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Scientists have successfully tested an AI-designed universal coronavirus vaccine in humans for the first time, finding it to be safe and well tolerated. The vaccine generated immune responses against multiple coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, SARS, and related bat viruses with pandemic potential. By targeting features shared across an entire virus family, it aims to provide protection even as viruses evolve.

Scientists have identified genetic variants that may make some people less responsive to GLP-1 drugs used to treat Type 2 diabetes. Roughly 10% of the population carries these variants, which appear to cause a mysterious form of "GLP-1 resistance." In several clinical trials, carriers were significantly less likely to reach healthy blood sugar targets while taking GLP-1 medications.

Cancer and cell aging studies may have relied on antibodies to incorrect molecule

The gut microbiome undergoes dynamic, sex-dependent changes across the lifespan. However, comprehensive studies examining the combined effects of age and sex are limited. This study investigated both compositional and functional alterations in the gut microbiome of young (4 months, n = 14) and aged (20 months, n = 20) C57BL/6 J mice of both sexes using 16S rRNA gene (V3-V5) sequencing. Microbial community structure and predicted functional profiles were analyzed via QIIME2 and PICRUSt2, with...

Here, we review the history, advancements, and broad utility of the NTR/prodrug system, and suggest future strategies for developing versatile ablation models. As a chemogenetic tool, the nitroreductase (NTR)/prodrug system enables precise spatiotemporal control over cell ablation. The technology leverages bacterial NTR enzymes (e.g. nfsB) to convert inert prodrugs into cytotoxic agents, thereby allowing researchers to induce targeted cell death. Although the NTR/prodrug approach was first...

Magnesium is traditionally viewed as a permissive electrolyte required for cellular viability. Emerging evidence, however, reveals a more central role for Mg^(2+) as an active regulator of mitochondrial bioenergetics and metabolic resilience. In this Review, we synthesize recent advances in renal magnesium handling, mitochondrial Mg^(2+) transport, and MgATP chemistry to propose a unifying framework in which magnesium functions as a bioenergetic checkpoint. At the cellular level, Mg^(2+)...

Temporal prediction is the ability to anticipate the likely time of occurrence of events and is important for adaptive behaviour in our everyday lives. Studies indicated that predictive aspects of environmental stimuli can be leveraged to reduce reaction times and enhance stimulus processing. Particularly, a recent study showed that this optimized behaviour is associated with a phase adjustment of ongoing neural oscillations aligning with the expected onset of upcoming stimuli. In ageing, there...

Against the backdrop of an accelerating global aging population, the epidemiological correlation between cognitive impairment and osteoporosis has become increasingly prominent. These two conditions exhibit a profound pathological coupling mediated by the bidirectional regulatory network of the "bone-brain axis." The operation of this axis is rooted in an intricate neuro-skeletal signaling network involving hormonal dysregulation, systemic inflammatory cascades, and the aberrant regulation of...

Radar studies produce contradictory results, complicating efforts to gauge sea level rise in vulnerable areas

Unlike their modern counterparts, Atlas bears were strict vegetarians

A major review of nearly 8,000 participants found that collagen supplements can improve skin health and ease osteoarthritis symptoms, especially when taken consistently over longer periods. Researchers also found modest benefits for muscle and tendon health. But the results challenge claims that collagen enhances sports performance, as it showed little effect on recovery or post-workout soreness.

Poll of nearly 500 scientists reveals how rapid surveys can take researchers’ pulse on controversial topics

A large study of older adults in Brazil found that adding extra salt at the table is still a common habit, especially among men. While too much salt is linked to serious health problems and faster cognitive decline, researchers discovered that women’s salt-shaking habits were tied more closely to lifestyle and diet.

For decades, pancreatic cancer has been one of the most lethal cancers, with few effective treatment options. A new drug, daraxonrasib, targets the KRAS mutation that fuels most pancreatic tumors—something many scientists once thought couldn't be done. In a major clinical trial, the treatment nearly doubled survival for patients with advanced disease and reduced the risk of death by 60%.

Letter also blames Trump for letting China surpass United States in research spending

Whether new neurons contribute to human cognition in old age remains debated. Recently in Cell Stem Cell, Tosoni et al.¹ show that immature-neuron transcriptional programs persist in the aged dentate gyrus and that their molecular state, not simply their abundance, tracks Alzheimer's pathology and cognitive resilience.