In a global breakthrough published in Nature Genetics, researchers have successfully mapped the cells and genes that regulate bone formation and loss at an unprecedented scale and discovered the critical role that blood vessel cells play in bone health.

Air pollution from cruise ships could be damaging the health of people living in port cities by increasing inflammation and susceptibility to viruses such as the common cold and COVID-19.

The team constructed a hierarchical “herb–compound–target–disease” network that aligns with the holistic philosophy of TCM. This paradigm upgrades TCM intervention from single‑target modulation to network target regulation, scientifically interpreting the molecular logic of the “monarch‑minister‑assistant‑guide” compatibility principle and syndrome differentiation. It builds a foundational bridge between classical TCM theory and modern molecular biology.

Procrastination is on the rise, partly because of digital distractions and modern work, a new book warns. Working out which types of procrastinators we are is crucial to overcoming a problem that harms our finances, health and relationships.

Acupuncture to the ear may help to lessen pain from migraines and their impact on daily life, according to new research presented on Friday at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2026. A randomised clinical trial of the treatment, called auriculotherapy, found that migraines were less painful immediately after the treatment and 30 days later, compared with the pain experienced before treatment. The impact of migraines on daily life also improved.

A team of researchers developed a radically gentler way to monitor baibies in the neonatal unit: a featherlight, silk-based sticker, smaller than a coin, that quietly reads four critical health signals at once just by changing color.

Rice straw is often returned directly to fields to improve soil health, but in highly saline-sodic soils, where salt, alkalinity, and poor structure slow decomposition, that strategy may not work fast enough. A new study published in Biochar reports that converting rice straw into biochar before returning it to the field can offer a more effective route for sustainable rice production in salt-affected regions.

A new study published in Biochar shows that combining green manure with biochar can help farmers reduce nitrogen fertilizer use while improving soil health, water retention, carbon storage, nutrient supply, and microbial activity.