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Environment 2026-03-18

Pike eat more as water warms, threatening native species

Rising temperatures in a Southcentral Alaska river have led to a hungrier population of invasive northern pike, a trend that could imperil native salmon and other fish species. A University of Alaska Fairbanks-led research team analyzed the stomach contents of northern pike caught by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Deshka River during the summers of 2021 and 2022. The team compared the contents to samples from pike collected a decade earlier. Pike of every age class ate more fish as temperatures increased, including a huge 63 percent rise among year-old pike. The study was published in the journal Biological Invasions. “We ...
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Medicine 2026-03-18

Groundbreaking research reveals “leaky” brain barrier as driver of chronic brain damage in retired combat and collision sports athletes

Groundbreaking research, led by teams at Trinity College Dublin and the FutureNeuro Research Ireland Centre, has pinpointed the mechanism linking some sports injuries to poor brain health in retired athletes.  The research, published today in leading international journal Science Translational Medicine, has identified a breakdown in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) as the key link between repetitive head injuries (RHIs) and long-term brain health issues in this cohort.  The BBB acts as a “security gate”, letting in essential nutrients while ...
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Science 2026-03-18

From ‘water terrorist’ to ‘Nobel Prize of Water’: Kaveh Madani named 2026 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate

Paris – March 18, 2026 — In a special ceremony at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris to mark World Water Day, Professor Kaveh Madani, Research Professor of the City College of New York (CCNY) and Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), was named the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize recipient, to be officially presented by H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden in August 2026, during World Water Week in Stockholm. The Stockholm Water Prize is the ultimate global recognition for extraordinary achievements in water-related activities. Often described ...
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Science 2026-03-18

Professor Kaveh Madani named 2026 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate for advancing water science, policy, diplomacy and public engagement

UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, 18 March 2026 — Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), has been named the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate. The announcement was made at the World Water Day ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The prize will be formally presented by H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden during World Water Week in Stockholm in August 2026.  Often described as the ‘Nobel Prize of Water’, the Stockholm Water Prize is the most prestigious water award and honours outstanding contributions ...
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Medicine 2026-03-18

Novel biosensing platform enables fingertip blood-based micro-volume t-cell immune monitoring

With the prevalence of infectious diseases, the rapid assessment of population-specific immune protection has become important for public health. A study published in Analytical Chemistry and led by Prof. TAN Xiaotian's team from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed a new platform, known as Tip Optofluidic Immunoassay Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (TOI-IGRA), which could revolutionize how people monitor their immune health. Evaluating T-cell responses is vital to understanding cellular immunity against intracellular threats such ...
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Medicine 2026-03-18

Scientists create cancer-fighting immune cells right in the body

For years, one of the most powerful weapons against certain blood cancers, called CAR-T cell therapy, has required an elaborate process: Doctors extract a patient’s immune cells, ship them to a specialized facility where they’re genetically reprogrammed to fight cancer, then ship them back for infusion back into the patient’s bloodstream. This has revolutionized cancer treatment, but it takes weeks and can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, placing it out of reach for many of the patients who need it most.   Now, scientists at UC San Francisco have developed a method ...
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Science 2026-03-18

Mystery of quinine biosynthesis solved

The 350-year history of quinine, from Quechua bark to chemotherapy drug – with an important milestone in Jena For over 350 years, quinine and other extracts from the cinchona tree (Cinchona spp.) were the only effective medicines against malaria, a tropical fever caused by single-celled parasites of the genus Plasmodium and transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes.  The name 'cinchona tree' actually originates from South America and comes from the Quechua term quina-quina, meaning 'bark of barks'. Powdered quina-quina was ...
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Science 2026-03-18

Colliding dust and the sparks of creation

Two microscopic grains collide and produce a tiny spark. This phenomenon may have provided the energy to kick off life on Earth. But if these solid particles have the same composition, what factor causes the charge to flow in a given direction? In a new study published in Nature, physicists from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) identify the key factor as environmental carbon-based molecules that adhere to the materials’ surface. What do Saharan dust storms, volcanic lightning, and ...
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Social Science 2026-03-18

Integrative archaeogenetics reveal how Southern Andean communities adopted farming and endured crises

A new interdisciplinary study published in Nature reconstructs over 2,000 years of population history in Argentina’s Uspallata Valley (UV), a southern frontier of Andean farming spread in ancient times, with broader lessons on how agriculture shaped societies and how communities endured crises. By combining ancient human and pathogen genomics with isotopic analyses, archaeology and paleoclimate records–and working in close collaboration with Huarpe Indigenous communities–, the research reveals how local hunter-gatherers adopted agriculture, how more recent intensive ...
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Medicine 2026-03-18

