Mechanics

Baby's body clock begins to synchronize with local time while still in utero, study shows

Humans and most other organisms have internal biological clocks that track the daily cycle of sunrise and sunset. These clocks help time our sleep, metabolism and other essential body functions over the course of a day, creating daily patterns called circadian rhythms. Research shows that when these rhythms are disrupted—by jet lag, lack of sleep or irregular work schedules—people can suffer long-term negative health effects.

Scientists who study daily rhythms have long wondered about when the mammalian circadian clock starts ticking and synchronizes to local time. In a new study published in the Journal of Biological Rhythms, researchers reported that a mother helps to set the biological clock for her babies while they are still in the womb.

Disrupting circadian rhythms during pregnancy can affect how sleep and daily rhythms develop in infants, and these early disruptions are linked to a higher risk of mood disorders such as anxiety and depression later in life.

Understanding when the fetal clock begins to function helps us identify sensitive developmental windows when circadian disruption may have lasting effects and how those effects might be prevented or corrected.

In mouse models researchers  found clear day-night rhythms in the pups that synchronized to the mother's rest-activity cycle during the last week of pregnancy, equivalent to the third trimester in humans. This suggests that the clock machinery forms early in development and receives entraining cues from mom later.

Importantly, they found daily rhythms across the placenta from the mother to the baby before the fetus can sense light.

The researchers found that circadian synchronization of the pups to the mother coincided with when glucocorticoid hormones from the mother cross the placenta, potentially acting as timing signals for the fetal clock. These stress-related hormones normally rise and fall over the course of the day under the control of the mother's internal clock.

Part 1

Synthetic glucocorticoids are routinely given to pregnant women at risk of preterm birth, often without considering the time of day when these hormones naturally fluctuate. The authors found that giving these steroids daily to the mother accelerated the synchronization to local time of the daily rhythms in the pups. These findings may be important when considering how and when doctors administer medications to treat pregnancy conditions.

During the study, the researchers also observed a strong association between failure to develop circadian clock gene activity in the fetuses and failure to deliver. It is not clear yet whether the absence of rhythms contributes to developmental problems or simply reflects them. But the observation suggests that circadian clock activity may be closely linked to healthy fetal development.
The findings also highlight the importance of maintaining stable circadian rhythms during pregnancy. Over 80% of the world's population is exposed to artificial light at night that can disrupt daily rhythms, and this includes pregnant people.
Understanding when and how the body clock starts ticking helps scientists identify sensitive developmental windows when circadian disruption may have lasting effects. This knowledge could help guide medical treatments, inform clinical practices and shape public health policies aimed at protecting neonatal circadian health during pregnancy.

K. L. Nikhil et al, Fetoplacental Circadian Rhythms Develop and Then Synchronize to the Mother In Utero, Journal of Biological Rhythms (2026). DOI: 10.1177/07487304261435435

Part 2

Five warning signs that rivers are polluted—even when they look clean
Key indicators of river pollution, even when water appears clean, include the presence of sewage fungus, algal blooms, unusual water coloration or murkiness, persistent white foam with chemical odors, and signs of aquatic life distress or absence. Many pollutants are invisible, and these signs may overlap with natural phenomena, so additional context and caution are necessary for accurate assessment.

original article.

Negative effects of artificial sweeteners may pass on to next generation, study suggests
In mice, consumption of sucralose and stevia altered gut microbiome composition, reduced beneficial short-chain fatty acids, and changed gene expression related to inflammation and metabolism, with some effects persisting across generations. Sucralose produced more pronounced and lasting metabolic and microbiome disruptions than stevia. These findings suggest potential transgenerational metabolic impacts of artificial sweeteners.
Health organizations are starting to raise concerns about the potential long-term impacts of artificial sweeteners, which taste sweet but—unlike sugar—contain no calories, suggesting they could interfere with energy metabolism and increase the eventual risk of diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
Now a new study in mice indicates that the popular sweeteners sucralose and stevia have negative effects on the gut microbiome and gene expression, potentially compromising metabolic health, which can be transmitted between generations.
The scientists found that different sweeteners produced different effects, which changed over time.

In the first generation, only the male offspring of sucralose-consuming mice showed signs of impaired glucose tolerance, but by the second generation, elevated fasting blood sugar was detected in male descendants of sucralose-consuming mice and female descendants of stevia-consuming mice.

Both groups of mice that ate sweeteners had more diverse fecal microbiomes but lower concentrations of short-chain fatty acids, suggesting the bacteria were producing fewer beneficial metabolites; both succeeding generations also had lower concentrations of short-chain fatty acids.

Sucralose-consuming mice were more seriously and more persistently affected by changes to the fecal microbiome, with more pathogenic species and fewer beneficial species of bacteria in their feces.

Similarly, sucralose appears to kick-start the expression of genes linked to inflammation and dampen the expression of genes linked to metabolism for two generations after consumption. Stevia also impacts gene expression, but its effects are smaller and are not passed on for more than one generation.

