New research shows 9% of Microsoft Entra SaaS apps are vulnerable to nOAuth abuse, allowing full account takeovers.
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Restoring youth: Scientists use engineered cells to restore vitality in primates
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Capital Medical University utilized gene editing to create senescence-resistant human mesenchymal progenitor cells (SRCs). In a 44-week trial on aged macaques, biweekly intravenous SRC injections induced no adverse effects and spurred multi-system rejuvenation in 10 major physiological systems and 61 tissue types. Treated macaques displayed enhanced cognitive function and diminished age-related degeneration. The SRCs work by releasing exosomes that curb cellular senescence and inflammation. This study presents the first primate-level proof of cell therapy’s safety and efficacy in reversing aging, presenting a potential multi-system approach for human anti-aging research.
Dissecting the cell cycle regulation, DNA damage sensitivity and lifespan effects of caffeine in fission yeast
Caffeine has long been associated with health benefits, including a reduced risk of age-related diseases. However, the specifics of how caffeine interacts with cellular mechanisms and nutrient and stress-responsive gene networks have remained elusive — until now.
In this pioneering research, published in the journal Microbial Cell, scientists used fission yeast, a single-celled organism with surprising similarities to human cells, to delve deeper into caffeine’s impact.
The researchers discovered that caffeine influences aging by engaging an ancient cellular energy system.
A few years ago, the same team found that caffeine prolongs cell life by acting on a growth regulator known as TOR (Target of Rapamycin). TOR is a molecular switch that regulates cell growth based on available food and energy and has been part of the evolutionary landscape for over 500 million years.
However, their latest study unveiled a surprising new finding: caffeine does not directly act on the TOR switch. Instead, it activates AMPK, a cellular fuel gauge that is conserved through evolution in both yeast and humans.
“When your cells are low on energy, AMPK kicks in to help them cope,” senior author Charalampos (Babis) Rallis, a reader in genetics, genomics and fundamental cell biology at Queen Mary University of London, said in a news release. “And our results show that caffeine helps flip that switch.”
Intriguingly, AMPK is also the target of metformin, a common diabetes medication currently under scrutiny for its potential to extend human lifespan when used alongside rapamycin.
New AI Model Diagnoses Brain Tumors With 99% Accuracy, Without Surgery
An MRI scan revealed a brain tumor located in a difficult area, and performing a biopsy would carry significant risks for the patient, who had initially sought medical help due to double vision. Cases like this, discussed by a multidisciplinary team of cancer specialists, led researchers at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, along with their collaborators, to search for alternative diagnostic methods.
Their solution is an AI model that analyzes specific features in the genetic material of tumors, particularly their epigenetic fingerprint, which can be obtained from sources such as cerebrospinal fluid. As reported in the journal Nature Cancer, the model classifies tumors both rapidly and with high accuracy.
Nanobody hitchhikers boost immunotherapy potency in cancer treatment
Researchers led by John T. Wilson, Vanderbilt University associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and biomedical engineering, have developed a new approach using a molecularly designed nanobody platform that seeks to make immunotherapy more effective in the treatment of cancer.
The research, “Potentiating Cancer Immunotherapies with Modular Albumin-Hitchhiking Nanobody-STING Agonist Conjugates,” is published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
Immunotherapy is revolutionizing cancer treatment, but few patients benefit from the treatment, according to researchers. However, Wilson and his Immunoengineering Lab at Vanderbilt, along with collaborators at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, SOMBS, and the College of Arts and Sciences, aim to solve this problem.
“We Increased Battery Life Sevenfold”: Scientists Unveil Breakthrough Film That Supercharges Anode-Free Solid-State Technology
IN A NUTSHELL 🔋 Researchers in South Korea developed a cost-effective MoS2 thin film that boosts battery lifespan sevenfold. 💡 The innovation uses molybdenum disulfide to prevent dendrite formation, enhancing the safety and performance of anode-free solid-state batteries. 🌟 This breakthrough offers a scalable, affordable alternative to noble metals, promising to accelerate the commercialization of
“AI That Stops Wars”: Former Harvard Scientist Unveils Revolutionary Peace Technology Designed to Prevent Global Conflict Before It Starts
IN A NUTSHELL 🌍 North Star, developed by an ex-Harvard professor, is an AI tool designed to predict and prevent wars by simulating world leaders’ decisions. 🔮 The tool creates digital twins of leaders to foresee outcomes of geopolitical events, offering insights for better decision-making. 💼 Investors see peace tech as a burgeoning market, drawing
New study reveals genetic link between brain criticality and human cognition
A new study has revealed compelling evidence that brain criticality—a dynamic balance between neural excitation and inhibition—has a strong genetic foundation and is associated with cognitive performance. The research was published on June 23 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Led by Prof. Liu Ning from the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Prof. Yu Shan from the Institute of Automation of CAS, the team analyzed resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data from the Human Connectome Project S1200 release. The dataset included 250 monozygotic twins, 142 dizygotic twins, and 437 unrelated individuals, providing a robust framework for examining the heritability of critical brain dynamics.
The results showed that brain criticality is significantly influenced by genetic factors, with stronger genetic effects observed in primary sensory cortices compared to higher-order association regions. These findings suggest that the capacity of the brain to maintain near-critical dynamics—previously associated with optimal information processing and cognitive flexibility—is, to a substantial degree, inherited.