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Snake embryos often coil in one direction. Now, we may know why
Mismatch between growth of body and digestive system bends the body, study suggests
Mapping structural aging across human tissues reveals tissue-specific trajectories and coordinated deterioration
Multimorbidity patterns influence mobility disability prevention in frail older adults from the SPRINTT trial
Why are rich people so pessimistic? What the numbers say
The leap second is dead. Long live the leap hour?
Order from disorder: do we need a new law of physics?
What’s your lab’s archetype? The answer could inform how you use AI
Scale of snakebites estimated globally
In autism advisory committee’s funding plan, critics see a veiled antivaccine focus
The new plan, marked by a turbulent rollout and vote, urges more research on poorly understood “regression” to autism
Russia bets on new research facilities to rebuild foreign ties
As Ukraine war drags on, a new synchrotron and two other megaprojects aim to attract scientists from “friendly” nations
Common supplements rival antibiotics for severe gum disease
Omega-3 and low-dose aspirin matched the effectiveness of antibiotics in a year-long study of patients with severe gum disease, with both approaches helping about 58% reach the treatment goal. The unexpected result could point to a new way to treat some patients while reducing reliance on antibiotics and the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
HEPA air purifiers may boost brain function after just one month
Adults aged 40 and older performed about 12% faster on a test of executive function after using a HEPA air purifier at home for one month. The findings suggest that cleaner indoor air could offer a simple way to help protect the brain from the effects of traffic-related pollution.
A machine learning framework for predicting and modulating condition-dependent protein phase separation
Protein phase separation is a fundamental process in organizing membraneless organelles and is implicated in pathological conditions. Importantly, this process is dynamic and depends on conditions such as concentration, temperature, and solvent composition. However, current machine learning models infer phase separation propensity solely from amino acid sequences, failing to capture these context-dependent behaviors. Here we show that LLPSense, a machine learning framework that integrates...
A massively parallel CRISPR-based screening platform for modifiers of neuronal depolarization
Understanding the complex interplay between gene expression and neuronal activity is crucial for unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying cognitive function and neurological disorders. Here, we developed pooled screens using CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) and the fluorescent calcium integrator CaMPARI2 to evaluate genetic modifiers of neuronal depolarization. Using this screening method, we evaluated 1343 genes for their effect on depolarization in a human iPSC-derived neuron model,...
Where the river turns old: urbanized deltas imprint a fossil signature on black carbon exported to the ocean
Black carbon (BC) from biomass burning is a key component of the global carbon cycle, and radiocarbon (^(14)C) age of riverine BC is commonly used to constrain its terrestrial residence time. However, whether ^(14)C-free BC from fossil sources significantly contributes to riverine BC and biases these ages remains unclear. Here, we track dissolved and particulate BC (DBC, PBC) along a river continuum from forested headwaters to an urbanized estuary. This urbanization gradient allows us to...
All-small-molecule Hydrogels for Safe and Efficient Photoprotection
Long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause sunburn, skin aging, and skin cancers. Conventional sunscreens typically combine organic UV filters and inorganic particles for photoprotection, yet concerns remain regarding skin penetration, systemic effects, and reactive oxygen species generation. Inspired by natural photoprotective mechanisms in plants, we develop a series of all-small-molecule sunscreen hydrogels based on natural polyphenols through a facile one-pot assembly...
Age-related biochemical profiling reveals multi-system physiological decline in the annual fish Nothobranchius guentheri
Annual killifishes of the genus Nothobranchius compress a vertebrate life cycle into a few months, which is what makes them useful in aging research, yet no broad biochemical description of ageing exists for N. guentheri. In a cross-sectional design, we measured 27 clinical chemistry analytes in whole-body homogenates of male and female fish sampled at 3, 6 and 9 months of age (20 analytical samples). Age trends were assessed by Spearman rank correlation, and age, sex and their interaction by...
Higher Frontal Cortex Angiotensin Type 2 Receptor-Interacting Protein (ATIP) Levels Are Associated With a Lower Amyloid-Beta Burden in Postmortem Brains of Older Adults With Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau accumulation. Dysregulation of the brain renin-angiotensin system, particularly hyperactivation of the angiotensin II type-1 receptor, contributes to AD pathogenesis. In contrast, activation of the angiotensin II type-2 receptor (AT(2)R) has been linked to neuroprotection and reduced Aβ accumulation. However, the underlying mechanisms of AT(2)R-related Aβ reduction and the role of...
SIRT1 Silences L1 Retrotransposons by Stabilizing Heterochromatin-Modifying Complexes
SIRT1, a sirtuin family member, has been extensively documented to be closely linked to aging and aging-related disease. Cellular senescence is a state of irreversible cell cycle arrest that functions as a key driver of aging. During cellular senescence, LINE-1 (L1) retrotransposable elements become transcriptionally activated and stimulate a type-I interferon (IFN-I) response. L1 activity has been strongly linked to aging and a variety of age-related disorders. However, whether SIRT1 influences...