Uruski, P., Mikuła-Pietrasik, J., Tykarski, A. et al. Sci Rep 15, 43,463 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-27414-x.
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How imagining a positive encounter can make you like them better
Cardiovascular risk factors can spark inflammation by eliciting misdirected responses of intrinsic vascular cells and leukocytes, culminating in lesion initiation, progression, and complication. Soehnlein and Libby review key underlying inflammatory mechanisms in atherosclerosis and discuss how new understanding based on increasingly sophisticated tools has enabled translation to the clinic.
Ants may hold solution to human superbug, researchers discover
Has a crucial component to the development of human medicine been hiding under our feet? Auburn University Assistant Professor of Entomology Clint Penick and a team of graduate students may have found that ants are far ahead of humans in antibiotic innovation. “In our study, we tested how ants use antibiotic compounds to fight off pathogens and asked why their chemical defenses remain effective over evolutionary time,” Penick said.
“Humans have relied on antibiotics for less than a century, yet many pathogens have already evolved resistance, giving rise to ‘superbugs.’ Ants, by contrast, have been using antibiotics for tens of millions of years, and they might hold the key to using these powerful drugs more wisely.”
Ants as a source of antibiotics The team looked at just six ant species, all found easily in the Southeastern United States.
New memristor-based converter boosts energy efficiency in AI hardware
A cross-institutional team led by researchers from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), under the Faculty of Engineering at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), have achieved a major breakthrough in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) hardware by developing a new type of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that uses innovative memristor technology. The work is published in Nature Communications.
Challenges with conventional AI hardware Conventional AI accelerators face challenges because the essential components that convert analog signals into digital form are often bulky and power-consuming. Led by Professor Ngai Wong, Professor Can Li and Dr. Zhengwu Liu of HKU EEE, in collaboration with researchers from Xidian University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the cross-disciplinary research team developed a new type of ADC that uses innovative memristor technology. This new converter can process signals more efficiently and accurately, paving the way for faster, more energy-efficient AI chips.
Adaptive system and efficiency gains The research team created an adaptive system that automatically adjusts its settings based on the data it receives, i.e., dynamically fine-tuning how signals are converted. This results in a 15.1× improvement in energy efficiency and a 12.9× reduction in circuit area compared with state-of-the-art solutions.
So you’re Finally doing your donations for 2025
Help us help the kids of Ukraine to dream about the future.
Space, hope, and a great cause on the side of freedom. Follow the links. Make the donation, put a telescope, model rocket or robot in the hands of a kid who very badly needs Permission to Dream!
Space4 Ukraine empowers young Ukrainians whose education has been disrupted by war, giving them access to the tools, training, and opportunities they need to rebuild their future—and ours. Because no human potential should ever be wasted.
Noradrenergic control of bone marrow and thymus by AgRP neurons is impaired in experimental multiple sclerosis
In this work, Vigo et al. demonstrate that norepinephrine (NE) promotes myeloid hematopoiesis in BM and regulates thymic Tregs via B3ARs in EAE. B3ARs are controlled by hypothalamic AgRP neurons, which are dysfunctional in EAE. Serum levels of AgRP are elevated in people with MS and correlate with disease severity.
Cold weather concerns: Doctor explains how winter affects children’s immunity and growth
Winter’s chill impacts children’s health, increasing illness and affecting growth due to reduced sunlight, indoor confinement, and dietary shifts. Experts advise parents to prioritize balanced nutrition, adequate sleep, and physical activity. Simple measures like hygiene, vaccinations, and sun exposure are crucial for keeping kids healthy and thriving throughout the colder months.