Microplastics have become nearly impossible to avoid. They have been detected in oceans, drinking water and even the human body, but scientists are still uncovering how they affect human health.

Now, researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) have uncovered evidence that one of the world’s most common plastics may do more than pollute the environment. Their findings suggest that polyethylene may contribute to fatty liver disease and worsen the condition when combined with an unhealthy diet.

Researchers at Lehigh University have developed one of the first comprehensive digital twins modeling the neural circuitry between the gut and brain. Funded by the NIH SPARC program, this quantitative computer model simulates how electrical signals travel via the vagus nerve to regulate digestion. By accurately modeling communication breakdowns that cause disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI)—such as irritable bowel syndrome and gastroparesis—the digital twin enables scientists to virtually test and optimize invasive and non-invasive neurostimulation therapies before advancing to costly animal and human clinical trials.