Brain Health, a new peer-reviewed journal from Genomic Press, launches today with an inaugural issue anchored by an interview with neuroscientist Luísa Pinto of the University of Minho, whose two-decade pursuit of newborn astrocytes has reshaped how the field understands recovery from depression. The journal, edited by Ma-Li Wong, is designed to convene the fields of cognitive reserve, longevity, sleep science, aging biology, nutritional psychiatry, behavioral intervention, neuroimaging, normative data, and the social sciences and humanities around a shared question: how do human brains remain resilient, recover when injured, and stay functional across the longest possible arc of a life?

A nationwide survey of more than 2,000 nurses and nursing students reveals a workforce driven by purpose – but under growing strain since 2022. While 83% enter nursing to make a difference (up from 66%), burnout has surged from 39% to 67%, pay and benefits concerns from 24% to 53%, and those feeling undervalued from 26% to 49%. Short staffing also rose from 53% to 61%. Even so, 62% prioritize flexibility and 52% job security, underscoring urgent calls for better support.

A 2019 vaping-related health scare reshaped how many smokers view the risks of e-cigarettes – and those perceptions still linger today. New research from MUSC Hollings Cancer Center found that smokers came to see e-cigarettes as equally or more dangerous relative to combustible cigarettes, even after the true cause of the illness was identified, which may influence decisions about quitting or switching.

“That period really changed how people think about these products,” said lead researcher Tracy Smith, Ph.D., who co-leads the Hollings Cancer Prevention and Control Program. “Even after we learned more about what caused the illness, those perceptions didn’t fully reset.”

"Ultra-Processed Food and Health: From Mechanisms to Actions” brought together many of the world’s leading experts to examine one of the most pressing topics in nutrition science.

The symposium convened an international group of researchers, clinicians and policy experts to explore the rapidly evolving science surrounding ultra-processed foods and their impact on human health. Discussions spanned the biological mechanisms linking ultra-processed foods to chronic disease, the gaps in available research, the role of the food environment and industry practices, and opportunities for policy and public health action.