Immune cells called double negative T cells are abundant in the intestine but have been poorly understood till date. In a recent study, researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo report that these cells actually have an indispensable role in suppressing intestinal inflammation. Through cutting-edge microscopy that allows live imaging, the movement and functioning of these cells were visualized for the first time, providing insights into conditions such as Crohn’s disease.

Phospholipids, essential components of cell membranes, are increasingly recognized for their active roles in regulating innate immunity and inflammation. A new review is published to outline how phospholipid metabolism shapes immune cell behavior, influences the outcome of host defense and tissue homeostasis. The authors also discuss how dysregulation of phospholipid metabolism contributes to inflammatory diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases and cancers, and highlight the potential strategies of restoring phospholipid homeostasis for disease treatment.

Climate change poses a major threat to the organisms such as plankton that form the base of the marine food web. A team of scientists from MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen have used the fossil record to show that only a relatively minor amount of climatic change is needed to affect plankton communities. They have published their findings in Communications Earth & Environment.

Certain nutrients in food can trigger a mild stress response in nematodes. But instead of making them sick, this actually helps them stay healthier as they age, according to researchers at the University of Basel, Switzerland.

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, Boston Medical Center, and Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, have developed a software platform to help scientists more easily analyze the molecular structure of tissue in both healthy and disease states. Details on the platform, called Giotto Suite, were reported in the October 1 online issue of Nature Methods [DOI: 10.1038/s41592-025-02817-w].

New research published in Nature Ecology & Evolution sheds light on the timelines and pathways of evolution of fungi, finding evidence of their influence on ancient terrestrial ecosystems. The study, led by researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and collaborators, indicates the diversification of fungi hundreds of millions of years before the emergence of land plants.

Recent studies led by an international consortium of researchers, including scientists from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, unveiled groundbreaking findings in biodiversity conservation through in situ DNA barcoding in the Peruvian Amazon.