For 50 years, scientists believed that schools of fish would save the most energy by swimming in flat diamond formations. Recently, a team of researchers at Princeton and Harvard ran an experiment to check this assumption. It turns out that, contrary to what models predicted, fish don’t swim in diamonds. They swim in a dynamic pattern that the researchers call a ladder, where they’re staggered in three dimensions like an echelon of fighter jets. The research team, led by Radhika Nagpal, professor of robotics at Princeton, adapted computer vision software originally developed to track individual animal movements to collect the first 3D data ...

By Benjamin Boettner (BOSTON) — Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), one of two major forms of esophageal cancer, is the sixth most deadly cancer worldwide for which no effective targeted therapy exists. Patients need to rely on chemotherapy as a standard-of-care, which is started ahead of surgical interventions as a so-called “neoadjuvant chemotherapy” (NACT) in the hope to shrink or control tumors. However, most patients become resistant to certain NACTs, leading to poor outcomes. Given the utter lack of therapeutic alternatives, responders and non-responders alike, continue to receive one of the available chemotherapies without knowing whether ...

Background and objectives In recent years, it has been found that Lycium barbarum can repair liver damage and promote liver regeneration. Additionally, the polysaccharides contained in Lycium barbarum have anticancer properties and can induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Molecular docking, a mature computer-aided method, is widely used in drug discovery. This study aimed to verify the efficacy of active ingredients of Lycium barbarum in the treatment of liver cancer ...

Depression affects 1%-2% of children younger than 13 in the U.S. and can arise as early as age 3, but a specialized therapeutic intervention can help preschool-aged children find relief from this condition — with benefits lasting at least four years, according to a new study led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The researchers, led by Joan Luby, MD, the Samuel and Mae S. Ludwig Professor of Psychiatry at WashU Medicine, and Mei Elansary, MD, an attending developmental behavioral pediatrician at Boston Medical Center, measured the long-term ...

NEW YORK, N.Y. — June 27, 2025 — An 8-year HonorHealth Research Institute clinical trial, using non-surgical techniques, showed 86% of patients with a type of usually fatal low blood pressure known as ‘structural shock’ survived at least 3 months, while 73% survived at least 6 months, according to a study presented here at a major heart convention. “That’s a spectacular improvement. This appears to be a monumental step forward,” said David G. Rizik, M.D., head of the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Research Institute’s Cardiovascular Research Division. Dr. ...

Breast cancer, particularly triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality due to its aggressive nature and limited therapeutic targets. Metabolic reprogramming, a hallmark of cancer, enables tumor cells to adapt to environmental stresses and fuel rapid proliferation. While the Warburg effect initially emphasized glycolysis, recent research highlights the critical role of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in cancer progression. Mitochondria, dynamic organelles regulated by fission, fusion, and mitophagy, are central to metabolic plasticity, ...

A new study by UCLA researchers shows that removing a modest $45 out-of-pocket fee significantly improved access to digital breast tomosynthesis (3D mammography), an advanced breast cancer screening technology. Researchers found that eliminating the fee increased overall usage several percentage points and particularly benefited underserved patient populations, including racial and ethnic minorities and non-English speakers. The study appears in the Journal of the American College of Radiology. Why it matters Even small financial barriers can prevent patients from accessing potentially life-saving medical technology. ...

Elected officials, political analysts, and nonprofit organizations have for years spotlighted the spread of online election information in Western democracies—largely with a focus on media platforms popular in these nations, such as X and Facebook.  But in most of the world—notably the Global South—misinformation often reaches citizens through social messaging apps, including WhatsApp. Most often, falsehoods are shared on these platforms through multimedia content, such as easy-to-share videos and images.  Recognizing this, a team of researchers at New York University’s Center for Social Media and Politics (CSMaP) studied the behavior of WhatsApp users during ...

