Scientists have found a way to stop brain cancer cells spreading by essentially ‘freezing’ a key molecule in the brain.

CRISPR gene-editing machinery could transform medicine but is difficult to get into tissues and disease-relevant cells. New delivery system loads CRISPR machinery inside spherical nucleic acid (SNA) nanoparticles. Particles entered cells three times more effectively, tripled gene-editing efficiency, and decreased toxicity compared to current delivery methods.

Scientists at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have discovered that human cells operate a sophisticated, synchronized traffic control system that actively monitors nutrient availability and precisely controls cellular energy balance and blood sugar levels. This finding challenges long-held assumptions about how cells sense and respond to changing nutrient levels—and offers a promising new target for treating diabetes and cancer.