Research has found that children with higher genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia show decreases in frontal cortical surface area during early adolescence, in contrast to the regional expansion observed in children with low genetic susceptibility. This suggests that individuals with high genetic liability for schizophrenia may already show deviations in their neurodevelopmental trajectories before symptoms typically appear in young adulthood. The findings from the new study in Biological Psychiatry, published by Elsevier, provide critical insights for refining developmental models of schizophrenia and for informing the timing of preventive interventions.

Scientists from EMBL and the University of Virginia discovered a new protein while investigating what happens to yeast cells when stressed. When yeast is deprived of glucose, a newly identified protein named SNOR attaches to its ribosomes, resulting in a dormant state that preserves resources and energy. SNOR’s more vital role comes in restarting protein synthesis once nutrients become available again. This study is an example of how new technologies, such as cellular cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) and visual proteomics, offer a ‘higher-definition’ approach to conducting structural biology, enabling scientists to discover the role of previously uncharacterised proteins.

Woods Hole, Mass. (May 13, 2026) – Storm petrels are among the smallest and most mysterious seabirds. Until recently, the use of biologgers to track their movements was impossible. A new study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society: Biology Letters reveals that they routinely travel hundreds of kilometers while deliberately seeking crosswinds, an unexpected strategy that slows their flight but may help them survive above the open ocean.

A microscopic “plant destroyer” not only helped trigger one of the deadliest famines in modern history but also reshaped global agriculture and gave birth to an entirely new scientific discipline. Now, nearly 180 years after the Irish Potato Famine devastated Ireland and altered the course of human history, researchers are tracing the remarkable scientific journey of the organism behind it: Phytophthora infestans and the larger genus, Phytophthora.

A Chinese Medical Journal study reveals Rhein, a rhubarb-derived compound, protects against severe acute pancreatitis-associated intestinal injury by activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) to suppress NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and reprogram macrophage polarization from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. Rhein restored intestinal barrier integrity and reduced endotoxemia—effects abolished by PPARγ inhibition. This identifies the PPARγ/NLRP3/macrophage axis as a promising therapeutic target for SAP complications.