A global effort to create a “microbial Noah’s Ark” to preserve the world’s diverse collection of healthy microbes before they disappear is now entering an active growth phase. In a perspective article published in Nature Communications, a team of 25 scientists involved in the formation of the Microbiota Vault Initiative reported their successes and also laid out an ethical framework to ensure equitable collaboration and depositor sovereignty. This set of principles is designed to guide the initiative in its mission to safeguard microbial diversity for future generations. The announcement, which coincides with World Microbiome Day on June 27, marks ...

Current tuberculosis infection tests struggle to detect the disease in those with HIV. A common co-infection, HIV can hide TB from traditional tests by eliminating the immune cells relied upon to sound the alarm. While more than 90% of the 2 billion TB cases worldwide are latent – symptom-free and not contagious – the weakening of the immune system in those with HIV can allow latent TB to turn active, increasing the potential for new infections to spread and often resulting in fatal outcomes. Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death among those with HIV worldwide. Now, Tulane University researchers have developed a new handheld TB test ...

What if a blood test could reveal the pace of our aging – and the diseases that may lie ahead? The labs of Profs. Liran Shlush and Amos Tanay at the Weizmann Institute of Science have been conducting in-depth studies into the biology of blood to better understand the aging process and why some people become more susceptible to disease over the years. Their research teams, made up of physicians, biologists and data scientists, have been tracking changes in the blood-forming stem cells, including the emergence of genetic changes in these cells in about one-third of people over the age of 40. These changes not only increase ...

The ion channel PIEZO2 doesn’t just convey touch stimuli. It also plays a key role in the development of coronary vessels, a team led by Annette Hammes from the Max Delbrück Center reports in “Nature Cardiovascular Research.” The findings could improve our understanding of congenital heart defects. Our skin can detect even the slightest breeze. This remarkable sensitivity is thanks to special ion channels embedded in cell membranes that respond to mechanical stimuli. Now a team led by Dr. Annette Hammes, Group Leader of the Molecular Signaling Pathways in Cortical Development lab at the Max Delbrück Center, has shown that one of these channels – ...

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (June 27, 2025) — Van Andel Institute scientists and collaborators have discovered a potential treatment target that may re-energize dysfunctional or “exhausted” immune cells in their fight against cancer.   The target is an immune checkpoint called PTGIR, which regulates the number and cancer-fighting powers of T cells, the soldiers of the immune system. Too much PTGIR puts a brake on T cells and reduces their ability to release cancer-killing molecules.   The findings, published ...

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is known to be associated with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but how and why they are connected remains unknown. Researchers from Mass General Brigham discovered that HBV does not cause liver inflammation or cancer on its own, but worsens liver inflammation and may make patients more susceptible to early cancer development caused by environmental carcinogens. Limiting carcinogen exposure or reducing inflammation could mitigate this risk. The results are published in Nature Communications.  “Our research sheds light on the intricate interplay between HBV infection and carcinogen exposure to generate immune dysregulation ...

A new study by Dr Tom M. Fayle of Queen Mary University of London, Dr Kalsum M. Yusah of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Dr Jiri Tuma of the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic, published today in the journal Soil Ecology Letters, shows the importance of old termite mounds as habitats for a wide range of insects and other invertebrates in Bornean tropical rainforest. Termites play a critical ecological role in many ecosystems. By building and maintaining their nests and mounds, they influence soil turnover, chemical soil properties, and nutrient distribution. Once these mounds are abandoned by their original ...

Fatty liver disease, caused by the accumulation of fat in the liver, is estimated to affect one in four people worldwide. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer, making it crucial to detect early and initiate treatment.  Currently, standard tests for diagnosing fatty liver disease include ultrasounds, CTs, and MRIs, which require costly specialized equipment and facilities. In contrast, chest X-rays are performed more frequently, are relatively ...

