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Engineered human neurons rebuild damaged spinal cord circuits

Spinal cord injuries affect an estimated 15 to 20 million people worldwide, often causing lasting impairments in movement, sensation and independence. Such injuries can be especially devastating when they occur at the level of the neck, where damaged spinal circuits disrupt signals that control the diaphragm, the main muscle used for breathing.

Despite advances in emergency care and rehabilitation, no approved therapies exist to rebuild the neurons and connections lost after a spinal cord injury. But new research from scientists at Gladstone Institutes offers hope for a regenerative treatment in the future.

The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, shows that human stem cell-derived spinal interneurons—cells that are critical for breathing and movement— can survive after being transplanted in injured rats, connect with the animals’ own neural circuits and improve breathing-related motor function.

Building Biostasis Organizations to Last

No one can predict with any confidence how long it will be before it may be possible to repair and revive patients in biostasis. It is plausible that it will take a century. It could be decades less – especially if artificial intelligence accelerates biomedical advances – or it could be decades longer. But one century gives us something to work with. It is a long time in terms of changes in the world.

This raises an obvious question: How can a biostasis organization survive for a century or more until its patients can be returned to life?

How to Protect Your Telomeres for Healthy Aging and Longevity

Telomere shortening is associated with increased risk of disease and decreased lifespan. Various nutrients have been shown to support the length and health of telomeres in clinical and preclinical studies.

Scientifically reviewed by: Gary Gonzalez, MD, in May 2026. Written by: Richard Ross.

What Can We Learn From the Most Genetically Modified Human Alive? | Liz Parrish

In 2015, Liz Parrish flew to Colombia and let someone inject an untested gene therapy into her body 150 times. She texted her kids that she loved them before it started. When it was over, she went for nachos.

Ten years later, her telomeres are longer than when she started, and she has taken 12 gene therapies in total.

Her decade of self-experimentation has produced peer-reviewed data, a growing protocol of gene therapies, and a company training its sights on making biological aging optional. Our conversation goes over what it took to become patient zero and what gene therapy for aging looks like in practice today, among other things.

New membrane removes more than 99.99% of oil from seawater while producing fresh water using sunlight

As freshwater shortages intensify around the world, scientists are searching for technologies that can do more than simply desalinate seawater. One of the biggest challenges is treating oil-contaminated seawater, where conventional desalination systems often fail because oil clogs membranes, blocks water transport and reduces efficiency.

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