PFAS in Drinking Water Linked with Cancer

In recent years, concerns about the health effects of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have surged. These synthetic chemicals, dubbed “forever chemicals” because of their extreme persistence in the environment and in living organisms, have now been linked to higher rates of certain cancers. According to a study encompassing roughly half of the US population, […]

How Cancer ‘Poisons’ the Immune System

Cancer is often described as a master of survival, employing countless strategies to outwit the body’s defense mechanisms. One of the immune system’s key soldiers against tumors are tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs)—immune cells that penetrate the tumor’s microenvironment to attack cancer cells directly. However, recent research has revealed a surprising way that cancer cells can neutralize […]

Cancer Cells Disrupt T‑Cell Energy Production by Mitochondrial Swapping

In the battle between cancer cells and the body’s immune system, the energy and vitality of T cells (a crucial type of immune cell) are key to mounting an effective response. Recently, scientists have identified a remarkable but disturbing tactic that tumor cells use to weaken T cells: they exchange mitochondria in a way that […]

The Swashbuckling Life of ‘Big Steve’: A Look at Steven Weinberg’s Memoir

Nobel laureate Steven Weinberg, celebrated as one of the grandmasters of quantum field theory, led a life that was as intellectually rich as it was vibrant. His memoir, A Life in Physics, published posthumously in late 2024, reveals not just the towering achievements of a scientist but also the human behind the equations. Reviewer Graham […]

The Steps to Stamp Out Fake Research

Fake research, often propagated through paper mills that churn out fraudulent scientific publications for profit, threatens the integrity of science. A group of ten research integrity experts—dubbed the “Avengers of Research Integrity”—have come together to propose strategies for eradicating this growing problem. Their advice provides a roadmap to identify, combat, and prevent fake research from […]

Where Dinosaurs Come From: Tracing Their Origins

Dinosaurs have captivated the imagination of scientists and the public alike for centuries, but their origins remain a fascinating puzzle. Recent research suggests that dinosaurs may have first evolved near the equator in Gondwana, a section of the ancient supercontinent Pangaea. Today, Gondwana’s remnants are found in areas like northern South America and northern Africa. […]

CERN Offers Incentives for Open Science

CERN, the renowned European particle-physics laboratory, is setting a new benchmark for scientific publishing by offering financial incentives to encourage academic publishers to embrace open science policies. This initiative underscores CERN’s commitment to fostering transparency, accessibility, and collaboration in the global scientific community. What Is Open Science? Open science is an approach to research that […]

COVID’s Immune System Lessons: Four Key Insights from the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped how we understand infectious diseases and the immune system’s role in combating them. As scientists continue to analyze the vast troves of data collected during the pandemic, four key lessons have emerged about how the immune system responds to SARS-CoV-2. These findings shed light on T cells’ critical role, the […]