Proteins play a key role not only in the body, but also in medicine: they either serve as active ingredients, such as enzymes or antibodies, or they are target structures for drugs. The first step in developing new therapies is therefore usually to decipher the three-dimensional structure of proteins. For a long time, elucidating protein structures was a highly complex endeavor, until machine learning found its way into protein research. AI models with names such as AlphaFold or RosettaFold have ushered in a new era: they calculate ...

A new review led by Associate Professor Sanjay Singhal from Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences sheds light on the prevalence and practice patterns of ADT in patients with ARDS. The study was made available online on 05 July 2025 and was published in the  Journal of Intensive Medicine. Aerosol therapy is frequently used in critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. Previously published studies have shown that most of these patients do not have chronic respiratory disease, and aerosol drug therapy (ADT) is still used. In general, the use of bronchodilators ...

With populations aging rapidly worldwide, heart failure has become one of the most pressing medical and social challenges. Older patients face not only a high mortality risk but also losses in muscle strength, mobility, and independence. Clinicians frequently see people who, despite optimal cardiac care, still struggle with frailty and declining physical performance. Until now, different groups have proposed their own criteria: the AWGS criteria developed mainly by Asian experts, the EWGSOP criteria from Europe, and the SDOC statement from the United States. As a result, three different definitions and diagnostic methods have ...

From cells that migrate to tissues that heal, nature abounds with systems capable of sensing and adapting to their surroundings. Replicating this level of adaptability in synthetic systems has remained a grand challenge in chemistry and materials science. Most artificial materials, though inspired by biology, still react to only one stimulus and lack the integrated responsiveness that characterizes living matter. A new study published online on August 7, 2025, in Volume 6, Issue 9 of the journal Accounts ...

Prediction of crystal structures of organic molecules is a critical task in many industries, especially in pharmaceuticals and design of functional materials. In pharmaceuticals, crystal structures directly influence a drug’s solubility and stability. In functional materials, like organic semiconductors, controlling crystal structures is crucial for achieving desired electronic properties. However, crystal structure prediction (CSP) is an inherently challenging task due to the weak and diverse intra- and inter-molecular interactions unique to organic crystals. Even minor variations can result in entirely different packing arrangements. CSP is typically ...

Work engagement refers to a positive, fulfilling state of mind towards one’s work. It plays a key role in supporting both personal well-being and company success. However, ways to strengthen work engagement over the long term remain limited. A new study led by Professor Noriko Yamagishi from Ritsumeikan University, in collaboration with Dr. Norberto Eiji Nawa from the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), and Mr. Shota Isomura from NTT Data Institute of Management Consulting, Inc., suggests that a simple practice, namely gratitude journaling, can make a meaningful difference. Published in BMC Psychology on October 6, 2025, the study invited 100 ...

Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, affecting millions of people and placing an enormous burden on healthcare systems. The disease occurs when the heart can no longer pump blood efficiently, leaving patients short of breath, fatigued, and at risk of life-threatening complications. For decades, scientists have focused on studying cardiomyocytes—the heart’s muscle cells responsible for pumping blood—believing that these were the key drivers of the disease. But new research challenges this long-standing view by showing that another, often-overlooked group of cells ...

An international team of scientists from three continents led by Dr. Petr Cígler of IOCB Prague has developed a method for creating light-emitting quantum centers in nanodiamonds in only a matter of minutes. In just one week, the process can yield as much material as conventional methods would produce in more than forty years. Moreover, the resulting nanodiamonds show improved optical and quantum properties. The breakthrough brings us one step closer to the industrial production of higher-quality and more affordable quantum nanodiamonds, ...

The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) hosted its 2025 Global Summit and Award Ceremonies for Cancer Research & Entrepreneurship on October 24 at the National Press Club, in Washington, D.C., gathering many of the most forward-thinking minds in oncology, cancer research, technology, patient care, and biomedical innovation. This year’s summit centered on a defining theme: how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the entire ecosystem of cancer research and patient care, from laboratory discovery to bedside decision-making. The Next Frontier: AI’s Expanding Role in Cancer Research The ...

Our experiences leave traces in the brain, stored in small groups of cells called “engrams”. Engrams are thought to hold the information of a memory and are reactivated when we remember, which makes them very interesting to research on memory and age- or trauma-related memory loss. At the same time, scientists know that the biology of learning is accompanied by epigenetic changes, which refers to the ways the cell regulates genes by adding chemical "post-it notes" on DNA. But the question of whether the epigenetic state of a single gene in turn can cause a memory ...

CAMBRIDGE, MA -- Nearly everyone has experienced it: After a night of poor sleep, you don’t feel as alert as you should. Your brain might seem foggy, and your mind drifts off when you should be paying attention. A new study from MIT reveals what happens inside the brain as these momentary failures of attention occur. The scientists found that during these lapses, a wave of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flows out of the brain — a process that typically occurs during sleep and helps to wash away waste products that have built up during the ...

A team of Chinese scientists has uncovered a hidden 3D structure in rice DNA that allows the crop to grow more grain while using less nitrogen fertilizer. The finding, published in Nature Genetics by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on Oct. 29, could guide the next "green revolution" toward higher yields and more sustainable farming. The study reveals that a looping section of DNA—a "chromatin loop"—controls the activity of a gene called RCN2, which governs how rice plants form ...

