Some termites form symbiotic relationships with fungus. When harmful fungi invade their carefully cultivated crops, these fungus-farming termites fight back with the precision of skilled gardeners, a new study reveals, smothering them in soil clumps enriched with microbial allies that inhibit fungal growth. Fungus-farming termites, like Odontotermes obesus, maintain a vital symbiotic relationship with the fungus Termitomyces, cultivating it in specialized nutritional substrates called combs that provide both a reliable food source for the termites and an ideal habitat for the fungus. ...

A digital reconstruction of the nearly one-million-year-old Yunxian 2 cranium from China, which corrected previous distortions inherent in the fossil, suggests it belonged to the Asian Homo longi clade. This means the cranium represents an early branch of the sister lineage to modern humans that may have included the enigmatic Denisovans. Fossil evidence shows that, during the Middle Pleistocene, multiple Homo lineages with diverse physical forms coexisted. Much of what is known about human evolution and archaic hominins relies on fossil skulls. Yet many specimens from this era are damaged and/or deformed, leading ...

A global experiment looking at how birds respond to 15,000 paper “moths” reveals that no color-changing strategy to deter predators is universally effective; both camouflage and warning coloration succeed under different ecological conditions, the study shows. Predation is a powerful force shaping evolution, driving the development of two major antipredator color strategies: camouflage, which helps prey to blend into their surroundings to avoid detection, and aposematism, in which prey advertise genuine defenses or, in the case of mimics, deceptive protection, using bright and conspicuous warning colors. Both strategies can be effective under different ecological ...

New research in the roundworm C. elegans shows how changes in the parent’s lysosomes that promote longevity are transferred to its offspring. The work describes a new link between lysosomes—cellular organelles once thought to be the cell’s recycling center—and the epigenome—a set of chemical marks that modify gene expression. The study also details a new way that epigenetic information is transmitted from cells in the body to reproductive cells, allowing changes to be inherited without affecting the genetic ...

At a time when conflict and division dominate the headlines, a new study from UCLA finds remarkable similarities in how mice and artificial intelligence systems each develop cooperation: working together toward shared goals. Both biological brains and AI neural networks developed similar behavioral strategies and neural representations when coordinating their actions, suggesting there are fundamental principles of cooperation that transcend biology and technology. Why it matters Cooperation is fundamental to human society and essential for everything from teamwork in the workplace to international diplomacy. Understanding how cooperation emerges and is maintained has profound ...

Gleevec, a cancer drug first approved for sale in 2001, has dramatically changed the lives of people with chronic myeloid leukemia. This form of cancer was once regarded as very difficult to combat, but survival rates of patients who respond to Gleevec now resemble that of the population at large.  Gleevec is also a medicine developed with the help of federally funded research. That support helped scientists better understand how to create drugs targeting the BCR-ABL oncoprotein, the cancer-causing protein behind chronic myeloid ...

UC Riverside researchers have discovered a piece that was missing in previous descriptions of the way Earth recycles its carbon. As a result, they believe that global warming can overcorrect into an ice age.   The traditional view among researchers is that Earth’s climate is kept in check by a slow-moving but reliable natural system of rock weathering.  In this system, rain captures carbon dioxide from the air, hits exposed rocks on land – especially silicate rocks like granite – and slowly dissolves ...

The genetic culprits responsible for the spread of multidrug resistance (MDR) in bacteria have been identified by new research mapping 100 years of bacterial evolution. Experts at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the University of Bath, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and their collaborators1, analysed over 40,000 plasmids from historical and present-day bacterial samples taken across six continents, the largest dataset of its kind. Plasmids are transferable structures in bacteria that allow different strains to share genetic information. In this study, published today (25 September) in Science, researchers found that a minority of plasmids causes most of the multidrug ...

Amid high expectations for quantum technology, a new paper in Science reports proven quantum advantage. In an experiment, entangled light lets researchers learn a system's noise with very few measurements. Researchers at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and international partners have demonstrated that entangled light can cut the number of measurements needed to learn the behaviour of a complex, noisy quantum system by an enormous factor. "This is the first proven quantum advantage for a photonic system," says corresponding author Ulrik ...

New research from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) highlights the importance of tumor location in metastasis; shows how regulatory T cells work with sensory nerves in the skin to restrain pain and inflammation; explores whether a large language model can adequately summarize cancer patients’ experiences with pain; and finds proton therapy is effective at treating leptomeningeal metastasis. In metastasis, genetics meet geography, study finds Mutations that drive the growth and survival of cancer cells can help a primary tumor spread to new sites, but the extent to which they help sustain tumor growth at these metastatic sites has been unclear. An MSK-led ...

Philadelphia, September 25, 2025 – A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, published by Elsevier, highlights the development of a culturally-informed approach to screening for food insecurity among patients at Northern Navajo Medical Center (NNMC) in Shiprock, New Mexico. The alternative screener aims to reduce stigma, improve patient comfort, and reflect local food traditions and community food access better. American Indian households experience food insecurity at disproportionately ...

Depression and psychosis are more common in women after childbirth than before, but the risk of suicide attempts decreases. This is shown by two new studies from Karolinska Institutet. The results suggest that national guidelines for screening can help women get help earlier. Mental ill health in connection with pregnancy and childbirth can have long-term consequences for women's health. During this period, major biological and psychosocial changes occur that can increase vulnerability to depression, anxiety, ...

