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Tiny protein region unlocks secrets to healthy heartbeat

A tiny region in a little-known muscle protein may hold the key to a healthy, steady heartbeat, as well as possible clues to future treatment of devastating heart ailments.

26 Feb 2026

New mouse model uncovers achondroplasia's cellular growth plate dysregulation

Achondroplasia, also known as short-limb dwarfism, is associated with neurological symptoms and complications due to narrowing of the skeletal structures surrounding the spinal cord.

26 Feb 2026

Scientists uncover key protein essential for malaria parasite survival

An international team of scientists has shed light on the development of the malaria parasite and have identified a unique protein essential for its survival and transmission, which offers a promising new target for antimalaria drugs.

26 Feb 2026

Daily aspirin not reliable for preventing bowel cancer

Daily aspirin use does not offer a quick or reliable way to prevent bowel cancer in the general population and carries immediate risks of serious bleeding, a new Cochrane review finds.

25 Feb 2026

Reducing miRNA levels helps rescue vascular defects in Rett syndrome

MIT researchers have discovered that two common genetic mutations that cause Rett syndrome each set off a molecular chain of events that compromises the structural integrity of developing brain blood vessels, making them leaky.

25 Feb 2026

Vitamin B3 shows promise for treating rare genetic disorder

Scientists at Gladstone Institutes have flipped the traditional approach to finding potential treatments for deadly diseases.

25 Feb 2026

Ketogenic diet alters brain signaling to reduce epileptic seizures

A ketogenic diet - one that is high in fat and extremely low in carbohydrates - has been known for decades to reduce seizures in some epilepsy patients.

25 Feb 2026

Having “hasslers” in your network linked to faster aging and poorer health

Researchers analyzed a state-representative US sample to examine whether negative social ties, termed “hasslers,” are associated with epigenetic age acceleration and faster biological aging. Each additional hassler was linked to roughly nine months higher biological age and a 1.5% faster pace of aging, with particularly strong associations for mental health outcomes.

25 Feb 2026

Could a rare gene variant help reduce smoking? New study suggests it might

An exome-wide association study of nearly 38,000 smokers from the Mexico City Prospective Study identified rare coding variants in CHRNB3 that are associated with substantially fewer cigarettes smoked per day. Cross-ancestry analyses in European and East Asian datasets support a role for the β3 nicotinic receptor subunit in modulating smoking intensity.

25 Feb 2026

Next-generation CAR T therapy offers hope but faces clinical challenges

A new editorial perspective was published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget on February 20, 2026, titled "CAR-T therapy: Trailblazing CAR(ing) in cancer treatment."

25 Feb 2026

Unexpected behavior observed during interactions between immune cells and dying cells

Over the years, cell biology has built a detailed picture of how cells compartmentalize their internal functions. Central to this organization is the nucleus, which houses the genetic material and is separated from the cytoplasm by a robust nuclear envelope.

25 Feb 2026

New Pico C technology maps genome structure before activation

For decades, scientists viewed the genome of a newly fertilised egg as a structural 'blank slate' – a disordered tangle of DNA waiting for the embryo to 'wake up' and start reading its own genetic instructions.

24 Feb 2026

Researchers uncover vulnerabilities in elusive HIV reservoir clones

A new study has overcome a long-standing challenge-how to isolate and study elusive HIV-infected cells called authentic reservoir clones (ARCs) that evade the immune system, making the disease difficult to cure.

24 Feb 2026

Parental obesity before conception raises offspring fatty liver risk

Pre-pregnancy parental overweight and obesity is linked to the next generation's heightened risk of developing fatty liver disease, a potential precursor to cirrhosis and liver failure, suggests research published online in the journal Gut.

24 Feb 2026

Viral RNA modifications trigger celiac inflammation

An EHU study indicates that a drug already approved for use in humans could help to reduce the inflammation associated with celiac disease.

24 Feb 2026

Child stunting: Historical evidence confirms global eradication is possible

New research led by LSE reveals that high‑income countries once suffered severe child stunting comparable to rates seen in many low‑ and middle‑income countries today, offering powerful evidence that child stunting can be eliminated globally.

24 Feb 2026

Swiss centenarians show youthful blood protein profiles in aging study

In Switzerland, 0.02% of the population lives beyond the age of 100. Could there be biological characteristics associated with this exceptional longevity? As part of the "SWISS100" study, the first large-scale Swiss research project dedicated to centenarians, a team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the University of Lausanne (UNIL) compared the blood profiles of centenarians with those of octogenarians, and then with those of individuals aged 30 to 60.

24 Feb 2026