Know What's Happening in Science
Know What's Happening in Science
Spike D614 Reversions Detected in Delta and Omicron BA.2 Variants
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba and the Institute of Science Tokyo identified nonrandom reversions of the SARS‑CoV‑2 spike protein from the dominant G614 back to the ancestral D614. The reversions are concentrated in delta and omicron BA.2 lineages and show distinct temporal spikes and geographic clustering.
Researchers at the Broad Institute and partner institutions examined the human DNA virome in over 900,000 individuals, tracking viral loads of common DNA viruses in blood and saliva. The analysis revealed that viral load fluctuates with age, sex, season and lifestyle, and that dozens of genetic loci are linked to these variations. Notably, higher Epstein‑Barr virus (EBV) loads were associated with an increased risk of Hodgkin lymphoma. The study underscores genetics as a key driver of long‑term viral effects beyond initial infection.
A new study published in *Nature* estimates that the United States has caused roughly $10 trillion in global GDP loss from climate damage since 1990, with about a quarter of that loss occurring domestically. China ranks second, responsible for $9 trillion of...
Host-cell proteins (HCPs) remain a persistent impurity risk in biomanufacturing, with regulators demanding levels below 100 ppm in final drug products. Traditional ELISAs measure total HCPs but cannot identify individual proteins, while conventional multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) suffers from retention‑time shifts...
Two new studies published in Nature reveal that dogs were domesticated in Europe by at least 14,200 years ago, pushing the confirmed split from wolves back over 3,000 years. Researchers analyzed ancient DNA from more than 200 dog and wolf...
Researchers at the Broad Institute and Harvard uncovered that chronic intestinal inflammation imprints lasting epigenetic scars on gut cells, even after tissue appears healed. In mouse models, these epigenetic memories persist through many cell divisions and, when paired with a...
Scientists led by Nobel laureate David Julius have mapped the cold‑sensing protein TRPM8 at atomic resolution, revealing how it flips from a closed to an open state as temperatures drop. Using high‑frequency ultrasound extraction, cryogenic electron microscopy, and hydrogen‑deuterium exchange...
A recent case study in the American Journal of Stem Cells reports two healthy live births—one at age 45 and another at 47—using the women’s own eggs after an experimental ovarian rejuvenation protocol. The treatment blends autologous adipose‑derived stem cells...
Intuitive Machines secured its fifth NASA contract, a $180.4 million award to launch the upgraded Nova‑D lunar lander near the Moon’s south pole. The mission, designated IM‑5, will target Mons Malapert, a ridge offering continuous Earth visibility and stable illumination, making...
The National Hurricane Center unveiled two new forecasting tools for the 2026 season: an expanded hurricane‑track cone that now incorporates tropical‑storm and hurricane watches and warnings for inland areas across the continental U.S., Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin...
AccuWeather projects a near‑ to below‑historical‑average Atlantic hurricane season in 2026, forecasting 11 to 16 named storms, four to seven hurricanes and two to four major hurricanes. The outlook anticipates three to five direct U.S. impacts and falls below the...
Early-stage liver cancer survival hinges on timely diagnosis, yet ultrasound and AFP tests miss many cases. Helio Genomics has introduced the HelioLiver blood test, a multi‑analyte cfDNA and protein assay that flags tumor‑associated epigenetic signals earlier than imaging. A new...
Beam Therapeutics announced encouraging Phase 1/2 data for its base‑editing therapy targeting alpha‑1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). The trial demonstrated a 30% reduction in the disease‑causing SERPINA1 mutation and a 45% rise in functional protein levels, while confirming a clean safety profile....
The Iran‑Israel war has disrupted roughly a fifth of global gas flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, driving oil and gas prices higher and reviving calls for renewable investment. Colombian Environment Minister Irene Vélez Torres says the crisis creates a...
A post‑hoc analysis of the SOUL trial shows that once‑daily oral semaglutide (Ozempic pill) significantly improves several cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with type 2 diabetes at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Compared with placebo, participants experienced a 3.2 mm Hg greater...
Yale researchers have engineered a DNA‑origami nanodevice equipped with programmable hairpin springs that apply 5–9 pN tension to target proteins. The platform generates millions of identical units, enabling bulk pull‑down assays and mass‑spectrometry identification of force‑dependent binding partners. Using the talin1...
James McCommons’s new book *The Feather Wars* chronicles how the 1914 death of Martha, the last passenger pigeon, ignited a coalition of hunters, scientists, wardens, artists and politicians to protect America’s birds. The narrative reveals how sport hunters pushed for...
A two‑year, double‑blind COSMOS trial found that a daily multivitamin‑mineral (Centrum Silver) modestly slowed epigenetic aging, translating to roughly four months less biological age over the study period. Researchers measured reductions of 0.214 years in PhenoAge and 0.113 years in GrimAge among 958...
Japanese hygiene giant Unicharm has refined a recycling loop that turns used disposable diapers into raw materials for new products. The process, already piloted in Shibushi and Osaki, cleans, shreds, and separates plastic, fabric pulp and super‑absorbent polymer, then applies...
Researchers have demonstrated that the sulfur‑laden Thiovulum bacteria generate convection patterns without temperature gradients. Their negative buoyancy and asymmetric moment of inertia cause flow‑induced torques that steer swimming direction. In a thin‑gap Hele‑Shaw cell with decreasing oxygen concentration, the microbes...
In‑stent restenosis (ISR) remains a common, costly complication after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A recent cohort of 454 patients evaluated the triglyceride‑total cholesterol‑body weight index (TCBI) alongside traditional metabolic ratios. The analysis showed TCBI achieved the highest predictive accuracy for...