Artificial and Natural Non-Nutritive Sweeteners Drive Divergent Gut and Genetic Responses Across Generations, Frontiers in Nutrition (2026). DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1694149

Women's immune systems show bigger age-related changes than men's

Immunological aging exhibits distinct sex-specific patterns, with women showing more pronounced age-related changes, including increased inflammatory immune cells, potentially explaining higher autoimmune disease prevalence and postmenopausal inflammatory pathologies. In men, immune aging changes are less extensive but include increased pre-leukemia blood cells, correlating with higher blood cancer rates in older men. These findings highlight the importance of considering biological sex in precision medicine for aging and immune health.
Statistics show clear differences in the population's immune system according to sex: men are more susceptible to infections and cancers, while women have stronger immune responses, which translate, for example, into better responses to vaccines. Even so, with a more reactive immune system, the probability of the body attacking itself also increases, causing 80% of autoimmune disease development to occur in women.
In this context, understanding the aging of the immune system is key since, with age, the composition of immune cells changes and their protective functions deteriorate, causing a greater susceptibility to diseases.
A new study published this week in Nature Aging demonstrated, for the first time, that immunological aging follows different dynamics between men and women, identifying the cells and genes responsible for the process, and providing a molecular explanation for the differences that previously were only observed globally in the population.
The results reveal that women present more pronounced changes in the immune system with age, with an increase in inflammatory immune cells. This finding could help explain why autoimmune diseases are mainly developed by women, especially at advanced ages, as well as the worsening of certain inflammatory pathologies after menopause.
On the other hand, the changes associated with immune system aging observed in men are globally less extensive, but an increase in certain blood cells presenting pre-leukemia alterations was observed, a fact that could explain why some blood cancers are more frequent in older men.
Finding these patterns was possible thanks to the analysis of blood samples from nearly 1,000 people of different ages covering the entire adult life, combined with a technology capable of analyzing each cell individually, called single-cell RNA sequencing. In total, the researchers analyzed the activity of 20,000 genes in more than one million blood cells, which allowed them to identify how the immune system changes over the years and detect clear differences between sexes.

Maria Sopena-Rios et al, Single-cell analysis of the human immune system reveals sex-specific dynamics of immunosenescence, Nature Aging (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s43587-026-01099-x

Epigenetic changes at birth are associated with an infant's microbiome and neurodevelopment
Epigenetic patterns at birth influence the development of the infant gut microbiome during the first year and are associated with later neurodevelopmental signs, including ASD and ADHD. Specific gut microbes, such as Lachnospira pectinoschiza and Parabacteroides distasonis, may mitigate the risk of these neurodevelopmental conditions in children with certain epigenetic profiles.
The gut microbiome and epigenetics—molecular switches that turn genes on or off—are intertwined, and both contribute to neurodevelopment, finds a study published in Cell Press Blue. The researchers showed that epigenetic changes present at birth can impact how an infant's gut microbiome develops during their first year.
They also identified specific epigenetic changes and gut microbes that were associated with signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) when the children were three years old.

Certain bacteria seem to offer protection, which is exciting because it suggests there could be ways to support a child's development through diet or probiotics in the future.
Early life biology matters:
The first years of life are critical for brain development and immune system maturation. Though previous studies have shown that both early epigenetic changes and gut microbiome development can impact health in later life, little is known about how these two systems interact.
Researchers discovered a kind of conversation happening: a baby's epigenetic setting at birth can influence their risk for neurodevelopmental disorders, but the presence of certain 'good' bacteria in their gut can step in and modify the risk.
The researchers characterized DNA methylation patterns—a type of epigenetic change—from the umbilical cord blood of 571 infants. They paired this information with gut microbiome data collected from 969 infants at 2, 6, and 12 months of age, and from their parents during the third trimester of pregnancy.

When the children reached 36 months of age, the researchers used a behavioral questionnaire to assess their neurodevelopment and investigate links between the microbiome, epigenome, and early signs of ASD and ADHD.
They found that an infant's epigenome at birth was associated with birth mode, length of gestation, having older siblings, and maternal allergies, but it was not affected by their parents' gut microbiomes.

Microbiome development, on the other hand, was associated with birth mode, antibiotics, having older siblings, and breastfeeding. Infants who were born by cesarean section showed different patterns of DNA methylation for several genes involved in immune responses and brain development.
Part 1

The team also showed that an infant's epigenome at birth impacted how their microbiome developed during their first year. Specifically, infants developed less diverse gut microbiomes at 12 months of age when they showed higher rates of DNA methylation in immune genes involved in recognizing pathogens.

The behavioral survey revealed that signs of ASD and ADHD in 3-year-olds were associated with specific epigenetic patterns and the presence of certain gut microbes.

