Scientists at the University of Glasgow have harnessed a powerful supercomputer, normally used by astronomers and physicists to study the universe, to develop a new machine learning model which can help translate the language of proteins.
In a new study published in Nature Communications, the cross-disciplinary team developed a large language model (LLM), called PLM-Interact, to better understand protein interactions, and even predict which mutations will impact how these crucial molecules “talk” to one another.
Early tests of PLM-interact, a protein language model (PLM), show that it outperforms competing models in understanding and predicting how proteins interact with one another. The team’s research demonstrates PLM-interact could help us better understand key areas of medical science, including the development of diseases such as cancer and virus infection.
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The Nobel Prize in Physics was just awarded to quantum physics pioneers John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis for discoveries they made at UC Berkeley in the 1980s. They proved that quantum tunneling, where subatomic particles can break through seemingly impenetrable barriers, can also occur in the macroscopic world of electrical circuits. So yes, Schrödinger’s cat really could die.
In a breakthrough that could offer new hope to millions experiencing hair loss, researchers from National Taiwan University (NTU) have developed a rub-on serum that reportedly restores hair growth within 20 days. The innovative formulation, derived from natural fatty acids, has shown remarkable results in early laboratory tests and even in limited self-experiments by the study’s lead researcher.
The serum works by stimulating fat cells in the skin to regenerate hair follicles — a process inspired by the body’s natural response to irritation and injury. This mechanism, known as hypertrichosis, has long been linked to increased hair growth following skin damage or inflammation.
According to Professor Sung-Jan Lin, who led the study, the idea emerged from observing how minor skin irritation could trigger hair regeneration. ‘Skin injury not only induces tissue inflammation but also stimulates hair regeneration,’ Lin explained. ‘Our research shows that fatty acids can achieve similar effects safely and effectively.’
Researchers at National Taiwan University have developed a rub-on serum using natural fatty acids that reportedly stimulates hair growth within 20 days. Inspired by the body’s natural response to injury, the serum regenerates hair follicles by stimulating fat cells. The patented formulation has shown promising results in laboratory tests and self-experiments, with plans for human clinical trials.
In the past decade, the therapeutic scope of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors has expanded beyond glycaemic regulation in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this Review, Lim et al. discuss data from clinical studies of SGLT2 inhibitors, demonstrating their multifaceted cardiovascular, metabolic and renal effects, and elucidate the diverse mechanisms underpinning these benefits.
An international research team, led by Shinghua Ding at the University of Missouri, has identified a previously unknown genetic disease that affects movement and muscle control.
The disease—called Mutation in NAMPT Axonopathy (MINA) syndrome—causes damage to motor neurons, the nerve cells that send signals from the brain and spinal cord to muscles. It’s the result of a rare genetic mutation in a critical protein known as NAMPT, which helps the body’s cells make and use energy. When this protein doesn’t work as it should, cells can’t produce enough energy to stay healthy.
Over time, this lack of energy causes the cells to weaken and die, and leads to symptoms such as muscle weakness, loss of coordination and foot deformities—which can worsen over time. In severe cases, patients may eventually need a wheelchair.