A systematic review and meta‑analysis of 13 randomized trials involving 890 adults found that probiotic supplementation modestly improves subjective sleep quality. The pooled mean difference was –0.59 points on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and –0.86 points on the...
The 2011‑2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study examined eight lipid‑derived indices and their relationship to cardiovascular‑kidney‑metabolic (CKM) syndrome progression in middle‑aged and elderly adults. After adjusting for confounders, seven indices—atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), non‑HDL‑C, NHHR, lipoprotein combined index...
A 12‑week randomized trial with 60 competitive endurance athletes showed that a Mediterranean‑diet intervention markedly altered gut microbiota, boosting alpha diversity and enriching SCFA‑producing genera such as Faecalibacterium and Roseburia. Plasma concentrations of propionate and butyrate rose 42% and 58%...
Researchers applied HS‑GC‑MS, LC‑MS, electronic nose and electronic tongue to characterize chemical and sensory differences among four commercial grades of Atractylodes macrocephala rhizoma. Multivariate analysis identified four volatile and six non‑volatile compounds that consistently distinguished the grades, with terpenoids driving...
A large cross‑sectional study of 7,805 Chinese adults found that CT‑derived visceral fat area (VFA) is the strongest predictor of metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), outperforming body‑mass index (BMI). Men in the highest VFA quartile faced an 11.5‑fold higher...
Regular exercise reduces the likelihood of plaque accumulation in the arteries However, many long-term exercisers appear to have coronary artery calcification, indicating atherosclerosis progression The fascinating thing is that despite the higher plaque, those people still have lower rates of cardiovascular disease...
Scientists in southern China have documented the first confirmed sighting of the critically endangered Hainan hare in northeastern Hainan in four decades, after discovering a flattened carcass on a roadside. The roadkill was found on Pulongxian Highway, about 200 km from...
Novo Nordisk announced that its triple‑agonist candidate UBT251 achieved a mean HbA1c reduction of up to 2.16% after 24 weeks in a phase‑2 study of Chinese patients with type‑2 diabetes. The trial, involving roughly 200 participants, underscores the drug’s potential...
Sarepta Therapeutics reported that early‑stage trials of two experimental drugs, SRP‑1001 and SRP‑1003, demonstrated safety and signs of efficacy for rare muscle‑wasting disorders. The data sparked a more than 20% surge in the company’s stock during early trading. The results...
That rock fell from space on Saturday, burst through roof & ceiling, bounced hard enough off the floor to hit the ceiling again, and finally rattled to a stop. It sure surpised the family - thankfully, no one was hurt....
How good is AI for diagnosing melanoma? A systematic review of 11 studies, 2500 patients, finds accuracy and performance comparable to 50 dermatologists, with promise for broad use requiring further validation @JAMADerm This is important with the big shortage of dermatologists...
Infinity Avionics announced the commercial launch of Aquila, a full‑high‑definition imaging system designed for small satellites. The camera streams 30 FPS video, offers interchangeable lenses, and comes in three price tiers to suit varied mission budgets. Integrated with the company’s BRAIN...
Steady progress towards engineering immune cells in the body now for refractory myeloma , with major implications for many autoimmune diseases and cancers https://t.co/K3IksrCFlg https://t.co/1AQ5rLuH1g
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander has delivered the first private‑sector heat‑flow measurements from the Moon’s nearside, finding subsurface temperatures at Mare Crisium that are nearly identical to those recorded by Apollo 12, 15 and 17. The data contradict the long‑standing hypothesis that the Procellarum...
Axiom Math, a Palo Alto startup, launched Axplorer, a free AI tool that brings the pattern‑discovery power of its earlier supercomputer‑based system, PatternBoost, to a single Mac Pro. The software, open‑source on GitHub, replicated PatternBoost’s Turán four‑cycles breakthrough in just 2.5 hours,...
The association between phenotypic age acceleration and the risk of all-cause and cancer mortality among cancer survivors: NHANES 1999–2018 "Our findings reveal a significant linear correlation between PhenoAgeAccel and both all-cause and cancer-specific mortality in cancer survivors." https://t.co/Rt7v8ECOB6
A new DNA‑methylation (episignature) test can differentiate harmful from benign NOTCH1 variants in congenital heart disease, giving families definitive genetic answers. The assay scans over 740,000 genomic sites to identify a characteristic methylation pattern linked to disease‑causing mutations. Positive results...
A research team led by Cornell University’s Abigail Bohl identified 45 rocky exoplanets that sit in habitable zones, a record haul that sharpens the search for extraterrestrial life and informs upcoming space‑telescope strategies.
In this episode Sean Farrell and his brother Matt discuss the hype and controversy surrounding the so‑called "donut" solid‑state battery unveiled at CES, dissecting the lofty claims of 400 Wh/kg energy density and 100,000‑cycle life that many deem physically impossible. They...
1/ You ran 20,000 differential expression tests. 1,000 genes came back with p < 0.05. How many are real? Maybe 50. Maybe fewer. Most bioinformaticians learn p-values in stats class. Almost nobody learns why they break at scale. Let me explain: https://t.co/btC71ABX5N
Stanford Medicine and the Arc Institute reported that stimulating gut‑brain signaling and altering the microbiome reversed age‑related cognitive decline in mice, making old animals perform on memory tests like their younger peers. The finding points to a new, peripheral route...
Recent analysis by Dr. Steven Novella reaffirms that SARS‑CoV‑2 most likely arose from a zoonotic spillover at Wuhan’s Huanan wet market. The article highlights how dense wildlife supply chains, inter‑species mixing, and poor hygiene create ideal conditions for viral recombination...
Japan's space agency JAXA called off the inaugural flight of its small reusable rocket RV‑X on March 25 after discovering a fault in a connector device. The abort pushes back Japan's timeline for a reusable launch system that could compete...