However, other microbial species seemed to mitigate these effects: infants with epigenetic patterns associated with ASD or ADHD were less likely to show signs of the disorders if they acquired Lachnospira pectinoschiza and Parabacteroides distasonis, respectively, during their first year.

Epigenome–microbiome interplay in early life associates with infants' neurodevelopmental outcomes, Cell Press Blue (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.cpblue.2026.100009. www.cell.com/cell-press-blue/f … 3051-3839(26)00007-1

Part 2

Too young for the MMR shot, babies become 'sitting ducks' in measles outbreaks
Infants too young for measles vaccination are highly vulnerable during outbreaks, relying on herd immunity, which requires ≥95% community vaccination coverage. Declining vaccination rates and increased exemptions have eroded this protection, leading to significant outbreaks and increased risk of severe illness or death in infants. Legislative efforts to restrict vaccine requirements may further reduce coverage and increase disease spread.
Source: News agencies

How the US Will Blockade Iran in the Strait of Hormuz

Why do some stars in the galactic center survive while others are destroyed?
Strong internal magnetic fields in compact stars near the galactic center can suppress the accretion of stellar material onto nascent black holes, slowing or halting their growth and allowing the stars to survive. This mechanism, termed magnetically arrested transmutation, explains the survival of magnetars and highly magnetized white dwarfs, while stars with weaker magnetic fields are more likely to be destroyed.
The center of our galaxy is an extreme place. Surrounding the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A, stars are packed densely into a region where gravity, radiation, and dark matter all interact in complex ways. It is a natural laboratory for testing some of the deepest ideas about astrophysics.
Compact stars—such as neutron stars and white dwarfs—are expected to accumulate dark matter over time, especially in such dense environments. Under the right conditions, this accumulation can trigger the formation of a tiny black hole at the very center of the star.

Once formed, the black hole should begin to grow by accreting the surrounding stellar material. The expected outcome is dramatic: The star is gradually consumed from within and eventually collapses entirely into a black hole.

If this picture were complete, many compact stars in the galactic center should already have been destroyed. But observations suggest otherwise.
Some stars clearly survive. Others appear to be missing. This uneven outcome raises a fundamental question: What determines whether a star lives or dies in such an environment?

One particularly intriguing clue comes from the magnetar PSR J1745-2900, located remarkably close to Sagittarius A*. Magnetars are neutron stars with extremely strong magnetic fields, and this object is both highly magnetized and stable. Its survival is not easy to reconcile with the expectation of rapid destruction driven by internal black hole growth.

At the same time, there is evidence for an overabundance of strongly magnetized white dwarfs near the galactic center.

In contrast, ordinary pulsars—neutron stars with comparatively weaker magnetic fields—appear to be underrepresented, a long-standing issue often referred to as the "missing pulsar problem."

Taken together, these observations suggest that not all stars share the same fate. Something must be influencing the outcome.
A natural candidate is magnetism.

Compact stars can host some of the strongest magnetic fields in the universe. In many astrophysical environments, magnetic fields are known to regulate how matter moves, especially in accretion processes. They can channel, redistribute, or even suppress the flow of matter onto compact objects. This raises an important possibility: Could magnetic fields also influence the growth of a black hole forming inside a star?

In recent work, this possibility was explored in detail. The findings are published in The European Physical Journal C.
Part 1

The central idea is that if a small black hole forms at the core of a strongly magnetized star, it does not grow in isolation. Instead, it is embedded in a medium where magnetic forces are significant. These fields can exert pressure and tension that oppose the inward flow of matter toward the black hole.

As a result, the accretion process—the mechanism that drives black hole growth—can be substantially reduced.
In this picture, the black hole may still form, but its growth is effectively slowed or even halted. Instead of a runaway process in which the star is inevitably consumed, the system becomes regulated. The star could survive for much longer timescales, potentially remaining observable.

This mechanism is referred to as magnetically arrested transmutation (MAT).

MAT provides a natural way to understand the contrasting observations in the galactic center. Stars with strong internal magnetic fields, such as magnetars or highly magnetized white dwarfs, may be protected from rapid destruction.

Their magnetic fields act as a barrier that limits the growth of any black hole forming inside them. On the other hand, stars with weaker magnetic fields may lack this protection, making them more vulnerable to being consumed from within.

In this way, magnetic fields may effectively decide the fate of compact stars in extreme environments.

H. A. Adarsha et al, Magnetically arrested transmutation of a compact star, The European Physical Journal C (2026). DOI: 10.1140/epjc/s10052-026-15515-4

Part 2

Ribosomal DNA may help explain human size differences

The ribosome is the most basic yet essential part of life on Earth. In humans, ribosomes are made up of about 80 proteins and four types of RNA. To keep up with the high demand for protein-making structures in cells, our bodies carry hundreds of copies of the instructions for making them in the form of rDNA. The number of these copies varies considerably between individuals, ranging from around 200 to 600 copies per human genome.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA), made from many copies of ribosomal DNA (rDNA), is the core component that powers ribosomes—protein-building machines in our body. It helps build proteins by linking amino acids together, and can also fine-tune this process by interacting with other proteins and messenger RNA (mRNA). For a long time, scientists assumed ribosomes were more or less identical within a species. A new study in Cell Genomics is challenging that idea.

