Advanced military technology exposes civilians to various toxic metals. New research in the field of psychology provides evidence that mothers’ and newborns’ exposure to toxic metals in wars endangers the children’s motor, cognitive and emotional development. Since breastfeeding during the first months is generally considered beneficial to infant health, the researchers were also interested in the role of breastfeeding in metal exposure and its association with child development issues.

A new study led by Prof. Haim Cohen at Bar-Ilan University, in collaboration with Dr. Sagi Snir and PhD student Sarit Feldman-Trabelsi, explores why some mammals live much longer and healthier lives than others. Using a novel computational tool called PHARAOH, the team analyzed protein modifications across 107 mammalian species and identified posttranslational modifications (PTMs) linked to longevity. These PTMs, which regulate crucial cellular functions, were consistently enriched in long-lived species and shown to play protective roles against age-related diseases like cancer. The findings offer promising insights into natural, evolution-driven mechanisms that support healthy aging and could inspire new therapies to extend human healthspan.

The labs of Ryan Flynn at Boston Children’s Hospital and Konstantinos Tzelepis at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute have found a readily druggable target on the surface of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells — in multiple in vivo models, monoclonal antibodies curbed the leukemia with no apparent side effects. The protein target, NPM1, was found in complexes of glycoRNAs and RNA-binding proteins on the cell surface.