According to a recent study, reducing body fat can improve long-distance running and cross-country skiing performance. However, a more effective way for female athletes to optimise their body composition is to convert body fat into muscle tissue rather than losing weight. The scientist emphasises that, due to the risks associated with weight and body composition optimisation, these methods should only be employed in adult elite level athletes.  

Vulvodynia is a painful chronic condition estimated to affect more than one in 10 women with no known cause with a first of its kind Stirling study looking to improve treatment

Coral reefs may seem like paradise, but they are being degraded by a range of global and local factors, including climate change, poor water quality, and overfishing. New research reveals that connections between reefs help stabilise reef health, reducing the risk of collapse, and that a dual approach – improving conditions on both land and sea – may be the best way to protect these crucial ecosystems.

Polydopamine-coated magnetic liposomes offer insight into the lectin–glycan interactions in motion. By observing minute changes in the rotational motion of magnetic nanoparticles under alternating magnetic field, the technique reveals binding patterns, including strong multivalent binding events under natural and physiological conditions. The findings of this study emphasize the role of structure–property relationships, while designing magnetic liposome-based biorecognition systems. This approach could accelerate innovations in diagnostics, glycoscience research, and drug discovery.

MUTE-Seq is a new liquid-biopsy method powered by an engineered ultra-precise CRISPR enzyme, FnCas9-AF2, which can distinguish single-base mismatches across all sgRNA positions with near-zero off-target activity. By selectively removing wild-type DNA before sequencing, it boosts true mutant signals up to tens of times and enables detection as low as ~0.005% VAF. The technique improves MRD monitoring and early-stage cancer detection while avoiding the need for costly ultra-deep sequencing.

A study of 13,126 participants from the UK Biobank found that individuals diagnosed with diabetes after age 50 had a lower risk of all-cause dementia compared to those diagnosed before 50. The protective effect was strongest among those with high genetic risk for dementia or carrying the APOE ε4 allele. These results highlight the importance of early diabetes management and personalized prevention strategies for high-risk groups.