Overcoming Delivery Challenges in Gene Editing Modern genome editing techniques, including CRISPR systems, hold great potential for treating genetic diseases. However, delivering these molecular tools reliably to their target cells remains a significant challenge. “Previous viral and non-viral delivery systems such as adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), and other virus-like particles (VLPs), have been valuable but face limitations,” says Dr. Dong-Jiunn Jeffery Truong, last author ...

Comprehensive reference genomes have now been assembled for six ape species: siamang (a Southeast Asian gibbon), Sumatran orangutan, Bornean orangutan, gorilla, bonobo and chimpanzee. Areas of their genomes previously inaccessible because of structural complexity have now mostly been resolved.   The resource is already lending itself to comparative studies that offer new insights into human and ape evolution, and into what underlies the functional differences among these species.   A report on how the telomere-to-telomere ape genome references were developed, and what scientists are learning from it, appears in the April 9 edition ...

A new study reports the first direct observation of merging star clusters in the nuclear region of dwarf galaxies. This detection confirms the feasibility of this formation route for nuclei in dwarf galaxies, which has long been debated. The study was published in Nature science journal, and led by Postdoctoral Researcher Mélina Poulain from the University of Oulu, Finland. Dwarf galaxies are the most abundant type of galaxies that populate the Universe.  Composed of 100 times fewer stars than the ...

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (April 9, 2025) — Van Andel Institute scientists and collaborators have developed a new method for identifying and classifying pancreatic cancer cell subtypes based on sugars found on the outside of cancer cells. These sugars, called glycans, help cells recognize and communicate with each other. They also act as a cellular “signature,” with each subtype of pancreatic cancer cell possessing a different composition of glycans. The new method, multiplexed glycan immunofluorescence, combines ...

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) continues to be a tough nut to crack in critical care, taking lives despite years of research and better ventilator strategies. It is defined by acute hypoxemia, bilateral infiltrates on chest imaging, and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, and it remains a heterogeneous condition with mortality rates stubbornly close to 40%. Its complexity—spanning diverse etiologies, inflammatory profiles, and therapeutic responses—demands innovative solutions beyond traditional paradigms. In recent years, artificial intelligence ...

The scientific programme for the inaugural eLTER Science Conference has just been launched, marking a major milestone in the lead-up to the event. Held from 23 to 27 June 2025 in Tampere, Finland, the conference will explore integrated, policy-relevant approaches to ecosystem and socio-ecological research under the theme: “Toward a whole-system approach to ecosystem science.” Organised by the Integrated European Long-Term Ecosystem, critical zone and socio-ecological systems Research Infrastructure (eLTER RI), the event is expected to welcome over 300 participants from across Europe and beyond. The scientific programme features: 25 keynote speakers recognised for their leadership ...

“[…] when selecting non-PGT-A tested embryos for embryo transfer (ET) or frozen embryo transfer (FET), a small hatching blastocyst seems to be a better choice than a large expanded one, especially for advanced-age patients for whom the risk of aneuploidy is higher.” BUFFALO, NY — April 9, 2025 — A new research paper was published in Aging (Aging-US) Volume 17, Issue 3, on March 5, 2025, titled “Reproductive aging, preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy, and the diameter of blastocysts: does size matter?” In this study, a team led by first author Jakub Wyroba from the Malopolski Institute of Fertility Diagnostics ...

Applications for the 2025 EurekAlert! Travel Awards for International Science Reporters are now open to early-career science journalists from Brazil and countries in Eastern Europe. Two winners will be selected to receive travel funding from EurekAlert! to attend the 2026 AAAS Annual Meeting, taking place February 12-14, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Learn more about who is eligible and how to apply on our website. The application deadline is May 5 at 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time. Learn More and Apply! The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world’s largest multidisciplinary scientific society, and the AAAS Annual Meeting brings together ...

(WASHINGTON— April 9, 2025) — A marker linked to inflammation, C-reactive protein, may increase significantly during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle in female patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), according to emerging research published today in Blood Vessels, Thrombosis & Hemostasis.  This observation provides insight into the pattern of painful vaso-occlusive events (VOEs), which are driven by inflammation, in female patients with the disorder. “We know both from the literature and anecdotally from our patients that women with SCD have VOEs that cluster ...

With the global prevalence of obesity on the rise, it is crucial to explore the neural mechanisms linked to obesity and its influence on brain and cognitive health. However, the impact of obesity on the brain is complex and multilevel. To address this, Prof. Anqi QIU, Professor of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Global STEM Scholar, has unveiled novel research to advance our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying the relationship between obesity and its implications for cognitive health in adults.  Obesity ...

LOS ANGELES — Keck Medicine of USC will open a four-story, 100,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art medical office building located at 590 S. Fair Oaks Ave. in Pasadena in fall 2025.   As the newest addition to the renowned academic health system, the location will significantly expand Keck Medicine clinical care for residents of Pasadena and neighboring communities in the San Gabriel Valley.   What sets the new Pasadena location apart   “This new location — our largest and most advanced outpatient setting — will ...

TAMPA, Fla. (April 9, 2025) – A new study led by the University of South Florida and the University of Cincinnati sheds light on the powerful impact of workplace cohorts on newcomer retention. The findings provide critical insights for organizations seeking to reduce employee turnover and improve stability among their teams. Cohorts, groups of new employees that join an organization at the same time and are usually trained together, are common in the military and in professional services such as law, accounting and consulting firms. ...

New Curtin University research into the overlooked environmental impact of pet dogs has found far-reaching negative effects on wildlife, ecosystems and climate.   While ecological damage caused by cats has been extensively studied, the new research found dogs, as the world’s most common large carnivores, present a significant and multifaceted environmental threat.   Lead researcher Associate Professor Bill Bateman, from Curtin’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences, said the research found that human-owned, pet dogs disturb and directly harm wildlife, particularly shorebirds, even when leashed.   “As well as predatory behaviour like chasing wildlife, ...

PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA [April 9, 2025] — New research in the April 2025 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network found significant disparities based on race, socioeconomic status, and other factors when it came to quality of care and outcomes for people with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPDAC)—which is associated with very high cancer mortality. The researchers used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database to study 14,147 patients who were diagnosed ...

For generations, sailors around the globe have reported a mysterious phenomenon: Vast areas of the ocean glow steadily at night, sometimes for months on end. The light is bright enough to read by and is oddly similar to the green and white aura cast by glow-in-the dark stars that have decorated children’s rooms. Stretching over ocean space as broad as 100,000 square kilometers, the light can, at times, even be seen from space.    This rare bioluminescent display was coined by sailors as “milky seas.” Despite being encountered for centuries, scientists still know very little about what causes this glowing effect because ...

A groundbreaking study presents a comprehensive approach to restructuring medium-level voltage (MLV) distribution systems that enhances reliability while reducing both energy losses and carbon emissions.   The study introduces an innovative "N+1 bus configuration" for radial distribution systems (RDS) - a simple yet powerful modification to conventional power networks that adds just one additional tie line to existing systems. This seemingly minor change delivers remarkable improvements in system performance when combined with distributed renewable energy resources (DER).   The research team conducted extensive testing on both real-time radial ...

For millions of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals around the world, communication barriers can make everyday interactions challenging. Traditional solutions, like sign language interpreters, are often scarce, expensive and dependent on human availability. In an increasingly digital world, the demand for smart, assistive technologies that offer real-time, accurate and accessible communication solutions is growing, aiming to bridge this critical gap. American Sign Language (ASL) is one of the most widely used sign languages, consisting of distinct hand gestures that represent letters, ...

There is growing recognition in medicine that what happens in one part of the body can ripple through others. That idea is now being explored in a surprising place: the mouth. A new review by an international group of researchers has examined the mounting evidence linking periodontal disease—commonly known as gum disease—to chronic liver conditions, including cirrhosis, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and alcohol-related liver disease. Though the mouth and liver are separated ...

The Korea Institute of Energy Research (President Yi Chang-keun, hereinafter referred to as “KIER”) has successfully developed ultra-lightweight flexible perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cells and achieved a power conversion efficiency of 23.64%, which is the world’s highest efficiency of the flexible perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cells reported to date. The solar cells developed by the research team are extremely lightweight and can be attached to curved surfaces, making it a promising candidate for future applications in buildings, vehicles, aircraft, and more. Crystalline silicon-based single-junction solar cells ...

A comprehensive study has examined the magnetic field emissions (MFE) from vehicle-mounted wireless power transfer (WPT) systems, providing critical insights for ensuring user safety during electric vehicle charging. As wireless charging technology gains popularity for fleet vehicles and accessibility applications, understanding and controlling electromagnetic field exposure becomes increasingly important.   Researchers conducted extensive physical measurements around a vehicle equipped with an in-house designed WPT system, examining how various factors affect magnetic field emissions where users might be positioned during charging operations. The study specifically investigated: - ...

Cancer diagnoses traditionally require invasive or labor-intensive procedures such as tissue biopsies. Now, research published in ACS Central Science reveals a method that uses pulsed infrared light to identify molecular profiles in blood plasma that could indicate the presence of certain common cancers. In this proof-of-concept study, blood plasma from more than 2,000 people was analyzed to link molecular patterns to lung cancer, extrapolating a potential “cancer fingerprint.” Plasma is the liquid portion of blood, depleted of any ...

Wear and tear on plastic products releases small to nearly invisible plastic particles, which could impact people’s health when consumed or inhaled. To make these particles biodegradable, researchers created plastics from plant starch instead of petroleum. An initial study published in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry shows how animals consuming particles from this alternative material developed health problems such as liver damage and gut microbiome imbalances. “Biodegradable starch-based plastics may not be as safe and health-promoting as originally assumed,” ...

Iron and its alloys, such as steel and cast iron, dominate the modern world, and there’s growing demand for iron-derived products. Traditionally, blast furnaces transform iron ore into purified elemental metal, but the process requires a lot of energy and emits air pollution. Now, researchers in ACS Energy Letters report that they’ve developed a cleaner method to extract iron from a synthetic iron ore using electrochemistry, which they say could become cost-competitive with blast furnaces. "Identifying oxides which can be converted to iron metal at low temperatures is an important ...

University of Oregon chemists are bringing a greener way to make iron metal for steel production closer to reality, a step towards cleaning up an industry that’s one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions worldwide.  Last year UO chemist Paul Kempler and his team reported a way to create iron with electrochemistry, using a series of chemical reactions that turn saltwater and iron oxide into pure iron metal.   In their latest work, they’ve optimized the starting materials for the process, identifying which kinds of iron oxides will make the chemical reactions the most cost-effective. That’s a key ...

Plastics are everywhere—from packaging and textiles to electronics and medical devices. As plastic waste breaks down, it releases microscopic particles that can penetrate our ecosystems, hinder plant growth, and potentially transfer harmful pollutants to organisms, including humans. Therefore, these plastic particles are a potential threat to the ecosystem, especially in their nanoparticulate form (1–100 nm diameter), which can penetrate the environment through different routes, including the soil beneath our feet. With this in mind, a team of researchers from Japan set out to study the migration behavior of nanoplastics ...