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The mystery of the missing deep ocean carbon fixers

In a step toward better understanding how the ocean sequesters carbon, new findings from UC Santa Barbara researchers and collaborators challenge the current view of how carbon dioxide is "fixed" in the sunless ocean depths. UCSB microbial oceanographer Alyson Santoro and colleagues, publishing in the journal Nature Geoscience, present results that help to reconcile discrepancies in accounting for nitrogen supply and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) fixation at depth.

Extensive hydrothermal vent field discovered off Milos reveals tectonic influence

A new study published in Scientific Reports reports the discovery of a remarkably extensive hydrothermal vent field on the shelf of Milos Island, Greece. The vents were identified during the METEOR expedition M192, where the research team used a combination of different methods, including underwater technologies such as autonomous and remotely operated vehicles, to survey the seafloor.

Why your faucet drips: Water jet breakup traced to angstrom-scale thermal capillary waves

Some phenomena in our daily lives are so commonplace that we don't realize there could be some very interesting physics behind them. Take a dripping faucet: why does the continuous stream of water from a faucet eventually break up into individual droplets? A team of physicists studied this question and reached surprising conclusions.

Are university policies holding science back? Study shows how patenting boosts pure research

When UC Berkeley biochemist Jennifer Doudna first began studying how bacteria fight virus infections, she had no idea it would result in one of the most important scientific breakthroughs of the century. Her curiosity-driven research on an obscure bacterial immune system called CRISPR eventually led to a revolutionary gene-editing tool—and earned her the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

How supplemental feeding boosts reproductive conditions of urban squirrels

Urbanization is rapidly growing worldwide, often bringing negative effects on wildlife through loss of habitat and disturbances such as light pollution and noise. Yet some species manage to adapt to cities, either due to their inherent traits, like boldness or being omnivorous, or by adjusting their ecological or behavioral traits to take advantage of urban resources. Among these resources, food plays a particularly important role for reproduction and survival.

Probiotics and prebiotics offer safer alternatives to antibiotics in animal agriculture

A new study by researchers at Shinshu University highlights the essential role of gut microbiota in livestock health and productivity. The researchers show how probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics can safely enhance growth and immunity, and balance the growth of intestinal microbes, offering practical alternatives to antibiotics. As global restrictions on antibiotic use intensify, the findings support sustainable livestock management and contribute to reducing antimicrobial resistance risks.

Non-timber products have the potential to finance reforestation projects

The cost of forest restoration is a considerable obstacle, sparking discussions in recent years about how to make it economically viable. Since native wood management, carbon credits, and payment for ecosystem services are long-term solutions—the latter two with a nascent market—a group of researchers proposes exploiting non-timber forest products with added value to generate income from reforestation areas.

Do super-Jupiters look like Jupiter? Not necessarily, study shows

Using images from the James Webb Space Telescope (Webb), an international research team including Western's Stanimir Metchev has discovered new answers to explain how some brown dwarfs form giant dust storms, contradicting previous assumptions. These storms may look similar to Jupiter's iconic Great Red Spot, but the new study, led by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, shows they actually form quite differently.

Mineral fertilizer, not soil, found to supply most toxic cadmium in wheat grains

Plants absorb not only nutrients but also toxic metals such as cadmium through their roots. It was previously unclear whether the toxic metals came from the soil or the fertilizers applied. Under the leadership of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, a research team has examined wheat grains to clarify the question.

Death and devastation: Why a rare equatorial cyclone and other storms have hit southern Asia so hard

More than 900 people are dead, thousands more missing and millions affected by a band of cyclones and extreme monsoonal weather across southern Asia. Torrential rain has triggered the worst flooding in decades, accompanied by landslides. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia have been hit hardest. The death toll is likely to rise significantly.

VIRE: A global data platform to better understand viruses

Researchers have developed VIRE, a database that integrates approximately 1.7 million viral genomes derived from more than 100,000 metagenomes worldwide. Metagenomic data is obtained by comprehensively sequencing all DNA present in an environment. This approach enables the recovery of genomic information from microorganisms and viruses that cannot be cultured in the laboratory.

[Clinical Picture] Leprosy and leukaemia: an unexpected interaction

A 64-year-old man first presented 6 years ago with multiple skin nodules, limb numbness, pain, and pruritus. Facial oedema developed 1 year later. An initial complete blood count showed leukocytosis and lymphocytosis (appendix p 1). Bone marrow aspiration established a diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and watchful waiting was instituted.

[Viewpoint] Medical tourism for cellular therapy: a clinical perspective

Medical tourism in the field of cellular therapy has been increasing exponentially, especially in the past decade, due to multiple advances in the field. Our Viewpoint explores this growing field, with a specific focus on haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. We discuss the global status, regulatory challenges, and ethical considerations associated with medical tourism. We highlight benefits and drawbacks of medical tourism with regard to patient care and the impact on local health-care systems.

[Articles] Venetoclax plus azacitidine in relapsed or refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: a multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 trial

The venetoclax plus azacitidine regimen showed a manageable safety profile and promising activity as salvage therapy for relapsed or refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Given the limited sample size and single-arm design nature, further confirmatory trials are warranted to validate its efficacy as a potential salvage therapy for relapsed or refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

[In Focus] Illegal blood trade as cause for blood shortages in public hospitals in northern Nigeria

WHO recognises blood as an essential medicine, yet many regions face critical shortages. In sub-Saharan Africa, insufficient blood donations and concerns about blood safety exacerbate the problem. Recent calls for prioritising blood transfusion as a global health priority highlight the urgency of addressing these challenges. Here we report on illegal blood trade as a significant, under-reported factor threatening safe blood supply and contributing to preventable maternal and child mortality. Although locally affordable interventions can improve transfusion practices, increased repeat voluntary blood donation is crucial to meet the increasing demand.