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Blog – Page 1171

The cost of new gene-based sickle cell treatments isn’t the only barrier to access. Coming up with new ways to treat the whole disease—and person—could make treatment more equitable.

By Shobita Parthasarathy

Last fall, to great fanfare, US regulators approved two gene therapies for sickle cell disease, and the European Union and UK soon followed. Many people hope that these treatments will provide a “functional cure” for the genetic condition, which causes rigid, misshapen red blood cells that lead to anemia, episodes of extreme pain, blood vessel and organ damage, stroke risk and lower life expectancy. These sickle cell therapies also bring us closer to an age of “CRISPR medicine” in which new gene-editing tools could be used to fix a range of debilitating genetic diseases, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy and cancer.

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“There is an urgent need for new methods for antibiotic discovery,” Dr. Luis Pedro Coelho, a computational biologist and author of a new study on the topic, said in a press release.

Coelho and team tapped into AI to speed up the whole process. Analyzing huge databases of genetic material from the environment, they uncovered nearly one million potential antibiotics.

The team synthesized 100 of these AI-discovered antibiotics in the lab. When tested against bacteria known to resist current drugs, they found 63 readily fought off infections inside a test tube. One worked especially well in a mouse model of skin disease, destroying a bacterial infection and allowing the skin to heal.

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“It has been very motivating and inspiring to turn to the notes and drawings of Jupiter and its Permanent Spot made by the great astronomer Jean Dominique Cassini, and to his articles of the second half of the 17th century describing the phenomenon,” said Dr. Agustín Sánchez-Lavega.

Jupiter’s Great Red Spot was first discovered in 1,665 by astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini, and both scientists and the public have been awe-stricken by its beauty and the processes that created it. However, a recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters postulates that the famous spot we’ve adored for so long is not the same spot that Cassini observed centuries ago. This study holds the potential to help astronomers better understand the formation and evolution of Jupiter and the massive cyclonic storms that comprise its giant atmosphere.

For the study, the researchers analyzed historical records of both the initial discovery from Cassini, which was dubbed the “Permanent Spot” (PS) and was observed until 1,713, and the Great Red Spot (GRS), which was first observed in 1831. Combining these historical records with computer models, the researchers determined that the size changes and movements over time of PS contrast those of GRS.

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A new study reveals that magnesium oxide, a key mineral in planet formation, might be the first to solidify in developing “super-Earth” exoplanets, with its behavior under extreme conditions significantly influencing planetary development.

Scientists have for the first time observed how atoms in magnesium oxide morph and melt under ultra-harsh conditions, providing new insights into this key mineral within Earth’s mantle that is known to influence planet formation.

High-energy laser experiments—which subjected tiny crystals of the mineral to the type of heat and pressure found deep inside a rocky planet’s mantle—suggest the compound could be the earliest mineral to solidify out of magma oceans in forming “super-Earth” exoplanets.

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He added: “Their target: follistatin gene therapy. A pioneering technology with the potential to improve muscle and strength [and] slow the speed of aging and many more benefits.”

The millionaire explained that the procedure involves an injection in the stomach and in the buttocks.

It also costs $20,000, so not exactly cheap.

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The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U (GOES-U) is set for launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA ’s Kennedy Space Center.

The satellite, part of NOAA ’s GOES-R series, has undergone significant pre-launch preparations including attachment to the launch vehicle, fueling, and encapsulation. It aims to improve weather forecasting and space weather detection.

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Scientists have achieved groundbreaking brain mapping using ultrasound, detailed in a May 2024 Science Translational Medicine paper. Led by Richard Andersen and Charles Liu, they developed a non-invasive method to monitor brain activity with unprecedented clarity. This innovation, employing an ‘acoustically transparent’ skull window, allows real-time observation of neuronal and blood flow dynamics. The technique promises new insights into brain function and potential advancements in treating neurological disorders, marking a transformative milestone in neuroscience.

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