Four distinct subgroups of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have been identified in an international study published in Nature Medicine by researchers from Karolinska Institutet, among others. The results open up for more tailored treatments for the millions of women living with the disease worldwide. PCOS is a common hormonal disorder that affects the function of the ovaries and affects approximately 11 to 13 percent of women of childbearing age. In the current study, the researchers analyzed clinical data from over 11,900 affected women over a period of 6.5 years. The results were confirmed in five international cohorts from Asia, Europe, and ...

Halide perovskites – already a focus of major research into efficient, low-cost solar cells – have been shown to handle light faster than most semiconductors on the market. The paper, published in Nature Nanotechnology, reports quantum transients on the scale of ~2 picoseconds at low temperature in bulk formamidinium lead iodide films grown by scalable solution or vapour methods. That ultrafast timescale indicates use in very fast light sources and other photonic components. Crucially, these effects appear in films made by scalable processing rather than specialised growth in lab-settings – suggesting a practical and affordable ...

How do embryos develop? Why does the cortex of the mammalian brain fold? How do we feel touch at our fingertips? These and other fundamental biological questions remain unsolved. Yet, scientists know they all rely on a common principle: the conversion of a physical stimulus into a biochemical signal. The field of mechanobiology has recently gained new insights into which physical signals travel across cells and how far they spread. One key finding is that the rheological properties of the cell membrane (how it deforms and flows under stress) play a key role ...

New research in Sweden has produced a “blueprint” revealing how the human heart is built during prenatal development. It offers insights that could lead to improved prenatal care and new treatments for heart defects, such as holes between heart chambers or deformities of the heart valves. Publishing in Nature Genetics, a research team led by the department of Gene Technology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology published a detailed map of the developing human heart, showing how different groups of cells are arranged and how ...

Research Highlights: A review of 155 scientific studies found influenza and COVID infections raised the risk of heart attack or stroke as much as three-to five-fold in the weeks following the initial infection. Viruses that linger in the body, such as HIV, hepatitis C and varicella zoster virus (the virus that causes shingles), can lead to long-term elevations in the risk of cardiovascular events. The study researchers say preventive measures, including vaccination, may play an important role in reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes, especially in people who already have heart disease or heart disease risk factors. Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET Wednesday, ...

New research from the University of Birmingham shows that eating flavanol-rich foods—like tea, berries, apples, and cocoa—can protect vascular health in men from the harmful effects of prolonged sitting. Sedentary behaviour is prevalent in modern societies; it is estimated that young adults sit for approximately six hours a day, but sitting for long periods induces declines in vascular function. Previous studies have shown that a 1% reduction in vascular function, as measured by brachial Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), which measures the elasticity of the arteries, leads to a 13% increased risk of cardiovascular ...

UC San Francisco today announced a $100 million gift to its renowned Memory and Aging Center (MAC). It is the first gift to name a UCSF division, which will now be the Edward and Pearl Fein Memory and Aging Center. “We applaud the Edward Fein Charitable Trust for their visionary support of the Fein MAC; this will accelerate the pace of research, education, and care for people with dementia,” said UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood, MBBS. “There is a growing recognition that neurodegenerative diseases ...

The year 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the formalisation of the India-Japan Science and Technology Cooperation and has been designated as the India-Japan Year of Science, Technology and Innovation Exchange. This celebratory year is expected to promote mutually complementary cooperations that maximise both countries’ strengths in the fields of advanced technology and innovation, while accelerating the co-creation of new value. To sustain and accelerate the momentum of Japan-India collaborations cultivated by past forums, the 4th Forum will explore ways to further strengthen cooperative initiatives in ...

When mining forced Kiruna to relocate, the city planners took the opportunity to modernise. But with a large square, city streets and tall buildings located in a depression, residents have already begun to complain about the “new” city, according to a study from the University of Gothenburg. Kiruna has become colder. What is important to consider when building a city in an Arctic climate? Building in a location with elongated hours of  sunshine and protected from cold winds when placing buildings and streets. These principles have given way to other considerations, it seems, when designing the new ...

ROCHESTER, Minn. — A new study from Mayo Clinic underscores the widespread impact of menopause symptoms on midlife women — and raises concern that most are navigating this stage of life without medical care to help manage those challenges.  The study, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, was based on responses from nearly 5,000 women ages 45-60 who were surveyed across four Mayo Clinic primary care locations. More than 3 out of 4 respondents experienced menopause symptoms, with many reporting substantial effects on daily life, work productivity ...

In a remote part of Antarctica's Western Weddell Sea, an area once hidden beneath a 200-metre-thick ice shelf, scientists have uncovered a new and unusual phenomena: extensive maintained fish nesting grounds arranged in patterns. When the A68 iceberg, measuring 5,800 square kilometres, calved from Larsen C Ice Shelf in 2017, it opened new access for research. A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) exploring the seafloor revealed more than 1,000 circular nests, each cleared of the layer of plankton detritus that blanketed ...

The commercialization of clothing-type wearable robots has taken a significant step forward with the development of equipment that can continuously and automatically weave ultra-thin shape memory alloy coil yarn—thinner than a human hair—into lightweight and flexible “fabric muscle” suitable for large-scale production. The Advanced Robotics Research Center at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM, President Seog-Hyeon Ryu), under the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST, Chairman Young-Shik Kim), led by Principal ...

A new method developed at the University of Warwick offers the first simple and predictive way to calculate how irregularly shaped nanoparticles — a dangerous class of airborne pollutant — move through air. Every day, we breathe in millions of microscopic particles, including soot, dust, pollen, microplastics, viruses, and synthetic nanoparticles. Some are small enough to slip deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, contributing to conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Most of these airborne particles are irregularly shaped. Yet the mathematical models used to predict how these particles behave typically ...