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A single protein may be holding back CAR T cancer therapy
A newly identified protein may be one of the biggest obstacles holding CAR T-cell therapy back. Researchers found that NFIL3 causes these engineered immune cells to become exhausted and lose their cancer-fighting power over time. When NFIL3 was disabled, the cells remained stronger for longer and controlled tumors more effectively in animal models.
Scientists discover gut bacteria that may help protect against autism and ADHD
A major study suggests that some of the groundwork for brain development may be shaped before birth through a surprising partnership between a baby’s genes and gut microbes. Researchers found that epigenetic changes present at birth can influence how the gut microbiome develops during the first year of life, and certain combinations were linked to early signs of autism and ADHD by age three.
The autophagy-inhibitory tissue hormone DBI/ACBP contributes to the pathogenesis of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in septic shock
Systemic microbial infection leading to septic shock with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is a major cause of mortality and represents a substantial unmet medical need. We recently observed that, compared with uninfected controls, patients with septic shock exhibit significantly elevated circulating concentrations of the tissue hormone acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP), encoded by the diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) gene, a potent inhibitor of autophagy. Increased plasma DBI/ACBP...
Radical proposal would block solar storms with orbital ‘airbag’
Gases released from satellites could slash the threat of severe space weather
Your brain starts making social decisions before you do
Researchers found that social behavior begins in the brain before it becomes visible as movement. In zebrafish, a coordinated pattern of activity spread across the brain several seconds before the animals approached another fish. A higher brain region called the pallium played a key role, and fish with stronger neural signals were generally more social.
Exclusive: NSF watchdog unit is no longer investigating research misconduct
New policy hands universities the reins in probing allegations against faculty
‘Virtual cells’ aim to turn raw data into predictive models of biology
Better diagnostics could have limited this Ebola outbreak
Will AI ruin the social sciences — or revolutionize them?
The future of science communication is not an article like this
Is it time to ‘cap and trade’ credits for research-funding proposals?
Power imbalances in adviser–student relationships need safeguarding
Remembering inventor and activist Hertha Ayrton
Natural capital accounting needs a way to assess uncertainty
Global plastics treaty must be built on a foundation of monitoring
Publisher Correction: White matter micro- and macrostructure brain charts for the human lifespan
Author Correction: CHIT1-positive microglia drive motor neuron ageing in the primate spinal cord
One fat helped pancreatic cancer grow while another cut disease in half
A surprising new study suggests that when it comes to pancreatic cancer, the kind of fat you eat may matter more than how much. Researchers found that oleic acid—the main fat in olive oil and several other common foods—sped up tumor growth in mice predisposed to pancreatic cancer, while omega-3-rich fats from fish oil dramatically slowed disease development.
Brain mapping effort searches for roots of Parkinson’s and other diseases
Allen Institute initiative aims to capture earliest cellular changes and identify new drug targets
This common amino acid helped mice survive deadly inflammation
A Salk Institute study found that a simple dietary amino acid, methionine, dramatically improved survival in mice facing severe infections and inflammatory conditions. Rather than directly targeting the immune system, methionine boosted kidney filtration, helping the body flush out excess inflammatory molecules that can cause tissue damage, brain dysfunction, wasting, and death.