A new study published in Translational Exercise Biomedicine (ISSN: 2942-6812), an official partner journal of International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS), reveals that a progressive, multi-component exercise program, enhanced by wearable sensor technology, can significantly counteract the debilitating effects of frailty in older adults. The 12-week intervention led to remarkable improvements not only in physical strength and balance, but also in cognitive abilities and overall quality of life, presenting an effective and practical strategy for community health management in an aging global population.

Soft robots offer incredible potential in fields from medicine to exploration, but their fluid-driven actuators are often tethered to bulky, rigid pumps. Researchers from Zhejiang University have developed a new-type, soft fiber pump inspired by the body's lymphatic system. This pump is not only highly flexible and easy to manufacture but can also be powered by a built-in triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), harvesting energy from motion to create untethered, self-sufficient soft robotic systems.

A model of a robot is crucial for controlling, but it is always hard to obtain for a new robot. Researchers from Sun Yat-sen University have introduced "NeRFSim," a novel framework that enables robots to autonomously construct their own morphological and kinematic models using only standard RGB images. The resulting self-model enables robots to accurately predict poses, solve inverse kinematic problems, and generate trajectories for task execution, providing a cost-effective and highly adaptive solution for robotic self-awareness.

A new study published in Life Metabolism reports that a single post-meal blood biomarker, 1-hour postprandial SPARC (SPARC-1H), can predict who will benefit most from adopting a Mediterranean diet. The discovery provides one of the clearest examples to date of how precision nutrition can identify individualized dietary responses using a simple blood test rather than complex multi-omics models.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Elucidating the molecular programs that enable tumor cells to evade regulated cell death and anti-tumor immune responses is essential for developing effective therapeutic strategies. In this study, Wang and colleagues employ a series of genetically engineered non-small cell lung cancer mouse models, high-throughput lipidomics assays, and functional perturbation experiments to uncover how tumor cells adapt metabolically to escape ferroptosis and reprogram the tumor microenvironment for CD8⁺ T cell dysfunction.

As cities continue to expand and face rising environmental pressure, scientists are seeking innovative solutions that can help urban areas become cleaner, greener, and more resilient. A new perspective paper highlights biochar, a carbon rich material made from organic waste, as a transformative tool that could significantly improve the environmental future of cities around the world.

A common, charcoal-like material made from plant waste could become an unexpected ally in making nuclear technology cleaner and safer, according to a new review in the journal Biochar. The study highlights how “biochar” can help trap radioactive elements, improve radiation shielding, and support cleaner nuclear processes, all while storing carbon in the ground.

In an exciting exploration of environmental sustainability, researchers at Zhaoqing University, China, have uncovered groundbreaking insights into the carbon dynamics of waterlogged pond fields. Led by Dr. Guodong Yuan from the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-Environmental Studies and Low-Carbon Agriculture in Peri-Urban Areas and the Guangdong Technology and Equipment Research Center for Soil and Water Pollution Control, this study, titled "Unveiling Carbon Dynamics in Year-Round Waterlogged Pond Fields: Insights into Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation and Sustainable Management," offers a fresh perspective on how these unique ecosystems can contribute to carbon sequestration and sustainable land management.

The Satsuma mandarin is one of the world's most widely cultivated citrus fruits, prized for its seedlessness, sweetness, and adaptability. 

Stroke often results in significant upper limb impairment, affecting patients' ability to perform daily activities. Robotic therapy for individuals after stroke has been proven as evidence-based practice in rehabilitation because it allows high frequency and intensity of training to the individual with guided movement and standardized behavioural protocols. However, current rehabilitation methods are often limited by access to clinical facilities and high cost of robotic therapies.