Collagen, the protein that builds skin, bones, tendons and organs, exists inside cells as a liquid-like droplet rather than the long, rigid rod seen in textbooks over the last half century, according to a new study from the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona.

The gut does much more than just digest food. Researchers at the University of Basel have now discovered a surprising link between gut function, feeding, and sleep in fruit flies. Their study adds to growing evidence that the gut communicates with the brain and can influence behavior.

A study by researchers from the Department of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University, and Medical School of Nanjing University suggests that antibiotic residue-related exposure may impair spermatogenesis by disturbing mitochondrial function. The researchers further found that DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, may help protect spermatocytes by restoring ER–mitochondria communication and reducing oxidative stress.

Extracellular vesicle-encapsulated miRNAs (EV-miRNAs) serve as a precise intercellular communication system with organ tropism, delivering functional RNA molecules to distant targets. A new review systematically maps their dual roles in immune regulation—shaping either host defense or immune evasion depending on context—ranging from pathogen infection and antitumor immunity to inflammation and tissue homeostasis. The article also addresses current challenges and future directions for clinical translation of EV-miRNA-based diagnostics and therapeutics.