Scientists discover an unexpected food source for tumors

Researchers discovered an antioxidant, glutathione, that cancer cells appear to be “addicted to” as fuel, opening new pathways for investigation and a potential drug that can restrict the way tumors use this nutrient. The top-tier scientific journal Nature is publishing the study online on March 18. Isaac Harris, PhD, and a team from the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester conducted the research. Co-corresponding author and co-first author Fabio Hecht, PhD, and co-first author Marco Zocchi, PhD, led the study in the Harris lab in the Department of Biomedical ...
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Medicine 2026-03-18

Cellular stress signal found to drive immune exhaustion and weaken cancer therapy

Cancer-fighting T cells do not simply “run out of energy.” They are molecularly reprogrammed. For years, mitochondrial dysfunction has been recognized as a hallmark of exhausted T cells in tumors. Yet how metabolic stress translates into stable transcriptional reprogramming remained unclear. The new study uncovers a decisive molecular bridge. When mitochondria become depolarized, CD8⁺ T cells increase proteasome activity. This heightened protein degradation selectively dismantles mitochondrial hemoproteins, releasing excess regulatory heme. Rather than remaining a byproduct, heme becomes a signal. It translocates to the nucleus, where it binds and destabilizes the transcription ...
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Medicine 2026-03-18

Long dismissed in adult health, the thymus may be critical for longevity and cancer treatment

Two new studies from investigators at Mass General Brigham challenge a decades-old assumption that the thymus, an organ best known for its role in establishing immune function in childhood, becomes irrelevant in adulthood. Using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze routine CT scans, researchers uncovered that adults with a healthy thymus had increased longevity and reduced risk for cardiovascular disease and cancer. In a separate study of patients with cancer, the researchers found that thymic health may influence response to immunotherapy—a treatment that depends on the strength of a patient’s immune system. These findings, published in two papers in the same ...
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Medicine 2026-03-18

Stopping GLP-1 drugs can quickly erase cardiovascular benefits

Following a rapid increase in popularity of GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and weight loss, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, approximately one in eight U.S. adults now take these medications, which also provide cardiovascular benefits. However, when patients stop taking these drugs, they not only regain weight, but, according to a new study, they also incur increased risk of heart attack, stroke and death compared to staying on the medication. In the study, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine ...
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Science 2026-03-18

First world map shows impact of the tidal pulse in coastal rivers

Tides not only affect regions along the coast, their periodic fluctuations are carried upstream inland through coastal rivers. River sections particularly affected by these tidal pulses are exposed to an increased risk of flooding. It is therefore important to localize these regions, as well as the extent of the river tide. However, until now, a global and accurate overview has not yet been established. A research team led by TUM has conducted the first global evaluation, based on high-resolution satellite data, and presented it in an interactive map. Over 725 million people worldwide are influenced by river tides The map closes a ...
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Medicine 2026-03-18

Study reveals “two-factor authentication” system that controls microRNA destruction

Cells rely on tiny molecules called microRNAs to tune which genes are active and when. Cells must carefully control the lifespan of microRNAs to prevent widespread disruption to gene regulation. A new study led by researchers at Whitehead Institute and Germany’s Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry reveals how cells selectively eliminate certain microRNAs through an unexpectedly intricate molecular recognition system. The work, published on March 18 in Nature, shows that the ...
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Environment 2026-03-18

New ice core studies expand histories of greenhouse gases and ocean temperature to 3 million years

CORVALLIS, Ore. — New analyses of ancient ice from Antarctica and the air contained inside it are extending the history of Earth’s climate records and expanding researchers’ understanding of how the planet has changed over the last 3 million years. The findings, published this week in two papers in the journal Nature, show the long-term cooling of Earth’s climate during this period has been accompanied by only a modest decline in heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Scientists have known that Earth was much warmer and sea level much higher ...
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Medicine 2026-03-18

Premature menopause raises long-term heart risk by 40%

Study followed more than 10,000 Black and white women in the U.S. over decades First to examine link between premature menopause and lifetime coronary heart disease risk Declining estrogen during menopause can raise cholesterol, blood pressure and stiffen arteries CHICAGO --- Women who enter natural menopause before age 40 face about a 40% higher lifetime risk of developing coronary heart disease than women who experience menopause later, according to a large Northwestern Medicine study that is the first to calculate lifetime ...
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Medicine 2026-03-18

