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AI could undermine scientific independence in subtle ways
Preprints must not leak sensitive research information
The Great Barrier Reef requires special attention in the developing super El Niño
Maintaining global science collaboration during conflict requires fairer rules
The birth of neutrino astronomy nets Nobel Prize in Physics
Francis Halzen honored for the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, which discovers ghostly particles from the distant universe and tracks their origins
Exclusive: Archaeology megafirm abruptly shuts down
Chronicle Heritage was largest U.S. cultural resources management company
A few drops of this Japanese tree oil may help you sleep more soundly
In a small study, sleeping near the scent of Hinoki root essential oil was linked to fewer nighttime awakenings, better morning alertness, and brain-wave changes associated with smoother sleep onset. The findings suggest an overlooked forestry byproduct could someday become a natural ingredient in sleep and relaxation products.
Possible plague death at a Siberian lab baffles scientists
Much is unclear about the tragedy, but plague researchers say there is “zero” chance of an epidemic
November elections may bring little relief for scientists beleaguered by Trump
If Democrats win one or both chambers of Congress, investigations are likely, but meaningful change may be elusive
‘Complete devastation’: How NSF gutted its social sciences research
Agency body that funds sociology, linguistics, and archaeology studies in U.S. gave 90% fewer new grants this year
MIT scientists find a hidden cancer risk of the keto diet
A ketogenic diet increased small-intestinal tumors in cancer-prone mice while reducing tumors in the colon, revealing a strikingly different response within neighboring parts of the gut. Researchers traced the increased risk not to ketones, but to the way intestinal stem cells processed the diet’s high levels of fat. That fat-burning activity pushed the cells to multiply more rapidly, potentially raising the chance of cancerous changes.
Scientists reveal what seven days of fasting does to the human body
Scientists found that prolonged fasting triggers major changes throughout the body, but many of the most interesting effects only appeared after about three days without food. The results suggest fasting may influence health in ways that go beyond weight loss and could eventually inspire treatments that mimic its effects.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation Could Help New Skills Stick
Stimulating the vagus nerve after practice helped mice develop stronger long-term motor learning, revealing a potentially important window when the brain is still locking in a new skill. The effect was linked to rhythmic changes in brain blood vessels, hinting that body-to-brain signals may help prepare the brain for lasting change.
Scientists just found a way to fight lung cancer and muscle wasting at the same time
A new nanoparticle therapy reduced lung tumors in mice while also targeting cachexia, the severe muscle wasting that can accompany cancer. By delivering follistatin mRNA directly to tumors, the approach could eventually offer a way to fight both the disease and one of its most dangerous complications.
How did Rosalind Franklin miss the helix in her iconic DNA image? She didn’t
New analysis refutes James Watson’s claim he was first to recognize significance of famed photograph 51
Scientists discover a human brain gene that can jump through DNA
Scientists have discovered a human gene with a remarkable double life: it appears to play an important role in brain cells while still retaining the ability to jump around the genome. Called BC200, the gene evolved millions of years ago from a mobile piece of DNA known as a transposon, but unlike most genes that arose this way, it never lost its mobility. Researchers even found BC200 embedded inside a human poxvirus, suggesting it may have jumped from infected skin cells into the virus.
Decoding epithelial-mesenchymal transitions with multi-omics
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a highly dynamic and plastic cellular programme essential for embryonic development, tissue repair and ageing, and it is co-opted in pathological conditions such as cancer and fibrosis. The continuum of intermediate states and pronounced cellular heterogeneity that characterize EMT have historically limited systematic investigation across regulatory layers, including the transcriptome, epigenome, proteome and metabolome. Recent advances in...
Chaperone-mediated autophagy in physiological homeostasis, disease and ageing
Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), the first-described selective lysosomal degradation pathway, is distinguished from other degradative pathways by the unique mechanism by which substrates reach the lysosomal lumen: CMA relies on a cytosolic targeting chaperone and a lysosomal membrane receptor that doubles as a translocation complex. In this Review, we highlight recent discoveries of additional molecular components involved in CMA and describe how genetic and pharmacological modulation of CMA...
Towards a systematic understanding of the diverse subtypes, biogenesis and functions of large extracellular vesicles
Large extracellular vesicles (lEVs) are heterogeneous structures with sizes that exceed 200 nm. Unlike small extracellular vesicles, which originate from either the endosomal system or the plasma membrane, most lEVs stem directly from the plasma membrane, although the various lEV subtypes have distinct biogenesis pathways. Emerging findings have helped to update lEV classification and have provided insights into lEV biogenesis, cargo, physiological functions and relevance in disease. Classical...
Decline of chaperone-mediated autophagy in aging impairs macrophage clearance of senescent cells
Autophagy dysfunction and senescence are established drivers of aging, but their potential interaction remains poorly understood. Here we show that age-related decline of chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), a pathway for selective lysosomal protein degradation, changes senescent cell properties and impairs their immune clearance. CMA-deficient cells undergo senescence but acquire proteomic, metabolic and secretory features resembling those in aged senescent cells. Their senescence-associated...