A new study suggests younger generations may be aging faster biologically, increasing their risk of early-onset cancers. The findings link larger biological age gaps to cancer risk, highlighting new opportunities for cancer prevention.
Category: biotech/medical
New bacteria-based cooling material could help electronics and EV batteries run cooler
Next-generation electronic devices like newer computers and other high-power devices require more energy to run. When they are working hard, the intense heat they generate can limit their performance and reliability. That’s why scientists are trying to find better and more sustainable materials to help cool devices down.
Weinan Xu, an assistant professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has developed a novel concept for the fabrication and processing of thermal interface materials based on synergistic microbial biosynthesis, which is a way of making useful materials with the help of microbes like bacteria.
Thermal interface materials are specialized substances inserted between electronic and cooling devices to eliminate tiny air pockets so heat can move out of the device faster. By changing how the bacteria are grown and how the material is processed, the material’s ability to move heat, known as thermal conductivity, can be adjusted.
How ‘peacemakers’ of the immune system could unlock long-term disease remission
“Peacemaker” immune cells could help treat diseases ranging from type 1 diabetes to neurodegeneration by restoring immune tolerance, according to a new paper in Frontiers in Science.
From cancer, diabetes and chronic infections to cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and reproductive conditions, inflammation is increasingly cited as a driver of a broad range of diseases. Immune cells called regulatory T cells (Tregs)—originally defined as “suppressor” cells that stop other immune cells from attacking the body—are being explored as “living drugs” that could eventually be adapted to target many diseases with an inflammatory component.
Such an approach, which aims to tailor Treg therapies to specific diseases and tissues, could support more precise control of immune responses. In autoimmune diseases and transplant rejection, Tregs could even help shift treatment from broad immunosuppression, which brings myriad risks, toward restored immune tolerance and longer-term disease control.
Turning low-value diamond dust into high-performance quantum materials
Diamonds have long been coveted for their beauty. Their dazzling color and clarity make them perfect candidates for luxury jewelry. However, it’s their other unique characteristics, including their hardness, thermal conductivity and chemical resistance, that make diamonds suitable for various applications in industry and advanced technologies.
At the quantum scale, carefully engineered diamonds can behave like tiny sensors—able to ‘feel’ magnetic signals from nearby molecules. In simple terms, they can pick up incredibly faint signals that would otherwise be invisible to conventional instruments. This capability could help us detect contaminants in water, identify disease biomarkers and monitor chemical processes in real time.
The project strengthens one of Australia’s most important international science partnerships, bringing together complementary expertise in quantum materials, advanced manufacturing and characterization to accelerate the development of next-generation sensing technologies.
X-ray snapshots reveal how viral shells change shape as they dry out
When viruses travel through the air in tiny droplets, they can quickly start to dry out. Yet many viruses remain infectious after rehydration—something that is still not fully understood. Now, an international team of researchers has directly observed at the European XFEL how the protein shells of viruses can change shape during dehydration, offering new clues to viral resilience and opening new possibilities for virology research. The results, published in Light: Science & Applications, lay the groundwork for potential applications in virology and public health and can, for instance, help develop antiviral strategies.
At the SPB/SFX instrument of the European XFEL, Abhishek Mall from the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter in Hamburg (MPSD) and his colleagues explored the structural dynamics of the protein shells—called capsids—that enclose the genetic material of viruses. Specifically, they examined the behavior of capsids of the bacteriophage MS2 under conditions of dehydration. MS2 is an icosahedral, i.e., shaped by 20 triangular surfaces that form a sphere, single-stranded RNA virus that infects the bacterium Escherichia coli and is widely used as a model system in virology.
The capsid’s design is critical for protecting the viral genome and helping the virus interact with host cells. However, viruses are often confronted with environments that challenge their structural integrity, for example through dehydration. Theoretical studies have long suggested that capsids may undergo low-energy “buckling transitions”—sudden changes in shape—to adapt to such stresses, but direct experimental evidence has been lacking.
Synthetic DNA toolkit expands scientists’ ability to recognize genetic targets
A new method for recognizing and targeting DNA that dramatically expands the range of genetic sequences scientists can identify has been developed by experts at the University of Portsmouth. Published this week in Nature Communications, the research opens new possibilities for gene-targeting technologies, molecular diagnostics and DNA nanotechnology.
Dr. David Rusling, associate professor in bioengineering from the University of Portsmouth’s School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, said, Our lab develops synthetic molecules that can recognize and bind to unique gene sequences. By introducing synthetic DNA bases into these molecules, we’ve been able to significantly improve how they recognize their targets.
I’ve worked in this area for around 20 years, and this is the first time we’ve had a system that combines strong recognition under physiological conditions with building blocks that are commercially available to other researchers.
Artificial DNA tiles could deliver drugs and monitor neurons non-disruptively
Living cells constantly exchange ions (i.e., charged particles) via the thin barrier that surrounds their interior, known as the outer membrane. Neuroscientists and medical researchers have long been trying to devise effective methods to measure this exchange of ions, which is known to be associated with communication between neurons and various other crucial physiological processes.
While techniques developed so far work relatively well, they rely on inserting tiny pipettes or electrodes into cells. These tools inevitably pierce the cells’ outer membranes, damaging cells and disrupting the intracellular milieu and machinery.
Researchers at Purdue University and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign recently nanoengineered new biohybrid devices based on artificial DNA that could be used to track electrical signals sent or received by cells without breaking through the membrane and disrupting their functions.
New modular nanorobot can move, dock to cancer cells, deliver therapy, and be reused
Basel researchers built a modular nanorobot that can move, dock to cancer cells, deliver therapy, and be reused.
Single-dose LSD drug successfully treats depression in key human trial
Disclaimer: Do NOT attempt without proper medical supervision.
In a paradigm-shifting breakthrough, Phase III clinical trials of DT120 — a novel, pharmaceutical-grade formulation of LSD — have demonstrated unprecedented efficacy in treating Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) following just a single dose. The study, encompassing 149 patients, revealed that a one-time administration of DT120 significantly outperformed a placebo, achieving the trial’s primary endpoint by reducing MADRS depression scores by an 8-point margin at six weeks. Remarkably, patients experienced rapid therapeutic relief within just one week, showcasing a massive 14-point advantage over the placebo group. Unlike conventional daily antidepressants that often take weeks to manifest effects, DT120 delivers profound and sustained symptom reduction from a single intervention. Hailed by Definium Therapeutics’ CEO Rob Burrow as a potential “best-in-class” therapy, these groundbreaking findings not only pave the way for expedited regulatory approval but also underscore the transformative potential of psychedelics to fundamentally revolutionize modern mental health care.
Definium Therapeutics has announced strong results in a phase 3 trial of its single-dosed lysergide (LSD) drug DT120 in treating adults with major depressive disorder (MDD), meeting its primary goal and all key secondary efficacy endpoints in the first trial of its kind.
The results come from the Emerge trial, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study featuring 149 participants aged 18 to 74 years enrolled across 20 sites. The participants all met specific MDD measures. They needed to have a DSM-5-confirmed diagnosis of MDD, a Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score of at least 26 and a Clinical Global Impression–Severity (CGI-S) score of at least 4 at screening and baseline.
The study examined the effectiveness of a single 100 µg dose of DT120 ODT compared with a placebo in alleviating MDD symptoms. In 2023, we covered an earlier trial of lysergide, which had shown positive results in treating general anxiety disorder (GAD).