Brazilian researchers, in partnership with French institutions, have developed a tool that can predict how patients will respond to natalizumab, one of the most commonly used drugs for treating multiple sclerosis. Despite its effectiveness, about 35% of users do not respond completely to therapy and experience a return of symptoms within two years of starting treatment. Additionally, while it helps reduce the frequency and severity of outbreaks and slows disease progression, it can cause adverse reactions such as an increased ...

Lignin, a renewable aromatic biopolymer with complex three-dimensional networks and diverse functional groups, represents a promising sustainable feedstock for value-added chemicals and fuels. However, its structural heterogeneity and poor solubility pose significant challenges for efficient valorization. Oxidative depolymerization has emerged as a particularly effective approach for producing carbonyl-containing aromatic compounds under mild conditions. Polyoxometalates serve as ideal bifunctional catalysts, combining acidic and oxidative sites while enabling oxygen-mediated regeneration. Current limitations involve the high ...

CAMBRIDGE, MA -- Mucus is more than just a sticky substance: It contains a wealth of powerful molecules called mucins that help to tame microbes and prevent infection. In a new study, MIT researchers have identified mucins that defend against Salmonella and other bacteria that cause diarrhea. The researchers now hope to mimic this defense system to create synthetic mucins that could help prevent or treat illness in soldiers or other people at risk of exposure to Salmonella. It could also help prevent “traveler’s diarrhea,” a gastrointestinal infection caused by consuming contaminated food or water. Mucins are bottlebrush-shaped polymers made of complex sugar ...

ITHACA, N.Y. – An analysis of commercial raw cat foods detected disease-causing microbes, including some that are resistant to antibiotics, creating risks for both pets and their owners, according to a new Cornell University study. The paper, published in Communications Biology, found Salmonella, Cronobacter and E. coli in such foods as raw or partially cooked meat sold frozen, refrigerated and freeze-dried in stores and online. These pathogens can transfer from pets to humans and are of special concern for young children, and people who are old, pregnant and ...

Tampa, FL, USA – September 25, 2025 – With global attention shifting away from mpox after recent declines in case counts, the Global Virus Network (GVN) is warning against complacency and urges accelerating efforts to strengthen outbreak readiness. Through its Mpox Action Committee and Centers of Excellence, GVN has initiated one of the first coordinated, multi-country evaluations of rapid point-of-care mpox diagnostics, a critical step to prevent resurgence and ensure the world is better prepared for future epidemics. Despite recent improvements, health experts caution that gaps in surveillance and diagnostics leave communities vulnerable to new flare-ups. In ...

With $3M in new federal funding over two years, University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine molecular virologist Dr. Marc-André Langlois and a multidisciplinary team of collaborators will be a vital part of Canada’s ability to respond effectively to infectious disease threats & future pandemics. With this investment from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the national network of experts led by Dr. Langlois will be able to support large-scale scientific research, protect vulnerable communities, and strengthen the country’s ability ...

People who suspect that their sense of smell has been dulled after a bout of COVID-19 are likely correct, a new study using an objective, 40-odor test shows. Even those who do not notice any olfactory issues may be impaired. Led by the National Institutes of Health’s RECOVER initiative and supported by its Clinical Science Core at NYU Langone Health, a team of researchers from across the country explored a link between the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and hyposmia — the reduced ability to smell. The results revealed that 80% of participants who reported a change in their smelling ability after having COVID-19 earned low scores on ...

More marine life is living on some World War II munitions disposed of on the Baltic Sea’s seabed than on the sediment surrounding it. The findings, reported in a paper in Communications Earth & Environment, show that some marine organisms can tolerate high levels of toxic compounds if there is a hard surface for them to inhabit. The results also demonstrate how detritus from human conflict can provide habitats for wildlife, which is similarly shown in a Scientific Data study mapping a fleet of World War I shipwrecks in Maryland, USA. Prior ...

About The Study: This cohort study of schools matched to child and adolescent patient medical records from a large network of community health organizations found that school participation in the Community Eligibility Provision was associated with a net reduction in blood pressure outcomes. These findings add to mounting evidence that universal free school meals may be associated with improved child health. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Anna M. Localio, PhD, MPH, email alocalio@uw.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.33186) Editor’s ...

About The Study: The findings of this analysis suggest that the individualized treatment effect of low-dose aspirin on cancer prevention in older adults varies by participant characteristics. Further study is needed to fully understand the implications of these findings.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Le Thi Phuong Thao, PhD, email thao.le@monash.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.3593) Editor’s Note: Please ...

About The Study: This cohort study examines the presence, severity, and patterns of olfactory dysfunction in U.S. adults with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Leora I. Horwitz, MD, MHS, email Leora.horwitz@nyulangone.org. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.33815) Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, ...

New York, NY [September 25, 2025] — A new study led by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai offers one of the most comprehensive views yet of how brain cells interact in Alzheimer’s disease, mapping protein networks that reveal communication failures and point to new therapeutic opportunities. Published online in Cell on September 25, the study analyzed protein activity in brain tissue from nearly 200 individuals. The researchers discovered that disruptions in communication between neurons and supporting brain cells called glia—specifically astrocytes and microglia—are ...

The American Geophysical Union (AGU), the world’s largest association of Earth and space scientists, and the American Meteorological Society (AMS), the professional society for atmospheric and related sciences and services, invite contribution proposals for a joint special collection of research articles called the “U.S. Climate Collection: Informing Assessment of Risks and Solutions.”   This collaborative effort, first announced earlier this year in the wake of the dismissal of the Sixth National Climate Assessment (NCA) authors, aims to publish ...