Cells Have a Secret 'Courier System' That Could Open Hard-to-Reach Targets for RNA and Gene Therapies
University College Dublin researchers have identified a previously unknown cellular "courier system" in which nanoparticles acquire a protein‑RNA "condensate corona" that shuttles functional biomolecules between cells. The corona forms a stable droplet that protects its cargo, escapes degradation, and delivers active RNA and proteins to previously inaccessible intracellular locations. By embedding tiny magnets, the team captured the droplets in transit and decoded the messages they carry. The findings, published in Nature Materials, suggest a new platform for precise RNA, gene and protein therapies and raise questions about its role in disease spread.
CRISPR Variant Selectively Targets Tumor DNA
Researchers at Van Andel Institute and Wageningen University have engineered a CRISPR variant, ThermoCas9, that reads DNA methylation patterns to differentiate tumor DNA from healthy DNA. The enzyme selectively cuts methylated cancer sequences while sparing unmethylated normal genes, a finding published...
New Technique Maps Cancer Drug Uptake Inside Living Cells
Researchers at the University of Surrey and King's College London have unveiled a new analytical workflow that maps metal‑based cancer drugs inside living cells. By pairing SEISMIC capillary sampling with laser‑ablation ICP‑MS, they detected trace thallium—used as a surrogate for...
Scientists Turn AI-Generated Proteins Into Smart Molecular Sensors
An international team led by Queensland University of Technology used artificial intelligence to engineer tiny "smart" proteins that activate only when they bind a chosen molecule. Published in Nature Biotechnology, the AI‑designed switches produce color, light or electrical outputs, and...
Hidden Damage in Stony Corals Revealed Using 3D Imaging and AI
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University used X‑ray micro‑computed tomography combined with deep‑learning segmentation to examine the microscopic skeletons of stony corals affected by Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD). By training three U‑Net‑based models on healthy and diseased specimens of...
Researchers Unveil New AI-Driven System Set to Transform Coral Reef Restoration
University of Derby researchers have launched BlueBiome, an AI‑driven platform that merges image analysis, microbiome genetics, and targeted probiotics to monitor coral health. The system can detect early signs of stress such as bleaching, lesions, and pigment changes, addressing the...
Compact CRISPR System Unlocks Targeted In-Body Gene Editing, with up to 90% Efficiency
Researchers at UT Austin have engineered a compact CRISPR enzyme, Al3Cas12f RKK, that fits into AAV vectors and achieves up to 90% editing efficiency in human cells. The enzyme’s small size overcomes the delivery bottleneck that limits most CRISPR systems...
Designing Better Membrane Proteins by Embracing Imperfection
Scientists at the VIB‑VUB Center for Structural Biology discovered that deliberately reducing stability—through “negative design”—can improve the folding of synthetic transmembrane β‑barrel proteins. In cell‑free experiments with lipid vesicles, designs that incorporated subtle destabilizing mutations folded correctly and avoided aggregation,...
AI Can Design and Run Thousands of Lab Experiments without Human Hands. Humanity Isn't Ready
In February 2026 OpenAI and Ginkgo Bioworks reported that GPT‑5 autonomously designed and ran 36,000 biological experiments through a robotic cloud laboratory, slashing protein‑production costs by about 40%. The AI‑driven loop—design, build, test, learn—turns biology into an engineering discipline, enabling...
Inquiry-Based Biomimicry Course Inspires Students to Design Solutions by Learning From Nature
Texas A&M’s biomedical engineering department launched an inquiry‑based biomimicry course that guides students to solve medical‑device challenges by emulating nature. Professor Charles Patrick’s scaffolded model lets students iterate designs throughout the semester, culminating in a nature‑inspired final project. Measured imagination competency...
Hackers Meet Their Match: New DNA Encryption Protects Engineered Cells From Within
Researchers published a new DNA‑level encryption system that scrambles engineered cells' genetic code, making it unreadable until a precise chemical sequence restores it. The lock uses a series of nine chemicals arranged as a two‑digit keypad, yielding 45 possible inputs,...
AI and Drones Can Select the Most Resilient Wheat
Researchers at the University of Barcelona and the Agrotecnio research centre have demonstrated that artificial intelligence combined with drone imaging can pinpoint wheat varieties that are most resilient to climate stress. By scanning thousands of plots, the system rapidly identifies...
Bacteria From Bumblebees Can Produce Vitamin B₂ in Soya Drinks
Researchers at Denmark's Technical University (DTU) used a droplet microfluidics platform to screen the bumblebee gut microbiome, identifying a Lactococcus lactis strain that ferments soy drinks while producing vitamin B₂. The transparent soy medium and fluorescence‑based detection cut screening time from...
Why Experts Say Now Is the Time to Vaccinate US Dairy Cattle Against Bird Flu
The H5N1 bird‑flu virus, which devastated U.S. poultry in 2022, has jumped to dairy cattle, affecting over 1,000 herds in 19 states and generating an estimated $14 billion economic hit, including $4 billion in dairy losses. Researchers argue that vaccinating cattle could...
AI-Designed Proteins Built From Scratch Can Recognize Specific Compounds
Researchers at KAIST, led by Gyu Rie Lee and David Baker, used an AI model to design artificial proteins from scratch that selectively bind specific compounds. The team experimentally validated six de novo binding proteins, including a cortisol‑responsive biosensor that functions as a chemical‑induced...
