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Furthermore, GDF-15 levels have been positively associated with the aging process. In fact, Tanaka et al. (Tanaka et al. 2018) showed that this cytokine had the strongest positive correlation with age in humans, and several reports describe higher levels of GDF-15 in older individuals (Semba et al. 2020; Doerstling et al. 2018; Liu et al. 2020). Aging is characterized by a decline in physiological function and changes in body composition, being a major risk factor for a variety of chronic diseases. As such, GDF-15 is also associated with several age-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease (Echouffo-Tcheugui et al. 2021), cancer (Wischhusen et al. 2020), metabolic syndrome (Ho et al. 2023; Carballo-Casla et al. 2022), or diabetes (Ouyang et al. 2020; Merchant et al. 2023), among others (Candia et al. 2021; Iglesias et al. 2023). In addition, it has been proposed as a biomarker for the risk of death in patients with cardiovascular conditions and an accurate all-cause mortality marker (Candia et al. 2021; Iglesias et al. 2023; Nopp et al. 2021). GDF-15 has also been positively associated with deteriorated muscle function and sarcopenia (Semba et al. 2020; Kim et al. 2022, 2020; Nakajima et al. 2019; Lee et al. 2022), a highly prevalent condition among the elderly that increases the risk of frailty (Picca et al. 2020).

It is widely accepted that human aging may be influenced by epigenetic alterations (López-Otín et al. 2023). In this sense, age biomarkers based on DNA methylation have proven useful in predicting the risk of age-related diseases and mortality (Fransquet et al. 2019). Among several developed epigenetic clocks, DNAm GrimAge has shown a higher prediction capacity of mortality and morbidity risk (Lu et al. 2022). Notably, GDF-15 is one of the markers included for the calculation of this clock (Lu et al. 2019). Thus, understanding the interplay between GDF-15 and aging can be crucial for improving the assessment of and management of age-associated conditions.

For all this, the aim of this study was to characterize the changes in circulating GDF-15 levels with age in a population of healthy individuals from the Balearic Islands and investigate its potential associations with different epigenetic and biological clocks, physical performance and other age-related biomarkers.

The mystery of dark matter could be solved in as little as 10 seconds.

When the next nearby supernova goes off, any gamma-ray telescope pointing in the right direction might be treated to more than a light show – it could quickly confirm the existence of one of the most promising dark matter candidates.

Astrophysicists at the University of California, Berkeley predict that within the first 10 seconds of a supernova, enough hypothetical particles called axions could be emitted to prove they exist in a relative blink.

Mayo Clinic researchers have identified interleukin-23 receptor (IL-23R) as a significant biomarker of cellular senescence and aging in both mice and humans. Experiments show that IL-23R levels in the bloodstream increase with age and can decrease, reflecting senescent cell clearing, with senolytic therapies.

Cellular senescence occurs when cells stop dividing but do not trigger apoptosis mechanisms that would allow them to die naturally. Instead, they are stuck in a zombie-like state, where they still have the urge to feed and carry out metabolic activities, but with increasingly incoherent cell signaling and increased pro-inflammatory cytokine secretions.

Senescent cell activity has been linked to several age-related diseases, including those of the immune, cardiovascular, metabolic, pulmonary, musculoskeletal and neurological systems.

AI’s impact extends beyond operational efficiency; it is vital in boosting job satisfaction and retention among hourly workers. Inconsistent scheduling and poor communication have long been pain points for this group, especially as one in five Gen-Z workers juggles multiple jobs (poly-employment). AI will directly address the challenges associated with this shift through predictive scheduling and real-time updates, providing clear and reliable expectations. It’s truly a win-win: When employees are on time, customers receive the quality service they deserve.

The World Economic Forum predicts that 23% of global jobs will change in the next five years due to industry shifts, including AI. Through AI, employees can receive support with ongoing training and development tailored to their unique needs and career goals. By providing accessible, on-demand learning, it empowers workers to upskill and grow within their roles, fostering a sense of progress and fulfillment. These resources are essential for Gen-Z, who prioritize personal growth and are likelier to stay with employers who invest in their development.

As we look toward the future, it’s clear that AI is not just a tool for corporate jobs but also a powerful ally for the hourly workforce. By embracing AI, businesses can meet diverse employee needs, enhance productivity and create work environments that are technologically advanced and genuinely supportive. However, for AI to reach its potential in workplaces, industry-wide standards around data transparency and ethical practices are essential.

Scientists have simulated a groundbreaking solution to boost fusion efficiency by eliminating “slow modes,” unhelpful waves that waste energy during plasma heating.

Using 2D simulations, researchers demonstrated how a slight tilt in the Faraday screen can enhance energy transfer, bringing us closer to sustainable fusion energy.

Heating plasma for fusion: the challenge.

Teams designing AI should include linguistics and philosophy experts, parents, young people, everyday people with different life experiences from different socio-economic backgrounds.

• Ethics: As AI gets more powerful, we need to address ethics such as bias in algorithms, misuse, privacy and civil liberties.

• AI Regulation: Governments and organizations will need to develop regulations and guidelines for the responsible use of AI in cybersecurity to prevent misuse and ensure accountability.

AI is a game changer in cybersecurity, for both good and bad. While AI gives defenders powerful tools to detect, prevent and respond to threats, it also equips attackers with superpowers to breach defenses. How we use AI for good and to mitigate the bad will determine the future of cybersecurity.

A team of biologists in Montana and Germany has found that, regardless of type, those insects that express a protective stick-or leaf-like appearance all evolved the same basic body parts. In their study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Romain Boisseau, Douglas Emlen and Sven Bradler measured and compared characteristics from 1,359 stick insects covering 212 stick and leaf species and assessed the possibility of predicting evolutionary change.

Prior evidence has shown that similar physical characteristics can evolve in unrelated creatures, a process called convergent evolution. For this new study, the researchers looked at two specific types of insects to learn more about how convergence works. They discovered that stick-and leaf-imitating insects had all evolved the same 20 basic body features, including body shape, head shape and lobster-like features. In all cases, they noted, the features had evolved to help the insects blend into the background to avoid being eaten by predators.

Something else the team learned was that because the same body parts kept evolving in different insects, they could predict how some modern insects will evolve. The key was looking at the environmental factors that led to changes that had already occurred. Creatures that live in similar environments, they note, tend to evolve in similar ways, including their means of camouflage. This tends to be the best way to avoid predators.

The innovation offers potential advancements in diagnosing conditions like arrhythmia and Alzheimer’s.

Researchers at MIT have unveiled a biosensing technique that uses tiny, wireless antennas to monitor electrical signals in biological systems with unprecedented precision.

By eliminating the need for wires and amplifiers, the innovation simplifies cellular studies, offering potential advancements in diagnosing conditions like arrhythmia and Alzheimer’s and enabling more targeted treatments.

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