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X-ray lasers enable the discovery of a critical point in water

Using X-ray lasers, researchers at Stockholm University have been able to determine the existence of a critical point in supercooled water at around −63 °C and 1,000 atmospheres. Ordinary water at higher temperatures and lower pressures is strongly affected by the presence of this critical point, causing the origin of its strange properties. The findings are published in the journal Science.

Water, both omnipresent and essential for life on Earth, behaves very strangely in comparison with other substances. How water’s density, specific heat, viscosity and compressibility respond to changes in pressure and temperature is the complete opposite of other liquids that we know.

All matter shrinks when it is cooled, resulting in an increase in its density. One would therefore expect that water would have a high density at the freezing point. However, looking at a glass of ice water, everything is upside down, since—as we all know—ice cubes float. Strangely enough for the liquid state, water is the densest at 4 degrees C, and therefore it stays on the bottom whether it’s in a glass or in an ocean.

Individual-Level Factors Associated With 10-Year Incidence of Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias in the VA Million Veteran Program

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IPSC-induced multilineage liver organoids, small intestinal organoids and brain organoids sustain pangenotype hepatitis E virus propagation

Liu et al. present via https://bit.ly/4bV6X0s (Original research, Hepatology section).

A major step forward for translational research, this study shows that human organoid systems can support replication of multiple hepatitis E virus genotypes—offering a powerful new platform for studying infection and testing therapies.

Background Hepatitis E virus (HEV), the leading global cause of acute viral hepatitis, lacks robust in vitro models for virology and pathogenesis research.

Objective We evaluated induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-induced human liver, intestinal and brain organoids (hLOs, hIOs and hBOs) as platforms for HEV infection and replication.

Methods Multilineage organoids were infected with clinical HEV genotypes 1, 3 and 4. Viral tropism, host responses and antiviral efficacy were assessed.

Results All organoids supported the complete life cycle of HEV. hLOs exhibited infection in hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, macrophages and stellate cells, accompanied by elevated interleukin-6 levels, impaired hepatic function (reduced secretion of albumin and Factor IX) and increased levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, indicating hepatocellular injury.

Continue reading “IPSC-induced multilineage liver organoids, small intestinal organoids and brain organoids sustain pangenotype hepatitis E virus propagation” | >

Fluid restriction in patients with heart failure: a systematic review

Background Fluid restriction is a commonly prescribed non-pharmacological intervention in the management of heart failure (HF). However, data on its efficacy and safety are scarce. Recent randomised clinical trial (RCT) data prompt reassessment of the available evidence.

Methods CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed and the Cochrane Library were searched up to 1 May 2025. RCTs were included if adults with HF were randomised to fluid restriction in comparison to a liberal or unrestricted intake, less strict restriction or usual care. Outcomes of interest were mortality, HF hospitalisation, quality of life (QoL), thirst distress, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and N-terminal pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (CRD42022292319). No meta-analysis was performed due to high heterogeneity of the included trials.

Results In total, four RCTs were included, comprising 682 randomised inpatient, recently discharged and stable outpatient patients (ranging from 46 to 504 patients per trial). Only one study had a low risk of bias. None of the four trials found a significant difference in mortality or HF hospitalisations. For QoL, the results are contradictory, but overall, there is no clear benefit for fluid restriction, but it resulted in more thirst distress. No significant differences in NYHA class or (NT-pro)BNP were observed.

AlphaFold Can Now Predict Protein Complex Structures at Scale

As proteins perform complicated tasks inside a cell, they rarely act alone.

Now, researchers have added structural information for almost 2 million protein complexes to the AlphaFold Database.

In an ambitious collaboration, researchers added 1.8 million high-confidence protein complex structure predictions to the AlphaFold Database, accelerating molecular biology research.

Robots that refuse to fail: AI evolves ‘legged metamachines’ that reassemble and withstand injury

Northwestern University engineers have developed the first modular robots with athletic intelligence. They can be combined and recombined in the wild, recover from injury and keep moving no matter what’s thrown at them.

Called “legged metamachines,” the creations are made from autonomous, Lego-like modules that snap together into an endless number of configurations. Each module by itself is a complete robot with its own motor, battery and computer. Alone, a module can roll, turn and jump. But the real agility and indestructibility emerges when the modules combine.

The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Space launches are changing the chemistry of Earth’s atmosphere, studies warn. Here’s what can be done

Look up on a clear night and you’ll see the streaks of our new space age. What you don’t see is the growing fallout for the atmosphere that keeps us alive.

A wave of satellite launches and reentries is changing the chemistry and physics of the middle and upper atmosphere.

Studies warn of ozone depletion, stratospheric heating and new metal aerosols from burning spacecraft. The pace is accelerating fast and unless we redesign how we use and retire satellites, we risk swapping one environmental problem (congestion in Earth orbit from too many spacecraft) for another (an atmosphere seeded with rocket soot and satellite ash).

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