The work shows that rDNA can vary quite a bit, not just between species, but even from one person to another, and these small genetic differences can subtly change the shape of ribosomes, which may influence diversity in human size traits such as height and weight.

Recent studies reveal that rDNA can vary not only in how many copies people have, but also in its sequence, with small changes such as single-letter differences and insertions or deletions. 

Researchers discovered a cluster of genetic variations in a region of 28S rRNA called expansion segment 15L (ES15L) that is strongly linked to body size traits such as height, weight, and birth weight. These genetic differences are not just passive markers built into the ribosomes and could change their physical shape and structure. These effects appeared to be independent of the number of rDNA copies a person has.

This study uncovers a previously overlooked source of genetic variation that shapes human traits such as height and weight, while also highlighting the ribosome as an unexpected contributor to human diversity. 

Francisco Rodriguez-Algarra et al, Germline sequence variation within the ribosomal DNA is associated with human complex traits, Cell Genomics (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2026.101213

Nature might have a universal rhythm

Animal communication can look wildly different—flashing lights, chirping calls, croaking songs and elaborate dances. But new research suggests many of these signals share a surprising feature: They repeat at nearly the same tempo.

In a new study, scientists found that communication signals across a wide range of species tend to repeat at about 2 hertz, or roughly two beats per second.

The researchers propose this tempo might reflect a shared biological constraint. Animal brains, including humans, may be naturally tuned to process signals arriving at that pace. In other words, two beats per second may be a rhythmic "sweet spot" that enables brains to detect signals more easily and process communication more efficiently.

Understanding this potentially universal tempo could help scientists better interpret animal signaling and social behaviour across species. The findings also hint that human perception of rhythms, including beats in popular music and the cadence of speech, may arise from the same neural timing principles found throughout nature.

The study grew out of the researchers' project to understand how synchrony arises in nature. 

 They noticed that the flashing of the fireflies and the chirping of the nearby crickets were in sync with each other and they thought that it was crazy that these two unrelated species would interact in such a way.

After analyzing their own recordings, the team concluded that the species were not synchronizing with one another. Instead, they were sending independent signals at very similar tempos—around two-to-three pulses per second.

To investigate whether the firefly-cricket coincidence reflected a broader pattern, they analyzed previously published studies of animal communication across a wide range of species. These rhythmic signals included: firefly flashes, cricket chirps, frog calls, birds' mating displays, sound and light pulses from fish and vocals and gestures from mammals.

Despite enormous differences in body sizes, habitats and communication methods, the team found that many species repeat signals within a narrow range of roughly 0.5 to 4 hertz (1 to 4 beats per second). The pattern spans animals that communicate through sound, light or movement, suggesting a common underlying principle.

Earlier biophysicists noted that the biophysics of a single neuron operates at the same rhythm. Neurons require time to integrate information before firing again. Because of this biological constraint, neural circuits tend to respond most strongly to signals arriving every few hundred milliseconds—roughly two times per second.

Part 1

To test this idea, the team built computer models of simple neural circuits and examined how they responded to signals at different tempos. According to the models, the circuits respond most strongly to signals within the same 2 hertz range observed across animal communication. That means communication signals may have evolved to match the rhythms that brains process most easily.

Musicologists have long noted that popular songs cluster around 120 beats per minute, which is exactly 2 hertz. That rhythm fits our body.

Guy Amichay et al, A widespread animal communication tempo may resonate with the receiver's brain, PLOS Biology (2026). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3003735

Part 2

Birds that put more energy into parenthood age faster and die younger, research shows

In a new study, appearing in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, scientists selectively bred Japanese quails into two groups: laying either relatively large or small eggs. As the quails don't do much "parenting" after eggs hatch, mothers' main contribution is the resources they transfer to their eggs (chicks from larger eggs are more likely to survive).

After five to six generations of selective breeding, females bred to lay larger eggs aged faster and died about 20% younger than females bred for small eggs.

The findings of the study support a fundamental evolutionary theory: that high "investment" in offspring unavoidably leads to faster aging and a shorter life.

All living things have limited energy and resources, and face trade-offs between competing priorities.

Artificial selection for increased reproductive effort accelerates actuarial senescence and reduces lifespan in a precocial bird., Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2025.2908

Scientists develop 'light switch' for the love hormone

Researchers have developed a molecular "light switch" for the so-called love hormone oxytocin, offering new insights into how social behaviour, partnership bonding, emotions, and mental health are wired in the brain.
A light used at a specific wavelength releases neuropeptides, enabling researchers to observe their effects on individual synapses, neurons, and neuronal circuits.

