Bananas are a staple for millions, yet their production is threatened by limited genetic diversity and breeding challenges.

Potatoes don't sprout by accident—timing is everything. A newly identified microRNA, named stu-miR319c, has been found to play a pivotal role in telling potato tubers when to break dormancy and start growing. 

How can additive manufacturing and metamaterials improve healthcare for aging populations? In a review published in the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, researchers examine how 3D printing technologies—particularly laser powder bed fusion and vat photopolymerization—are used to create personalized implants and tissue models using metals, polymers, and even living cells. Their work highlights the role of bioinspired lattice structures and mechanical metamaterials in addressing age-related biomedical challenges and advancing the future of regenerative medicine.

The small intestine is not only crucial for digestion but also for immune regulation and microbial balance. In a review, Chinese researchers summarize how specialized epithelial cells—Paneth and tuft cells—and associated immune cells maintain intestinal homeostasis. The review also explores how dysfunction in these cells contributes to chronic diseases such as IBD, obesity, and diabetes. The findings may guide future therapies targeting intestinal cell function to treat both gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders.