Children entering school from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) families are more likely to face developmental challenges than their peers, according to a large population-based study in Western Australia. Researchers found that nearly one in four CALD children displayed vulnerabilities in at least one key developmental domain, with communication skills and general knowledge showing the largest gaps. These difficulties go beyond the classroom, shaping social integration, self-confidence, and long-term educational opportunities. ...

The first successful human transplant of a kidney converted from blood type A to universal type O used special enzymes developed at the University of British Columbia to help prevent a mismatch and rejection of the organ. Published today in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the achievement marks a major step toward helping thousands of patients get kidney transplants sooner. In a first-in-human experiment, the enzyme-converted kidney was transplanted into a brain-dead recipient with consent from the family, allowing researchers ...

ITHACA, N.Y. – Birds separated by vast geographic distances and millions of years of evolution share a remarkably similar learned vocal warning to identify parasitic enemies near their nests, an international team of researchers has found. The results represent the first known example of an animal vocalization that is learned from an innate response shared across multiple species. The findings, which will publish October 3, 2025 at 5am EST in Nature Ecology and Evolution, provide a glimpse into the role natural ...

The world’s first vaccine trial against elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) – a leading cause of death in young Asian elephants – is safe and triggers a strong virus-fighting immune response, according to an international team led by the University of Surrey, in collaboration with Chester Zoo and the Animal and Plant Health Agency.  Published in Nature Communications, the proof‑of‑concept study involved adult elephants at Chester Zoo. No side effects were seen, and the vaccine successfully activated a key part of the immune system that helps fight viruses.  The elephants received a two‑step vaccination: first, a viral vector ...

Iridoids are a widespread and evolutionarily ancient class of plant secondary metabolites belonging to the terpenes. They occur in thousands of plant species and play an important role in defense and other interactions between plants and their environment. Iridoids are also found in foods such as olives and blueberries, and are believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. They are also essential precursors for many medically important compounds, including the cancer drug vinblastine and the ipecacuanha alkaloids found in the medicinal plants, sage-leaved alangium and ipecac root (see press release Two plant species invent the same ...

Study highlights: The new antibiotic, enterololin, attacks and kills only a specific group of disease-causing bugs, which includes the type of E. coli that drives Crohn’s disease. As such, the antibiotic is a promising new treatment option for people affected by Crohn’s and other IBD-related conditions. These conditions affect thousands of people across Canada and no cure currently exists. Most antibiotics wipe out everything, including good bacteria. Enterololin, however, works like a scalpel, reducing the opportunity for opportunistic and/or drug-resistant ...

October 3, 2025—BRONX, NY—Scientists at Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center (MECCC) and Albert Einstein College of Medicine have shown for the first time that glioblastoma—the deadliest form of brain cancer—affects not just the brain but also erodes the skull, alters the makeup of skull marrow, and interferes with the body’s immune response. Drugs intended to inhibit skull-bone loss made the cancer more aggressive, according to results published today in Nature Neuroscience. “Our discovery that this notoriously hard-to-treat brain cancer interacts with the body’s immune ...

In the realm of memories, “where” holds special importance. Where did I leave my keys? Where did I eat dinner last night? Where did I first meet that friend? Recalling locations is necessary for daily life, yet spatial memory — which keeps track of “where” — is one of the first cognitive abilities to fade in old age. And deficits earlier in life can be a telltale sign of dementia. Now, researchers at Stanford Medicine and their colleagues are uncovering what goes awry in older brains when spatial memory falters and whether these changes can be prevented. In a new study comparing young, ...

A research team at Lund University in Sweden has discovered a mechanism that helps acute myeloid leukemia cells to evade the body’s immune system. By developing an antibody that blocks the mechanism, the researchers could restore the immune system’s ability to kill the cancer cells in laboratory trials and in mice. The discovery is published in Nature Cancer. In brief: Facts about the study: peer-reviewed // basic research // translational research // in vivo // in vitro // The study shows how a newly discovered mechanism helps leukemia cells to evade the immune system. By generating ...

A new study, published today in Nature Genetics, created the largest genetic map of human metabolism, revealing new insights on the role of metabolites in health and disease and creating a blueprint for further research. Humans vary from person to person, and so does our metabolism. Yet, it is difficult to quantify precisely how much your genetic code contributes to this variability. Using data from half a million individuals through the UK Biobank, the authors examined the consequences of variation in our genetic code on blood levels of 250 small molecules including lipid levels, which are important for a healthy heart, or amino acids. The study is the result of a collaborative ...

The first picture taken of a person nowadays is usually an ultrasound scan in the womb. But the technology is capable of much more than that. Physiotherapists have long used ultrasound to heat bodily tissues, and oncological surgeons use high-intensity ultrasound – and the heat it generates inside the body – to destroy tumours.  Over the last decade, scientists have also been researching how low-intensity ultrasound can be used to influence neural activity in the brain in a targeted manner. Initial clinical trials ...

Trawling restrictions not only benefits fish and shellfish; anemones and corals are also becoming more common, according to a new study from the University of Gothenburg. Twenty-six years of underwater videos from the depths of the Koster Sea also show long-term changes in the ecosystem as the water becomes warmer. The marine wildlife in Kosterhavet National Park has changed rapidly in recent years. The introduction of trawling restrictions in the area for the national park during the last 25 years, brought about a change in the living conditions for the animals that live on the seabed. “Animals ...

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is on the rise and incidence now exceeds pre-pandemic numbers. While in adults and older children the cough can be bothersome and last for months, pertussis in young infants can be life-threatening. Most children under 2 months of age with pertussis in the United States are hospitalized. In a special article published in Pediatrics, experts strongly encourage vaccination, especially during pregnancy. “Pertussis symptoms are different in infants,” said leading author Caitlin Li, MD, infectious diseases specialist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern ...

Singapore, 3 October 2025 – Singapore General Hospital (SGH) has announced the launch of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for robotic-assisted surgery, ensuring orthopaedic surgeons are equipped with knowledge of emerging technologies as the population ages and surgical needs evolve.    The Centre is established as part of a two-year strategic collaboration, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with Johnson & Johnson MedTechwith an initial focus on training and research in total knee replacement.   Regional ...

Building on the landmark 2019 report, the 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission presents the most comprehensive scientific analysis of global food systems to date. It establishes a clear, science-based approach to provide 9.6 billion people with access to healthy diets within planetary boundaries while recognising that healthy and sustainable diets are the foundation of human rights. The report reveals that the global food system contributes to 30% of greenhouse gas emissions and is the largest driver of planetary boundary transgressions through its impacts on climate, biodiversity, freshwater consumption, and land use change.  Although there ...

Countries with the highest reported levels of hearing loss also have the lowest reported use of hearing aids, finds international research published in the open access journal BMJ Global Health. And men are generally more likely than women to report difficulties with their hearing, although this gender divide narrows with age, the findings show. An estimated 1.57 billion people—equivalent to 1 in 5 of the world’s population—had hearing loss in 2019. And it’s predicted that it will affect 2.45 billion people by 2050, say the researchers. Hearing loss is associated with an array of problems ...

Early medical abortion at home up to 12 weeks of pregnancy is safe, effective, and comparable to hospital care, finds a 5 year review of cases in Scotland, where this timeframe is legally permitted, and published online in the journal BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health. It’s time to extend the current legal limit of 10 weeks to 12 weeks to enable women in the rest of the UK and Europe to choose this option, conclude the researchers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, legislation was introduced throughout Scotland, England, and Wales to allow women to ...

Scientists have unveiled a new approach to detecting gravitational waves in the milli-Hertz frequency range, providing access to astrophysical and cosmological phenomena that are not detectable with current instruments.   Gravitational waves—ripples in spacetime predicted by Einstein—have been observed at high frequencies by ground-based interferometers such as LIGO and Virgo, and at ultra-low frequencies by pulsar timing arrays. However, the mid-band range has remained a scientific blind spot.   Developed by researchers at the Universities of Birmingham and Sussex, the new detector concept uses cutting-edge optical cavity and atomic clock technologies ...

HOUSTON – (Oct. 2, 2025) – A team of researchers at Rice University has developed a new membrane that selectively filters out lithium from brines, offering a faster, cleaner way to produce the element at the heart of nearly every rechargeable battery. According to a study published in Nature Communications, the new membrane achieved one of the highest selectivities for lithium among similar membranes while using considerably less energy. The membrane design can be adapted to target the recovery of other valuable minerals, such as cobalt and nickel, and plugs ...

Don't love the gym? Neither does exercise scientist Ryan Montalvo. But he goes anyway. While any workout can seem daunting, the physical stress of exercise often affords long-term benefits. One advantage is that it triggers a physiological response that allows our cells to adjust to meet future energy demand in what’s known as a hormetic response. With an early career research grant from the American College of Sports Medicine Research Endowment, Montalvo will explore how this response to exercise-induced stress might help overcome noncommunicable diseases. Working ...

A study comparing evacuation patterns in response to two 2024 hurricanes, Milton and Helene, found that people in coastal areas with frequent hurricane exposure were much more likely to travel out of harm’s way compared to people in inland areas who were more likely to stay put. Researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health led the study. Their findings appear in the journal Environmental Research Letters.   These geographic differences are likely due to a combination of factors, including access to transportation infrastructure, social norms, and risk perception, ...

Expanding the depth and breadth of scientific expertise that defines Stem Cell Reports, the official journal of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, 13 distinguished researchers have joined the Editorial Board. Their appointment broadens representation across the diverse and international landscape of stem cell science and reinforces the Board’s commitment to championing the journal, raising its global visibility, and ensuring rigorous, high-quality peer review. “I am delighted to welcome our new editorial board members to Stem Cell Reports, said Janet Rossant, editor-in-chief. “Their breadth of expertise ...

A team of scientists from the University of Chicago, the University of California Berkeley, Argonne National Laboratory, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has developed molecular qubits that bridge the gap between light and magnetism—and operate at the same frequencies as telecommunications technology. The advance, published today in Science, establishes a promising new building block for scalable quantum technologies that can integrate seamlessly with existing fiber-optic networks. Because the new molecular qubits can interact at telecom-band frequencies, the work points toward future quantum networks—sometimes called the “quantum internet.” ...

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic has been selected to lead a groundbreaking research project focused on improving indoor air quality and safety in healthcare settings by the Advanced Research Project Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The project, part of the ARPA-H BREATHE program, aims to develop new ways to monitor and improve air in real time, helping protect public health in buildings nationwide. Mayo Clinic will lead the Hospital Air QUality (HAIQU): Breathing Life into Patient Care project, focusing on improving indoor air quality in hospitals to enhance health. "Maintaining high indoor ...

Down syndrome is associated with accelerated aging. It is estimated that up to 90% of individuals with the condition develop Alzheimer’s disease before the age of 70. A study by researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil identified high levels of neuroinflammation in young individuals with Down syndrome, an additional factor explaining the high prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in older people with the condition. The discovery paves the way for strategies to prevent and monitor the disease. The study, which was published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia and ...