New study finds zebrafish have spinal enlargements linked to all fins, offering fresh insight into vertebrate evolution Scientists from Nagoya University, Japan, have discovered that zebrafish possess enlarged areas in their spinal cords, previously believed to exist only in four-limbed vertebrates (tetrapods). The finding challenges long-standing assumptions about the evolution of spinal anatomy and its relationship to limb development. Background: A Feature Once Thought Exclusive to Tetrapods In tetrapods, the spinal cord has two enlarged regions corresponding to the forelimbs…

A breakthrough study at The University of Queensland has discovered a hidden dangerous feature in the Black Mamba one of the most venomous snakes in the world. Professor Bryan Fry from UQ’s School of the Environment said the study revealed  the venoms of three species of mamba were far more neurologically complex than previously thought, explaining why antivenoms were sometimes ineffective. “The Black Mamba, Western Green Mamba and Jamesons Mamba snakes aren’t just using one form of chemical weapon, they’re…

By hijacking a key growth receptor under low-oxygen conditions, this newly discovered RNA molecule helps oral cancer cells survive chemotherapy Oral cancer is one of the most common head and neck cancers worldwide, with hundreds of thousands of new cases diagnosed every year. Despite advances in surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, survival rates remain poor. One of the main challenges is that tumors quickly adapt and develop resistance to drugs that previously controlled them. A key factor behind this resistance is…

A team of scientists at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) has published new evidence suggesting that the brain’s protective shield — known as the blood-brain barrier (BBB) — remains largely intact in a commonly used mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. The discovery challenges long-standing assumptions that Alzheimer’s disease causes the BBB to “leak,” potentially reshaping how researchers think about drug delivery for the disease. The study, published July 23 in Fluids and Barriers of the CNS, was conducted by a…

“This concerns the biosynthesis of a molecule that has a very long history with humans,” explains Prof. Dirk Hoffmeister, head of the Pharmaceutical Microbiology research group at Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI). “We are referring to psilocybin, a substance found in so-called ‘magic mushrooms’, which our body converts into psilocin – a compound that can profoundly alter consciousness. However, psilocybin not only triggers psychedelic experiences, but is also considered…

Researchers at Linköping University have successfully visualized blood flow in an artificial heart in real time using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The findings, published in Scientific Reports, pave the way for designing artificial hearts that lower the risk of blood clots and red blood cell damage—two of the most common complications in current devices. The project was carried out in collaboration with Scandinavian Real Heart AB, a company working on the development of an artificial heart. “The heart is a…

Australian scientists have uncovered a strong connection between stress and disease susceptibility in koalas across South East Queensland and the New South Wales North Coast. The University of Queensland’s Dr Michaela Blyton led the research, which monitored koala retrovirus (KoRV) levels in both wild and captive animals. “We wanted to see what happened to their KoRV loads over time and how it related to chlamydial infection and levels of the stress hormones cortisol and corticosterone in their faeces,” Dr Blyton…

Around one-third of the 50 million people living with epilepsy worldwide do not respond to anti-seizure medications, leaving them with limited treatment options. Surgical removal of the seizure-causing region can sometimes help, but it is not viable when seizures originate from multiple or unclear brain regions. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has emerged as a promising alternative for these patients. DBS involves implanting electrodes that deliver controlled electrical impulses to specific brain regions to help control seizures. While stimulation of the…

Findings from a first-of-its-kind analysis in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases provide timely, insightful guidance to alleviate the burden of musculoskeletal disorders globally Philadelphia, September 16, 2025 – Novel research shows that in approximately one third of countries and territories worldwide, population aging was the largest contributor to the growing burden of musculoskeletal disorders from 1990 to 2021. The new study in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, published by Elsevier, is poised to inform targeted public health strategies…

For decades, scientists have known that adding small molecules such as amino acids to medical formulations—like insulin—helps stabilize the proteins they contain. These small molecules prevent larger protein particles from interacting in unwanted ways. While this stabilizing effect has been widely used, the mechanism behind it has remained unclear—until now. An international research team led by the Supramolecular Nano-Materials and Interfaces Laboratory at EPFL’s School of Engineering has uncovered how this process works. Their findings, published in Nature, involved collaboration…

SINGAPORE, 8 September 2025 — Dengue infection can “re-programme” the body’s immune system much like a computer operating system being rewritten, leaving a long-lasting genetic imprint that influences how people respond to future infections. Strikingly, this imprint is not seen with vaccination. Published in Med, the new study by Duke-NUS Medical School and an international research team uncovers how dengue reshapes immunity and why vaccines behave differently from natural infection. The findings fill a key knowledge gap, providing insights that…

Each year in the UK, more than 40,000 people suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), yet fewer than 10% survive. Rapid CPR and early use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can at least double survival chances, but in practice, AEDs are often difficult to locate quickly. To address this, researchers at the University of Warwick have partnered with the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust and drone specialists SkyBound to test whether drones could deliver AEDs directly to the…

A Japanese research team has demonstrated a new, more accurate way to analyze brain imaging data in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), offering fresh insights into the brain structure differences that underlie the condition. The findings, published in Molecular Psychiatry, could pave the way for earlier diagnosis and more effective, personalized treatments for affected children. Tackling Inconsistencies in ADHD Brain Imaging ADHD affects more than 5% of children worldwide, leading to difficulties with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Brain imaging…

PRINCETON, N.J., September 3, 2025 — A team of researchers has created the first brain-wide map of decision-making at single-cell resolution in a mammal, using mice trained to turn tiny steering wheels to move shapes on a screen. The findings, published in Nature by the International Brain Laboratory (IBL) — a global consortium of 22 labs — offer an unprecedented view of how distributed neural networks across the brain coordinate to guide behavior. Beyond Single Brain Regions For decades, most…

Tokyo, Japan — September 2, 2025 — A new study led by Professor Tadafumi Kato (Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine) and Dr. Akito Nagakura (Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital) has uncovered evidence of neurodegeneration in a key brain region implicated in bipolar disorder (BD). The research, published in Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, provides the strongest neuropathological evidence to date that BD is not just a psychiatric condition but also a brain-based disease with distinct biological underpinnings. A Major Health Burden…

Tokyo, Japan — August 1, 2025 — Polyamines, naturally occurring molecules essential for cell growth and differentiation, have long fascinated scientists for their ability to extend lifespan and support healthy aging. Yet, these same compounds—particularly spermidine—are also linked to cancer development and rapid tumor growth. A new study led by Associate Professor Kyohei Higashi at Tokyo University of Science has now unraveled the molecular mechanisms behind this paradox, offering fresh insights into both aging research and cancer therapy. The findings…