A new way of designing antibiotics could support the discovery of new treatments for drug-resistant infections.

Microplastics (MP) are the subject of intensive medical research, but little is yet known about their effects on the immune system. A study led by the Medical University of Vienna now shows that tiny particles of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) remain in the lungs of mice, can exacerbate respiratory tract inflammation and alter the immune responses associated with allergies. The findings were published in the "Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances" and once again highlight the health implications of the increasing environmental burden posed by microplastics.

Bans on teenagers’ social media use are gathering pace worldwide. Their proponents claim that social media bans will improve young people’s mental health, but what evidence supports these claims? In their new Frontiers in Developmental Psychology article, Dr Monika Neff Lind and her co-authors argue that there is no solid scientific evidence behind these bans, and reason to believe they could backfire. In this guest editorial, Neff Lind explains why she and her colleagues doubt that social media bans will work, and how bans should be evaluated to determine whether they have any positive effects.

Researchers call for stronger measures beyond food labels to cut sugar consumption.

Aging is characterized by chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Glucagon‑like peptide‑1 receptor agonists (GLP‑1 RAs), developed for type 2 diabetes and obesity, may modulate the hallmarks of aging. This review summarizes mechanistic and therapeutic evidence that GLP‑1 RAs improve mitochondrial function, reduce oxidative stress, enhance autophagy, and attenuate inflammaging. Preclinical and clinical data indicate neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and metabolic benefits. GLP‑1 RAs affect all 12 hallmarks of aging, including genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, loss of proteostasis, insulin resistance, and dysbiosis. Although long‑term safety requires further evaluation, GLP‑1 RAs are promising gerotherapeutics with potential to extend healthspan.

Experts have exposed a gap between the surge of menopause information available online and the quality of medical care women receive, suggesting women’s symptoms are too often minimised or dismissed by doctors.