The use of electronics in various forms is on the rise, from wearable devices like smartwatches to implantable devices like body-implanted sensors, skin-worn smart patches, and disposable monitoring devices. These devices, which are inevitably discarded after use, contribute to the growing problem of electronic waste (e-waste), a significant environmental concern. The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) has announced that a joint research team, led by Dr. Sangho Cho of the Center for Extreme Materials Research and Dr. Yongho Joo of the Center for Functional Composite Materials Research, has developed a polymeric material ...

A groundbreaking study has revealed that small but mighty zooplankton—including copepods, krill, and salps—are key players in the Southern Ocean’s ability to absorb and store carbon.  Led by an international team of researchers, and published in Limnology and Oceanography, the study quantifies for the first time how these tiny creatures collectively enhance carbon sequestration through their seasonal, vertical migrations. The Southern Ocean is a key region for carbon storage. Traditional thinking is that the carbon storage in the Southern Ocean is dominated by gravitational ...

A cup and a half of leafy green vegetables could go a long way to addressing atherosclerotic vascular diseases (ASVD’s), new research from Edith Cowan University (ECU), the University of Western Australia and the Danish Cancer Institute has found.   ASVDs are a subgroup of cardiovascular disease, which are current leading causes of death world-wide, primarily due to heart attacks and strokes. ECU PhD student Ms Montana Dupuy noted that in Australia, cardiovascular diseases claim the life of one person every 12 minutes.  Research led by Ms Dupuy has found that the higher dietary intake of Vitamin K1 could reduce the risk of ASVD.  “Leafy ...

Two-dimensional patterned hollow structures (2D-PHS) are an advanced class of metamaterials known for their unique mechanical properties and lightweight nature. Comprising a solid matrix with periodically arranged hollows, 2D-PHS effectively reduce material weight while optimizing stress and strain distribution to maintain structural integrity and strength. This precise geometric control offers superior tunability in strength-to-weight ratios, deformability, and stretchability compared to traditional solid ...

Groundwater input to coral reefs directly affects water chemistry and triggers a cascade of changes in the coastal ecosystem, according to a new study led by University of Hawaiʻi (UH) at Mānoa oceanographers. Freshwater from land that flows into the ocean beneath the sea surface, termed submarine groundwater discharge, was found to increase nutrient availability, change acidity of the seawater, and impact the process by which corals build their skeletons. This research, published recently in Ecological Monographs, provides critical insights into the complex interactions between the land and ocean.  “Submarine groundwater discharge is a widespread and ...

To make advances in using microbes to sustainably produce materials, it is necessary to find new molecular tools, or “enzymes” — but this is labor intensive. A Kobe University team now developed a technique that can classify thousands of candidates and a workflow that can evaluate representatives overnight, in what may become a fundamental technology for biomanufacturing. As oil reserves dwindle and prices soar, microorganisms can help us produce useful chemicals and fuels from renewable resources. They can convert raw materials ...

The accumulation of plastic waste worldwide poses a serious threat to wildlife and ecosystems. Catalytic processes that convert plastic waste into valuable chemicals and fuels offer a promising solution. However, real-life plastic waste mixtures have highly diverse composition and structural complexity, and accurate identification of the components within the mixtures is a prerequisite for their effective separation and recycling. In a study published in Nature, Prof. XU Shutao from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the team of Prof. WANG Meng and Prof. MA Ding from Peking University, developed ...

In May 2025, the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer published a pioneering study entitled “NeoPred: dual-phase CT AI forecasts pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy in NSCLC”, led by Professor Jianxing He’s team from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University / National Center for Respiratory Medicine. The study introduces NeoPred, a multimodal artificial intelligence model that combines dual-phase CT scans (pre-treatment and pre-surgery) and clinical features ...

Astronomers have uncovered a vast cloud of energetic particles — a ‘mini halo’ —  surrounding one of the most distant galaxy clusters ever observed, marking a major step forward in understanding the hidden forces that shape the cosmos. The mini-halo is at a distance so great that it takes light 10 billion years to reach Earth, making it the most distant ever found, doubling the previous distance known to science.   The discovery demonstrates that entire galaxy clusters, among the largest ...