Oxytocin plays a key role in social connections, including trust, bonding, parenting, emotional regulation, empathy, learning and memory. Changes in oxytocin signaling are also linked to conditions including autism, anxiety, depression, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia and psychotic disorders.
A molecular light-activated probe enables precise, localized release of oxytocin and vasopressin in the brain, allowing real-time observation of their effects on specific neurons and circuits. This approach overcomes previous limitations in studying neuropeptide signalling, facilitating detailed investigation of social behaviour mechanisms and potential development of targeted therapies.

Konstantin Raabe et al, Photocaged Oxytocin and Vasopressin Probes to Decipher Neuropeptide Signalling With High Spatiotemporal Resolution, Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2026). DOI: 10.1002/anie.202513373

Popular AI chatbots are confidently dispensing medical misinformation, analysis shows

Fifty percent of medical responses from five popular AI chatbots were problematic, with 20% highly problematic and 30% somewhat problematic, especially for open-ended prompts. Chatbots performed best on vaccines and cancer, worst on stem cells, athletic performance, and nutrition, and often provided confident but inaccurate or incomplete information with poor reference quality and difficult readability.

Generative artificial intelligence-driven chatbots and medical misinformation: an accuracy, referencing and readability audit, BMJ Open (2026). DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-112695

Air pollution associated with increased migraine activity
Increased short-term and cumulative exposure to air pollution, particularly NO2 and PM2.5, is associated with higher rates of acute migraine episodes and increased use of migraine medications. Climate factors such as high temperatures and low humidity amplify these associations. The findings are based on hospital, clinic, and pharmacy data, primarily reflecting individuals with more severe migraine. Causality cannot be established.

Air pollution is associated with increased migraine activity.
• The study does not prove that air pollution causes migraine attacks; it only shows an association.
• Both short-term and cumulative exposure to air pollution were tied to increased migraine activity.
• Heat and humidity were also associated with increased activity.
• These findings could help predict when attacks may be more likely. People could stay indoors, use air filters and take preventive medications to help ward off attacks.

https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/5333

People will get maximum benefits of exercise only if exercise timing is aligned with individual chronotype in adults

Timing exercise to match body clock chronotype—the natural predisposition to morning or evening alertness—may lower cardiovascular disease risk among those who are already vulnerable, suggests research published in the open access journal Open Heart.
Aligning exercise timing with individual chronotype in adults at cardiovascular risk led to greater improvements in blood pressure, metabolic markers, autonomic function, aerobic capacity, and sleep quality compared to mismatched timing. The effect was most pronounced in systolic blood pressure and sleep quality, especially among those with hypertension and morning chronotypes.
Chronotype alignment boosted sleep quality and lowered risk factors, such as high blood pressure, fasting glucose, and "bad" cholesterol, more effectively than mismatched exercise timing, the trial results indicate.

The findings prompt the researchers to suggest that individual chronotype assessment should be included in exercise prescriptions for those who are at risk of cardiovascular disease.

Exercise lowers the risks of heart disease/stroke and diabetes, and whether someone is naturally a morning lark or a night owl—an innate disposition that affects sleep-wake patterns, hormone secretion, and energy availability across the day—influences exercise performance and adherence, explain the researchers.
Analysis of the experimental results showed that cardiovascular disease risk factors, aerobic fitness, and sleep quality improved in both groups after 12 weeks.

But matching exercise with chronotype produced larger improvements in blood pressure, autonomic function (involuntary bodily processes, including heart rate), aerobic capacity, metabolic markers, and sleep quality than mismatched exercise.

These improvements were especially noticeable in sleep quality—an increase of 3.4 compared with 1.2 points—and systolic blood pressure—the higher of the two numbers in a reading.

This fell by 10.8 mm Hg in those whose exercise sessions had been matched to their chronotype compared with a drop of 5.5 mm Hg among those whose exercise sessions had been mismatched.

The fall in systolic blood pressure was even larger among those who had high blood pressure to begin with: their systolic blood pressure fell by an average of 13.6 mm Hg compared with 7.1 mm Hg in those whose exercise sessions had been mismatched.

Although improvements were observed across both chronotypes, overall, the effects were larger among morning larks than among night owls.

Chronotype-aligned exercise timing in middle-aged adults at cardiometabolic risk: a randomised controlled trial, Open Heart (2026). DOI: 10.1136/openhrt-2025-003573

High-salt diet linked to faster memory decline in men

Higher sodium intake is associated with faster episodic memory decline in men, but not in women, over a 72-month period. The findings suggest high-salt diets may negatively impact cognitive function, potentially through mechanisms involving brain inflammation, vascular damage, and reduced cerebral blood flow.

