Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) detection in wastewater offers a novel approach to monitor the virus in communities. Researchers report that their method, called hybrid-capture genetic sequencing, allows them to analyze viral genomes in detail and specifically identify viral signals coming from community wastewater. Analysis of sites with available clinical data showed that wastewater HIV signals strongly coincided with the number of people known to be living with HIV in that community, providing evidence that wastewater HIV signals can track HIV burden.

Blood clotting is one of the body’s oldest survival mechanisms—a biological defense that has protected humans from dangerous bleeding for millions of years. But when severe injuries strike, nature’s solution can sometimes fall short. Now, researchers in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering at CU Boulder are helping test a new type of engineered blood clot that forms faster and is more durable than the ones found in nature. The new technique could one day transform how doctors treat traumatic injuries and manage life-threatening blood loss.

College students have rapidly adopted generative AI, but critical questions remain about its use for mental health support. In a study co-led by investigators at Mass General Brigham, 18% of surveyed college students reported using artificial intelligence (AI) for mental health. Students with more severe mental health symptoms were more likely to do so. The findings are published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.