Could it be that one of only three known markers directly targeting the DNA does not exist outside the realm of microbes? Now, researchers led by Xiaoqi Feng at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) have demonstrated that this marker—N4-methylcytosine (4mC)—is essential for sperm development and maturation in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, a key organism in plant evolution. The findings were published in Cell.

 

The rapidly increasing data traffic is placing ever greater demands on the capacity of communication systems. In an article published in Nature, a research team from Chalmers University of Technology, in Sweden, introduces a new amplifier that enables the transmission of ten times more data per second than those of current fiber-optic systems. This amplifier, which fits on a small chip, holds significant potential for various critical laser systems, including those used in medical diagnostics and treatment.

Northwestern University researchers have developed the first wearable device for measuring gases emitted from and absorbed by the skin. By analyzing these gases, the device offers an entirely new way to assess skin health, including monitoring wounds, detecting skin infections, tracking hydration levels, quantifying exposure to harmful environmental chemicals and more. 

Researchers have long explored how fragile microscopic containers naturally found in raw cow’s milk — called exosomes — can be used to carry medicine through the body. Now, Virginia Tech scientists have improved a freeze-drying process that keeps exosomes stable for up to a year at room temperature. It’s a game-changer, it may allow medicine to be encapsulated and shipped without a costly cold-supply chain.

With the global prevalence of obesity on the rise, it is crucial to explore the neural mechanisms linked to obesity and its influence on brain and cognitive health. However, the impact of obesity on the brain is complex and multilevel. To address this, Prof. Anqi QIU, Professor of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Global STEM Scholar, has unveiled novel research to advance our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying the relationship between obesity and its implications for cognitive health in adults.