Francisca Chuwa et al, Higher sodium intake is associated with episodic memory decline in cognitively unimpaired older males: A 6-year longitudinal study, Neurobiology of Aging (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2026.02.003

MRI data confirm shared brain signatures of mental health disorders

Over 1 billion people worldwide are living with one or more mental health disorders that affect their mood, thinking processes and behavior, impacting their daily functioning to varying degrees. Identifying variations in the brain's structure and organization that are commonly linked with mental health disorders could help to devise more effective tools to diagnose these conditions or create personalized treatment plans.

Researchers recently analyzed thousands of brain scans and medical records collected in Denmark to identify structural brain variations associated with mental health disorders. Their findings, published in Molecular Psychiatry, were aligned with some earlier observations, showing that mental health disorders were associated with a smaller thalamus and amygdala, larger ventricles and a thinner outer brain layer (i.e., cortex).

In Denmark, brain scans collected with a non-invasive imaging technique called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are linked to the electronic health records of the corresponding patients. This makes it easier for researchers to explore the connections between the structure of patients' brains and specific aspects of their clinical history.

The researchers observed specific variations in brain structure that were more prevalent in people diagnosed with mental health disorders. Most notably, they found that people with severe mental disorders presented a smaller thalamus, a smaller amygdala, larger ventricles (i.e., fluid-filled cavities at the center of the brain) and a thinner cerebral cortex.

Stefano Cerri et al, Cross-disorder comparison of brain structures among 4836 individuals with mental disorders and controls utilizing Danish population-based clinical MRI scans, Molecular Psychiatry (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41380-026-03577-5.

Large trial shows bone healing 'superpower' in children

Broken wrists are among the most common injuries in children, accounting for about half of children's fractures. Severely displaced distal radial fractures, where the bones move out of place, are often routinely treated with surgery. However—unlike adults—children have a remarkable ability to straighten broken bones, in a process called remodeling. Researchers questioned whether a plaster cast would achieve the same long-term result without exposing children to the risks of an operation.

In a major U.K. trial led by researchers at the University of Oxford, they found that most children with a severely broken wrist can be treated without surgery. The findings, published in The Lancet, suggest that a nonsurgical cast-first approach delivers similar long-term recovery while reducing the risks associated with surgery and costs.

These fractures can look very severe on an X-ray, which has traditionally led to surgery to straighten the bone. But because children's bones are still growing, they have a remarkable capacity to heal. Until now, there has been limited high-quality evidence on whether surgery was always necessary, say the researchers.

The CRAFFT trial (Children's Radius Acute Fracture Fixation Trial) recruited 750 children aged 4–10 from 49 hospitals across the U.K. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either surgical fixation or treatment with a plaster cast.

Patients were measured at regular intervals against a set of criteria. At three months, children who had surgery reported slightly better arm function, but the difference between groups was very small. By six and 12 months, there was no difference in recovery, suggesting that early advantages with surgery do not persist.

There were complications following surgery, including infections, scarring, and nerve irritation. Nonsurgical treatment, which avoids anesthesia and operative intervention, was shown to reduce NHS costs by around £1,600 per patient on average.

The trial was designed with input from families, who helped define what level of improvement would be meaningful enough to warrant surgery. The observed difference between treatments fell below this threshold.

Daniel C. Perry et al, Non-surgical casting versus surgical reduction for children with severely displaced distal radial fractures (the CRAFFT Study): a multicentre, randomised, controlled non-inferiority trial and economic evaluation, The Lancet (2026). DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00409-5. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan … (26)00409-5/fulltext

How a new technique will help us mine rare-earth metals with plants
Rare-earth metals are essential for many technologies. These are not actually rare, it's just that they are rarely found in high concentrations in the environment in their pure form.

A non-destructive fluorescence spectroscopy technique enables accurate detection and quantification of rare-earth elements, such as dysprosium, in plant tissues. This method allows repeated measurements on the same plant, optimizing plant-based extraction strategies for rare-earth metals from contaminated soils and informing optimal harvest timing to maximize yield. Preliminary results indicate applicability to other rare-earth elements.

Researchers have developed a technique for detecting and measuring the concentration of many rare-earth elements in plants, without destroying the plant. The technique can be used to optimize "plant mining" efforts, in which plants take up and concentrate these critical materials so that they can be harvested for practical use. The paper is published in the journal Plant Direct.
One option is to harvest the rare-earth elements found in mine waste and other polluted soils. However, while these toxic soils have relatively high concentrations of rare-earth elements compared to other soils, those concentrations are still too low to make this an economically feasible strategy.

But there is a potential solution: plants.

