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Agency drops attempt to mitigate risk in favor of outright prohibition on working with most Chinese research institutions

Scientists have redesigned a key piece of MRI hardware using metamaterials, allowing existing scanners to produce clearer images of difficult-to-see parts of the body in less time. The breakthrough could improve diagnoses, make scans more comfortable, and open the door to new medical imaging and treatment applications.

Malaria, not poisoning, killed a prominent 16th century duke

A naturally occurring bacterium from amphibian intestines completely eliminated colorectal tumors in mice with a single treatment by both attacking cancer cells and activating the immune system. The findings point to a promising new type of cancer therapy that could one day work against many solid tumors.

Scientists found that a modified Mediterranean-style diet with low protein and just enough methionine helped mice live healthier lives while reducing body fat and frailty. Human data also linked lower animal protein intake to lower rates of obesity and Type 2 diabetes, suggesting the approach could benefit people as well.

Shrunken version of Archimedes screw could allow researchers to move molecules around at tiny scales

A new study debunks the long-standing claim that baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous than adults. Researchers found that young rattlesnakes can control their venom just like adults, while adult snakes usually inject much more venom and cause more serious bites. The team also uncovered how the myth spread through decades of inaccurate news reports and misleading quotes from trusted sources.

New X-Labs initiative aims to develop breakthrough technologies—but academics aren’t sure they are welcome

Researchers found that mRNA cancer vaccines can recruit an unexpected immune cell to launch powerful tumor-fighting responses, overturning a long-held assumption about how the vaccines work. The discovery could lead to more effective cancer vaccines and help scientists tailor treatments for better patient outcomes.

Human aging is a heterogeneous, multi-system process that spans molecular, tissue, and physiological decline. In this issue of Cell, Li et al. integrate clinical data, multi-omics, and organ-associated signatures to construct a multi-layer framework for quantifying biological aging across scales.

CONCLUSIONS: Irisin represents a promising link between muscle-derived signaling and immune resilience. While clinical application is currently hindered by assay variability and a need for larger human cohorts, its role in modulating both immunosenescence and acute sepsis pathophysiology marks it as a possible prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in the vulnerable aging population.

BACKGROUND: Chronic low-grade inflammation ("inflammaging") is a key driver of age-related pathologies including cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and metabolic syndrome. Diet plays a dual role in modulating this process, acting both as a source of pro-inflammatory molecular patterns and as a delivery system for geroprotective compounds.