Multi-strain probiotic therapy shows promise in preventing bacterial vaginosis recurrence

A global team of experts has identified a promising new approach to prevent recurrence of bacterial vaginosis (BV), a condition that affects millions of women worldwide. In a phase 1 randomized clinical trial of women in the U.S. and South Africa, researchers found that a short course of a multi-strain probiotic restored protective bacteria to the vagina, significantly reducing disease recurrence. Results from the study, a collaboration between investigators from Mass General Brigham, the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), and collaborators ...
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Medicine 2026-03-18

Premature menopause and lifetime risk of coronary heart disease

About The Study: In this cohort study, premature menopause was associated with 40% higher lifetime risk of coronary heart disease in Black and white women. This suggests that premature onset of menopause is an important risk-enhancing factor for lifetime risk and should be routinely assessed in clinical practice to consider intensification of preventive efforts. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Priya M. Freaney, MD, email priya.freaney@northwestern.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2026.0212) Editor’s ...
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Medicine 2026-03-18

Psychedelic therapy vs antidepressants for the treatment of depression under equal unblinding conditions

About The Study: In trials of depression, psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) was not more effective than open-label traditional antidepressants (TADs). Blinding made a difference for TADs, but not for PAT, confirming that PAT trials are effectively always open label. These results argue against highly optimistic narratives surrounding PAT and highlight the importance of blinding integrity.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Balázs Szigeti, PhD, email balazs.szigeti@ucsf.edu. To ...
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Medicine 2026-03-18

Are psychedelics better than antidepressants? New study says no

Psychedelic-assisted therapy may be no more effective than traditional antidepressants when patients know what drugs they are actually taking, according to a first-of-its kind analysis that compared how well each type of drug worked for major depression. Psychedelic-assisted therapy has resisted placebo-controlled testing methods — the gold standard in clinical trial design. Due to their powerful subjective effects, nearly everyone in the trial knows whether they received a psychedelic or the placebo even if they are not told. But in trials of antidepressants, participants may not figure out whether they have received the drug or a placebo, ...
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Medicine 2026-03-18

UCSF's new certification raises bar for spine surgery excellence

UCSF Health has earned The Joint Commission’s Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery for the high standards of care it offers to patients throughout Northern California at the UCSF Spine Center. The certification reflects over a decade of collaboration by UCSF’s departments of neurological surgery and orthopaedic surgery, working closely with the UCSF Department of Quality & Safety. Multidisciplinary teams across clinics, operating rooms, and inpatient units aligned their practices around evidence-based care pathways and ...
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Medicine 2026-03-18

Molecular docking of resveratrol with ovarian cancer-associated proteins and its therapeutic benefits

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a "silent killer" with an annual incidence of 11.2 per 100,000 and mortality of 7.6 per 100,000. Most cases are diagnosed at advanced stages due to the lack of effective screening. Standard treatments—surgery and chemoradiotherapy—are limited by drug resistance, particularly to platinum agents, leading to recurrence and poor prognosis. Natural products like resveratrol (RVT), a polyphenol found in grapes and peanuts, offer potential as safe, multi-targeted adjunctive therapies. This review examines RVT's molecular interactions with OC-related proteins, its therapeutic mechanisms, and novel delivery ...
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Medicine 2026-03-18

Healthy life extension positioned as geroscience’s north star

“We should treat healthy life extension as the goal and define success as health-adjusted longevity: extending lifespan while proportionally expanding function, resilience, and independence.” BUFFALO, NY — March 18, 2026 — A new editorial was published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on March 10, 2026, titled “Healthy life extension: Geroscience’s north star.” Led by David A. Barzilai — who is affiliated with Geneva College of Longevity Science, Healthspan Coaching LLC (Barzilai Longevity Consulting), and Harvard Medical School — the editorial pays tribute ...
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Science 2026-03-18

Female song in Galápagos warblers challenges assumptions about birdsong

For decades, birdsong research focused almost exclusively on males. In many species, however, females also sing. Now a study by researchers from the University of Vienna and Anglia Ruskin University shows that female Galápagos yellow warblers sing frequently, though not for the reasons males do. In experiments simulating territorial intrusions, the researchers found that female song was neither linked to same sex competition nor to signalling aggression in territorial defence. The findings, published in the journal Animal Behaviour, raises new questions ...
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