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New 3D map of the sun’s magnetic interior could improve predictions of disruptive solar flares

For the first time, scientists have used satellite data to create a 3D map of the sun’s interior magnetic field, the fundamental driver of solar activity. The research, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, should enable more accurate predictions of solar cycles and space weather that affects satellites and power grids.

The sun is more than just a fiery hot ball of hydrogen and helium gas. It is a giant magnetic star. Beneath the surface is a magnetic layer that is responsible for everything from the dark spots we see on its face to violent flares that erupt into space. Because of the disruption caused by solar storms, we need to know what is going on inside. We can’t directly observe the interior, so to date we have relied on models that depend on simplified assumptions. But these can be inaccurate.

To get a better idea of what is going on inside the sun, researchers from India fed 30 years of daily magnetic maps from satellites (from 1996 to 2025) into a sophisticated 3D model of the solar dynamo, the physical process that generates the sun’s magnetic field. By using this real-world data, they could track how magnetic fields move deep beneath the surface, where satellites cannot penetrate.

Geometry behind how AI agents learn revealed

A new study from the University at Albany shows that artificial intelligence systems may organize information in far more intricate ways than previously thought. The study, “Exploring the Stratified Space Structure of an RL Game with the Volume Growth Transform,” has been published online through arXiv.

For decades, scientists assumed that neural networks encoded data on smooth, low-dimensional surfaces known as manifolds. But UAlbany researchers found that a transformer-based reinforcement-learning model instead organizes its internal representations in stratified spaces—geometric structures composed of multiple interconnected regions with different dimensions. Their findings mirror recent results in large language models, suggesting that stratified geometry might be a fundamental feature of modern AI systems.

“These models are not living on simple surfaces,” said Justin Curry, associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics in the College of Arts and Sciences. “What we see instead is a patchwork of geometric layers, each with its own dimensionality. It’s a much richer and more complex picture of how AI understands the world.”

Chill brain-music interface: Using brain signals to enhance the emotional power of music

Musical chills are pleasurable shivers or goosebump sensations that people feel when they resonate with the music they’re listening to. They reduce stress and have beneficial side effects, but they are difficult to induce reliably. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a practical system that uses in-ear electroencephalography sensors to measure the brain’s response to music in real time and provide music suggestions that enhance chills.

Most people are familiar with “musical chills”—a sudden, involuntary shiver or goosebump sensation that occurs when a song resonates perfectly with one’s emotions. These chills are not just a surface-level feeling, but a profound neurological event. When we experience intense musical pleasure, parts of the brain’s reward system activate in a manner similar to how they would respond to life-affirming stimuli, such as beloved foods or positive social connections.

However, despite the universal nature of the experience, musical chills are difficult to trigger reliably. This limits our ability to harness their psychological and physiological benefits, even with today’s on-demand access to vast libraries of music.

Dr. Chris Oswald — Precision Nutrition, Epigenetics & Practitioner-Led Longevity Care

Precision Nutrition, Epigenetics & Practitioner-Led Longevity Care — Dr. Chris Oswald — Head of Medical Affairs, Pure Encapsulations, Nestlé Health Science.

Dr. Chris Oswald, DC, CNS, is Head of Medical Affairs for Pure Encapsulations (https://www.pureencapsulations.com/), part of Nestlé Health Science family. He is a chiropractor, certified nutrition specialist and certified functional medicine practitioner and has been treating patients since 2007.

At Pure Encapsulations, Dr. Oswald leads medical education, scientific strategy, and innovation across well-known professional brands including Pure Encapsulations, Douglas Labs, Klean Athlete, Genestra, and others. In this role, he sits at the intersection of clinical science, practitioner education, and product innovation — translating complex evidence into practical tools that help healthcare professionals practice more confident, personalized nutritional medicine.

Dr. Oswald’s clinical work, in combination with his work in professional dietary supplement companies, gives him unique insight into the creation of clinically useful tools and education to support the unique needs of clinicians and patients in functional, integrative and natural health.

Before joining Pure Encapsulations, Dr. Oswald held senior leadership roles across the nutraceutical and health tech landscape, including Chief Science Officer, Head of Product Innovation and R&D, Head of Operations, Interim Head of Sales, and VP of Nutraceuticals at companies like January AI and Further Food. Across those roles, he’s led everything from supply chain and regulatory strategy to product development, claims substantiation, and national practitioner education.

Continue reading “Dr. Chris Oswald — Precision Nutrition, Epigenetics & Practitioner-Led Longevity Care” | >

Down syndrome’s unique cancer risk profile mapped across lifespan

Children with Down syndrome have a significantly increased risk of leukemia, while adults have a lower risk of several common solid tumors, according to a new register study from Karolinska Institutet published in the British Journal of Cancer. The results may contribute to more tailored cancer screening guidelines.

In a large, Swedish population-based register study, the risk of different cancer types in individuals with Down syndrome was mapped across the lifespan. The results show a markedly increased risk of leukemia during childhood, with a nearly 500-fold increased risk of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) before age 5, and a 20-fold increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Despite this, only 2.5% of all individuals with Down syndrome developed leukemia during childhood.

In adulthood, however, a clearly reduced risk was observed for most solid tumors, including breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, and gynecological cancers, as well as melanoma. Although the study showed an overall lower cancer risk in adults, there was an increased risk of testicular cancer, as well as new associations between Down syndrome and certain rare forms of bone cancer.

Electronic informed consent in research on rare diseases sees strong participant interest

Research on rare diagnoses and the development of precision medicine depend on patients being able to share their health data in a secure and ethical manner. The research study, published in Scientific Reports, in which a digital platform was developed to collect electronic informed consent, shows that many participants want to contribute to research and appreciate the digital solution, but also that the technology needs further development.

A digital consent platform was tested at three centers in Sweden, Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Lund. More than 2,200 individuals who had previously undergone whole-genome sequencing were invited to give consent electronically for research and data sharing.

For those who lacked an electronic identity verification system, or who preferred traditional methods, paper-based consent was also available. As a comparison, a national patient cohort within Undiagnosed Diseases Network Sweden (UDN Sweden) was studied, where recruitment took place in close collaboration with patient organizations.

Sprint or marathon? Aging muscle stem cells shift from rapid repair to long-term survival

Aging muscles heal more slowly after injury—a frustrating reality familiar to many older adults. A UCLA study conducted in mice reveals an unexpected cause: Stem cells in aged muscle accumulate higher levels of a protein that slows their ability to activate and repair tissue, but helps the cells survive longer in the harsh environment of aging tissue.

The findings, published today in the journal Science, suggest that some molecular changes associated with getting older may actually be protective adaptations rather than purely detrimental effects.

“This has led us to a new way of thinking about aging,” said Dr. Thomas Rando, senior author of the new study and director of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA.

The Path to Scalable Psychiatric Gene Therapy and a Future of Cures for Widespread Mental Illnesses

Hey everyone! I wrote a proposal on creating massively scalable gene therapy delivery systems towards unlocking cures for widespread debilitating psychiatric diseases! Would love for folks to take a read and provide constructive suggestions to iterate this vision. [ https://substack.com/home/post/p-186453159]

Restoring joy to a billion lives.

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