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Oxford scientists discover how viruses build themselves without a blueprint
Scientists have captured virus-like particles assembling themselves step by step, revealing how a surprisingly simple process of trial and error produces complex structures with remarkable precision. The discovery uncovers a crucial molecular turning point that speeds up assembly and could lead to new ways to disrupt viruses and develop vaccines.
A revolutionary new microscope could reveal the hidden machinery of life
Researchers have developed a revolutionary microscope that uses an incredibly powerful laser to make previously invisible cellular structures easier to see. The technology dramatically improves image clarity, allowing scientists to examine small proteins that conventional electron microscopes struggle to capture. It could eventually reveal how tiny molecular machines interact inside cells, providing an unprecedented look at the hidden workings of life.
Coffee calories have jumped nearly 40%. Sugar isn't the biggest culprit
Your morning coffee may be packing more calories than you realize, and sugar isn't the biggest reason. A study of 30,000 Americans found that non-dairy creamer has overtaken sugar and milk as the leading source of added coffee calories, helping drive a nearly 40% increase between 2003 and 2018.
Scientists discover a surprising secret behind the human brain’s wrinkles
Scientists have discovered why common marmosets have unusually small, smooth brains despite starting development much like other primates. The secret lies in subtle changes to brain-building cells that slow neuron production, revealing new clues about how the large, folded human brain evolved.
A Cilia-Centered Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD(+)) Signaling Network Regulates Hypothalamic Lysosomal Homeostasis and Metabolic Aging
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD^(+)) is an essential metabolite that regulates diverse cellular metabolic processes. Primary cilia, hair-like organelles on the cell surface, function as critical signaling hubs. Here, we demonstrate that cellular NAD^(+) levels are key regulators of both primary cilia growth and lysosomal function in hypothalamic neurons. NAD^(+) depletion induces ciliary shortening and diminishes lysosomal activity in a cilia-dependent manner. Mechanistically, the...
The Senokine Gas6 Promotes Aortic Valve Calcification Through CaMKII-DRP1-Mediated Terminal Scission of Mitochondrial-Derived Vesicles
Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is an age-associated valvular disorder in which calcification expands from discrete foci into adjacent tissue. We investigated whether mitochondrial-derived vesicles (MDVs) released by human valvular interstitial cells (hVICs) exert pro-calcific effects on recipient cells and how MDV release is regulated. Using ex vivo hemodynamic perfusion of human CAVD tissue, multi-omics profiling, live-cell single-organelle tracking, MDV transfer assays, and in vivo Gas6...
Cellular Senescence Dysregulates Antiviral Interferon Responses in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are highly vulnerable to respiratory virus infections, but the cellular mechanisms linking fibrotic remodeling to impaired local antiviral defense remain unclear. Here, we investigated how cellular senescence shapes the response of patient-derived healthy (HLF) and IPF primary lung fibroblasts to influenza A virus (IAV) infection. Transcriptomic profiling identified infection as the driver of gene expression in both DNA damage-induced senescent...
Is easy-to-read easy for everyone? An eye-tracking study across the adult lifespan
INTRODUCTION: Easy-to-Read (E2R) formatting is widely recommended to improve reading accessibility, yet whether its typographic and structural features benefit visual processing and comprehension across the adult lifespan remains unclear.
Everyday Out-of-Home Activities and Healthy Ageing: A Diary-Based Analysis of Activity Locations, Purposes and Characteristics and Their Relevance to Environmental Design for Ageing-in-Place
CONCLUSION: Social engagement appears to be a critical pathway to health, even if sedentary. Nonetheless, natural spaces are chosen environments for a range of OOH activities. We recommend neighbourhoods be designed with multifunctional natural spaces to encourage mobility during OOH trips, supporting ageing-in-place.
Genome Aging in Women: Hematopoietic Loss of X Chromosome as An Exemplar
Genome aging refers to age-related acquisition and expansion of de novo mutations in somatic cells, and is now increasingly viewed as a central driver of organismal aging. Loss of X chromosome (LOX), the state in which one X chromosome (ChrX) is missing, represents the most common genetically inferred type of acquired mutation in women. Recent technological advancements, along with the growing availability of large-scale cohorts for association studies, have provided powerful new insights into...
Iron at Earth’s heart may take a surprising form
X-ray experiments reveal cubic crystals that could complicate the picture of the inner core
Can maths survive AI? Fields medallist Terence Tao calls for a ‘Maths 2.0’ world
A first for CRISPR: powerful prime editing alters DNA directly in the human body
Current-Driven Molecular Machine with Rotation-Enhanced Conductance
Can a 'lullaby' save coral reefs from extinction?
Teen depression and anxiety predicted by childhood brain development
Natural compound could fight rheumatoid arthritis at its source
A natural compound extracted from a medicinal plant has shown surprising promise against rheumatoid arthritis. In rats, it reduced joint swelling, protected cartilage, and calmed the immune responses responsible for chronic inflammation. Scientists discovered that the compound works by targeting a specific protein and restoring balance to fatty acid metabolism, revealing a previously underexplored way to fight the disease.
A simple 15-minute treatment could help patients avoid carpal tunnel surgery
A simple, steroid-free procedure could offer lasting relief for people struggling with carpal tunnel syndrome, potentially helping them avoid surgery. In a clinical trial involving 63 patients, researchers found that ultrasound-guided hydrodissection, which uses fluid to free a compressed nerve in the wrist, provided longer-lasting improvements in pain, numbness, and hand function than traditional steroid injections.
First human death linked to recently discovered livestock virus in Europe
Scientists stress need for further study of Shamonda virus but say there’s no cause for alarm
People are taking an unapproved weight-loss drug. AI found something surprising
Researchers analyzing nearly 150,000 Reddit posts uncovered unexpected symptom reports linked by users to unapproved versions of retatrutide, including increased appetite, sleep disturbances, and elevated heart rates. The findings differ from clinical trial results and highlight how AI could help identify potential drug safety signals that warrant further investigation.