Some plant species are capable of taking rare-earth elements out of polluted soil and concentrating it in their tissue.
Researchers used fluorescence spectroscopy. The technique makes use of the fact that some chemical compounds absorb light and then re-emit that absorbed energy as light at different wavelengths. By cataloging which chemical compounds absorb and emit specific wavelengths, and how long those emissions last, you can determine which chemical compounds are present. Generally, the more intense the light emitted, the higher the concentration of the chemical compound.
For this project, the researchers focused on dysprosium, a rare-earth element that is critical for manufacturing everything from cell phones to wind turbines to electric vehicle motors.
The researchers focused on dysprosium, in part, because it fluoresces for a relatively long time. This means dysprosium will still be emitting light after the plant's autofluorescence has died down. That allows them to detect it, measure its intensity, and then calculate the concentration of dysprosium in the plant tissue.
The researchers demonstrated the technique using two species of pokeweed. The plants took up dysprosium from a substrate. The plant tissue was then treated externally with sodium tungstate, which interacts with the dysprosium to intensify the light being emitted by the dysprosium during fluorescence. The researchers then triggered fluorescence using a deep ultraviolet laser and measured the wavelengths and intensity of light emitted by the plant samples.
The researchers found their technique was accurate at both detecting the presence of dysprosium and measuring the concentration of dysprosium in the plant tissue.

Edmaritz Hernández‐Pagán et al, Detection and Quantification of Dysprosium in Plant Tissues, Plant Direct (2026). DOI: 10.1002/pld3.70164

Parrots are not just mimicking words—they use proper names like humans to identify individuals
Analysis of vocalizations from over 880 captive parrots indicates that many parrots use names as labels to identify specific individuals, similar to human naming practices. Some parrots applied names to single individuals, while others used names for attention or in non-human-like ways. These findings suggest parrots possess cognitive and vocal abilities for flexible name use, though usage varies across species and individuals.

Name use by companion parrots, PLOS One (2026). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0346830

How long does a transplanted heart last?

The average lifespan of a transplanted heart is approximately 10 years, though individual outcomes vary. Key factors influencing longevity include careful post-surgical monitoring, strict medication adherence, management of comorbidities, and maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle. Multidisciplinary care and strong social support further improve recovery and long-term health.
Patients can take steps to reduce complication risk and support long-term heart health, including:

Managing comorbidities, like diabetes or high blood pressure
Taking all medications as prescribed
Attending follow-up appointments with specialists
Maintaining a doctor-recommended, heart-healthy lifestyle

https://www.keckmedicine.org/blog/how-long-does-a-transplanted-hear...

Abdominal fat is linked to a higher risk of urinary incontinence in women

Stress urinary incontinence is characterized by involuntary urine leakage during everyday activities such as coughing, laughing, lifting heavy objects, or exercising. It's that urinary leakage that occurs when pressure inside the abdomen increases and the pelvic floor can't hold it in.
Although the condition is often associated solely with aging, it is not exclusive to older women. It happens to women of all ages, including very young women. These pelvic floor muscles are rarely exercised throughout life, and without proper training, they can become weak and lose function.

Higher amounts of abdominal, particularly visceral, fat are strongly associated with increased risk of stress urinary incontinence in women, independent of total body fat or BMI. Visceral fat may contribute through mechanical pressure on the pelvic floor and metabolic effects such as chronic inflammation, potentially weakening pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor muscle training remains the primary treatment.
The accumulation of fat in the abdominal region, especially visceral fat (fat that accumulates between organs), significantly increases the risk of stress urinary incontinence in women. A study conducted at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, identified this region as the one most strongly associated with involuntary urine leakage, surpassing total body fat. The results are published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology and indicate that body fat distribution may be a more decisive factor than weight itself in explaining the condition.

The study results showed that women with higher amounts of body fat were more likely to experience incontinence. However, the main finding was the role of visceral fat. The presence of this type of fat increased the likelihood of stress urinary incontinence by about 51%.
There are two possible explanations. The first is mechanical. As visceral fat accumulates within the abdominal cavity, it increases pressure on the internal organs and overloads the pelvic floor, which is the structure responsible for supporting the bladder and controlling urine flow. Excess weight in this region creates constant strain. Over time, these muscles can become more fatigued and less efficient, the researchers explain.
The second mechanism is metabolic. Visceral fat does not merely function as an energy store; it is metabolically active and releases inflammatory substances that circulate throughout the body. This process can compromise muscle quality and reduce contractile capacity, including that of the pelvic floor muscles. It is low-grade chronic inflammation, which affects different tissues in the body. That can also contribute to muscle weakness.
Obesity is already recognized as a risk factor for urinary incontinence, along with aging, menopause, the number of pregnancies, and delivery conditions.
One of the main forms of treatment is strengthening the pelvic floor muscles through women's health physical therapy.

Ana Jéssica dos Santos Sousa et al, Which body region's fat accumulation increase the risk of stress urinary incontinence?, European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2026.114957

A new fruit wash removes pesticides and extends shelf life

Researchers have developed a natural, biodegradable wash that removed up to 96% of pesticide residue from fruit and slowed browning and moisture loss. This could mean safer apples, grapes and other fruit that also stays fresh and crisp for days longer. With rising food prices and nearly half of all fresh produce wasted worldwide each year, finding a way to cut pesticide exposure and reduce spoilage could have a big impact. The findings are published in ACS Nano.

