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Biology

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 6-Jun-2026 13:16 ET (6-Jun-2026 17:16 GMT/UTC)

New drug candidate prevents preterm birth in preclinical studies

American Association of Immunologists Inc
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Rytvela, an anti-inflammatory drug candidate, decreased premature birth and infant mortality when administered after the onset of preterm labor in a preclinical model. The current standard treatment for preterm labor, Nifedipine, failed to confer similar benefits. The researchers plan to begin clinical trials as Rytvela represents a promising treatment approach to safely prolong pregnancy and fetal growth while allowing newborn organs to continue developing in utero.

Journal: The Journal of Immunology

How horses whinny: Whistling while singing

Cell Press
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A horse’s whinny is an unusually distinctive mix of sounds including both high and low frequencies. Reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on February 23, researchers demonstrate how horses produce high-frequency sounds that defy their large size while simultaneously producing lower tones: they whistle through their larynx while vibrating their vocal folds as a human does while singing. Horses likely evolved these vocalizations to be able to convey multiple messages to one another at the same time, says the team.

Journal: Current Biology
Funder: Swiss National Science Foundation, Austrian Science Fund, Institut Universitaire de France

Bacteria with built-in compass

University of Basel
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Some bacteria are miniature masters of navigation: A built-in “compass” made of magnetic nanoparticles helps them to reliably find the optimal habitat. Researchers at the University of Basel have now unlocked the magnetic properties of individual bacteria — an important step toward harnessing the potential for technology, environmental research and medical applications.

Journal: Physical Review E

Smarter tissue and organ repair thanks to made in Ottawa next-gen hydrogel

University of Ottawa
Peer-Reviewed Publication

- uOttawa multidisciplinary team has built new hydrogels from synthetic peptides that can be customized as needed - a defining hallmark in the emerging era of personalized medicine. - Offers game-changing potential to impact future biomedical applications, from sealing traumatic wounds to closing surgical incisions. - Bonding strength is comparable to commercially available tissue adhesives.

Journal: Advanced Functional Materials

Pets can help older adults’ health & well-being, but may strain budgets too

Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan
Reports and Proceedings

Having a dog, cat or other pet can help older adults stay active and maintain a sense of purpose, but pet-related costs may increasingly strain their budgets, a new poll suggests.

Funder: University of Michigan

Schizophrenia: from neurobiology to novel therapies - a comprehensive review

Science China Press
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder involving disruptions in neurotransmitters, neurodevelopment, immune function, and genetics. While current antipsychotics mainly target dopamine, they often fail to address negative and cognitive symptoms. This review synthesizes the latest findings on the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and highlights emerging treatments such as TAAR1 agonists, muscarinic modulators, NMDA enhancers, anti-inflammatory agents, and gut-brain axis interventions, paving the way for more precise and effective therapies.

Journal: Science China Life Sciences

Understanding biology in space: platforms, tools, and databases for spatial transcriptomics

Science China Press
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Recently, the research team led by Prof. Youqiong Ye at the Shanghai Institute of Immunology published a comprehensive review entitled “Mapping Biology in Space: From Spatial Transcriptomics Platforms to Analytical Tools and Databases” in Science Bulletin.The review summarizes the key challenges currently facing the field of spatial transcriptomics and outlines future directions for its development. In addition, the authors developed SpatialToolDB (https://www.spatialtooldb.yelab.site/), a systematically curated, classified, and continuously updated database that currently catalogs 77 spatial transcriptomics technologies and 594 spatial transcriptomics analysis tools.By integrating the existing analytical tool ecosystem and providing an interactive resource portal, this review and SpatialToolDB offer a data-driven foundation to support researchers in selecting appropriate spatial transcriptomics platforms and analytical methods across diverse biological and translational research contexts.

Journal: Science Bulletin

Ribosomes in pairs

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scientists discover RNA-driven mechanism that helps neurons endure prolonged starvation

Journal: Science

Roadmap for Europe’s biodiversity monitoring system

German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Biodiversity is changing across the planet, yet governments still lack the robust, consistent data needed to track these changes and guide effective conservation. Now, a new study led by the University of Amsterdam (UvA), the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), and the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), proposes a comprehensive roadmap to build a modern, integrated Biodiversity Observation Network (BON) for Europe – one that could become a global model for biodiversity monitoring in the 21^st century. The study has been published in the journal Nature Reviews Biodiversity.

Journal: Nature Reviews Biodiversity
Funder: European Commission