Researchers developed a computational framework that enables them to explore and probe the evolution of vision systems over millions of years using embodied AI agents. This work could help scientists develop better sensors and cameras for robots, drones, and wearable devices.

International honor recognizes organizations that successfully leverage digital health to improve patient care and operational efficiency

Using a technique inspired by kirigami, the Japanese art of paper cutting, engineers at the University of Pittsburgh have created transparent barriers that block and absorb electromagnetic interference (EMI) while remaining flexible enough to fold. The researchers have harnessed the power of a single laser to both carbonize and cut polymer films, patterning laser-induced graphene (LIG) into intricate honeycomb designs.

As rates of obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea increase, cases of advanced chronic liver disease and resulting liver scarring or cirrhosis also are rising. Patients often are diagnosed based on symptoms, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, fluid retention or jaundice, which happen when liver disease has progressed to a late stage. This problem led Mayo Clinic researchers to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) model that resulted in twice the number of advanced chronic liver disease diagnoses in patients without symptoms, helping physicians treat them before the disease had progressed.

Can the weakened immune systems of older individuals be rejuvenated? Researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the HI-STEM* institute, and the Broad Institute have demonstrated that this is possible with an innovative approach. In a study now published in Nature, the team showed that mRNA technology can be used to transform the liver in mice into a temporary source of important immune regulatory factors that are naturally lost during aging. This restores the formation of new immune cells, allowing older animals to develop robust immune responses again and fight tumors effectively.

Species of bacteria in the gut microbiome are evolving differently in industrialized and non-industrialized parts of the world, researchers have found. One adaptation that has become prominent in industrialized regions may help the bacteria digest novel starches, such as maltodextrin, found in highly processed foods. Other adaptations appear to also be responding to lifestyle differences in industrialized vs. non-industrialized regions, suggesting that gut bacteria evolve rapidly in response to different diets.