The new wash uses tiny particles made from starch—the same carbohydrate found in corn and potatoes—capped in iron and tannic acid. Tannic acid is a plant compound that gives tea and wine their dry taste. When iron and tannic acid join together, they form sticky, sponge-like clusters that can grab onto pesticides and lift them off the fruit's surface.

The team tested the wash by applying three commonly used pesticides to apples at typical, real-world concentrations of about 10 milligrams per liter.

In tests on apples, the wash removed between 86% and 96% of these pesticides. Rinsing with tap water, baking soda or plain starch typically removes less than half.

After washing, the fruit is dipped in the solution once again to form a light edible, biodegradable layer. Fresh-cut apples treated with the coating browned much more slowly and lost less water over two days in the fridge. Whole grapes stayed plump for 15 days at room temperature, compared with noticeable shriveling in untreated grapes.

The coating also showed antimicrobial effects, meaning it can inhibit harmful bacteria.

Tianyi Jin et al, Dual-Function Metal–Phenolic Network-Capped Starch Nanoparticles for Postharvest Pesticide Removal and Produce Preservation, ACS Nano (2026). DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c20410

Could dark matter be made of black holes from a different universe?

A cosmological model proposes that black holes formed before the big bang could have survived a cosmic bounce and now constitute dark matter. This scenario suggests that relic black holes, rather than undiscovered particles, may explain dark matter and account for early massive black holes observed by JWST. The model replaces the big bang singularity with a quantum transition, allowing structures from a previous universe to persist.

https://journals.aps.org/prd/abstract/10.1103/pr4p-6m49

Losing teeth may lead to weight gain, researchers report

Tooth loss and poor oral health, particularly loss of functional molars, are associated with increased risk of weight gain in older adults, likely due to reduced chewing ability and subsequent dietary changes toward higher-calorie, softer foods. Over four years, individuals with fewer teeth had a higher likelihood of gaining at least 5% body weight.

Losing teeth might cause you to gain weight, a new study says.
But, how?
Weight gain is significantly associated with having fewer teeth or losing the bone and gums that support teeth, researchers recently reported in the Journal of Periodontology.

The loss of teeth affects a person's chewing ability, which can limit their healthy food choices, researchers said.

These findings add to the growing body of evidence that periodontal health plays an important role in overall health, especially as we age.
Maintaining healthy teeth and gums supports better nutrition, good habits and improved quality of life later in life.
Tooth loss can cause people to shun healthy fiber-rich foods like fruits and veggies in favor of softer eats that contain more calories, researchers said.

Molars that gnash together while chewing played a key role in weight loss risk, researchers found. People with missing molars had a 17% higher risk of weight gain.

Loss of functional tooth units, especially molars, were associated with higher odds of weight gain among older adults over 4 years," concluded the research team.
People hoping to maintain a healthy weight—or even lose some pounds—should include good oral health as part of their strategy, researchers suggested.

Functional tooth unit, periodontal status, and association with weight change in older adults, Journal of Periodontology (2026). doi.org/10.1002/jper.70100

PFAS directly shown to alter thyroid structure and function

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are used across industries, and are present in waterproof clothing, makeup, carpets, upholstery, cookware, fast-food containers, and myriad other items we encounter in our daily lives.

Long-term exposure to PFOA, PFOS, and GenX PFAS compounds alters thyroid cellular structure and function in mice, disrupts critical signaling pathways including those linked to cancer, and increases thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. These findings provide direct evidence that PFAS exposure induces histological and functional changes in thyroid tissue, implicating PFAS in thyroid disease mechanisms.
PFAS are known for their confirmed and potentially detrimental health effects, which are hard to avoid when PFAS, which are known as "forever chemicals" considering how long they persist in the environment and in the human body (up to decades), are found in the water supply across the globe. As a result, millions of people around the world have PFAS in their blood, and PFAS have been linked to a disruption in the creation and availability of thyroid hormones. Studies also suggest that PFAS exposure increases thyroid cancer risk.
A recent paper sought to further our understanding of the effects of PFAS on the microscopic anatomy or histology of the thyroid. The paper was published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
Digging into the effects of three major PFAS compounds, PFOA, PFOS, and GenX, the paper's authors made three primary findings:

The three PFAS altered the thyroid's cellular function and structure in mice.
The PFAS altered several critical signaling pathways, including several involved in cancers.
PFAS treatment increased the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, which is necessary for the regulation of our metabolism.
These results directly tie PFAS exposure to changes in the histology and functioning of thyroid tissue. They also provided mechanistic clues as to how PFAS are involved in thyroid disease.

Heather A Hartmann et al, PFAS Alter Thyroid Histology and Cellular SignalingIn VitroandIn Vivo, Journal of the Endocrine Society (2025). DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvaf210