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Scientists show gut bacteria can reach the brain in mice and reveal a potential vagus nerve pathway

Researchers found that very small numbers of gut bacteria can translocate to the brain in mice, particularly when gut barrier permeability increases due to a Paigen diet. Evidence suggests the vagus nerve may serve as a partial route for this gut-to-brain microbial movement.

15 Mar 2026

New RNA therapy enhances the heart's ability to repair itself after injury

After a heart attack, cardiologists can reopen blocked vessels and restore blood flow, but the muscle cells that died will never be replaced.

13 Mar 2026

High fat diets allow gut bacteria to enter the brain via the vagus nerve

With more than 100 million neurons in the digestive tract, the gut is commonly known as the "second brain" in numerous cultures, including ancient Greece, Japan, China and India, linking digestion with physical and mental well-being.

12 Mar 2026

Adding three simple amino acids boosts mRNA and CRISPR delivery

Lipid nanoparticles, or LNPs, best known as the delivery vehicle for the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines received by billions of people, are now at the center of a much larger medical revolution.

12 Mar 2026

As lung disease threatens workers, lawmakers seek protections for countertop manufacturers

César Manuel González, 37, used to work with stone that was engineered to endure: dense, polished slabs designed to outlast the kitchens in which they were installed.

12 Mar 2026

Apixaban safer than rivaroxaban for treating venous thrombosis

The first clinical trial to compare two commonly used drugs head-to-head for venous thrombosis treatment has found a clear winner: while both drugs work well to prevent recurrent blood clots, apixaban is safer than rivaroxaban, with fewer bleeding complications.

11 Mar 2026

How the aging gastrointestinal tract drives age-related cognitive decline

We become forgetful as we age. This is often seen as a universal truth, but in fact it is far from universal: some people remain incredibly sharp at 100 years old, while others experience memory loss starting in middle age.

11 Mar 2026

Severe COVID and flu infections increase risk of lung cancer

Severe COVID-19 and influenza infections prime the lungs for cancer and can accelerate the disease's development, but vaccination heads off those harmful effects, new research from UVA Health's Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research and UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center indicates.

11 Mar 2026

New consensus defines oligometastatic stage in pancreatic cancer

Until now, the following has been true for metastatic pancreatic cancer: Once the tumor has spread, local treatment such as surgery is usually no longer an option.

10 Mar 2026

Air pollution may be lowering global IQ and widening inequality, researchers warn

Researchers argue that exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) may affect cognitive function and intelligence, potentially causing large population-level losses in global IQ. Using modelling based on published exposure–response data, the authors estimate that pollution could be associated with tens of billions of IQ points lost worldwide, with the largest impacts in lower-income regions.

10 Mar 2026

New study examines blood clot risks for female astronauts in microgravity

Just a few days in simulated microgravity can subtly change the way women's blood clots, sparking bigger questions about health monitoring protocols for astronauts who can spend six months or more in orbit, say Simon Fraser University researchers.

4 Mar 2026

Gut microbiota-derived metabolite directly shapes immune responses in bacterial pneumonia

Sepsis and severe pneumonia are frequently accompanied by disruption of the gut microbiota, leading to immune dysfunction and increased susceptibility to secondary infections.

4 Mar 2026

Sustainable inhalers offer better outcomes for COPD patients

New research from UCLA Health suggests that certain inhalers used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are not only less harmful to the environment but can also lead to slightly better patient outcomes.

26 Feb 2026

Genetic switch MafB enables macrophages to reach full maturity and preserve organ health

Researchers at the University of Liège have identified a key genetic regulator that enables macrophages to reach full maturity and preserve the health of our organs.

26 Feb 2026

Targeting glutamine metabolism offers new hope for synovial sarcoma treatment

Synovial sarcoma is an aggressive malignant tumor that primarily affects the limbs of teenagers and young adults.

26 Feb 2026

Disrupted lymphatic vessels may drive chronic organ transplant rejection

Despite advances in the field of organ transplantation, long-term organ rejection that can become apparent a decade or more after a heart or lung transplant remains a common problem for patients.

25 Feb 2026

Early-life immune system differences drive childhood eczema risk

A team of researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Weill Cornell Medicine, and other institutions have uncovered a key biological explanation for why eczema so often starts in childhood.

25 Feb 2026

Study reveals gaps in life-saving antenatal treatments for premature babies

A new global analysis of two antenatal treatments that reduce the risk of cerebral palsy and respiratory complications in premature babies reveals significant international variation in implementation.

25 Feb 2026

Lingering brain inflammation found after mild COVID infection

Even a mild case of COVID-19 or the flu can impact the body long after the fever and cough fade, according to new Tulane University research that may help explain why some people struggle to feel fully recovered weeks or months later.

25 Feb 2026