Babies are born with the ability to predict rhythm, according to a study published February 5^th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by ​​Roberta Bianco from the Italian Institute of Technology, and colleagues.

In a series of tea party-like experiments, Johns Hopkins University researchers demonstrate for the first time that apes can use their imagination and play pretend, an ability thought to be uniquely human.

This novel study uncovers how a subtle chemical tweak transforms the naturally occurring phytotoxin into a powerful molecular glue, 12-deoxyfusicoccin (12-dFC), that locks 14-3-3 proteins onto the intrinsically disordered translational repressor GIGYF2 in human cells. Through integrated proteomic, biochemical, and functional analyses, the work reveals an AMPK-driven stress pathway that 12-dFC exploits to shut down protein synthesis, rewire metabolism, and halt cell proliferation, pointing to an unexpected and promising strategy for targeting cancer cells.

Key takeaways: 

– Researchers at UC Santa Cruz developed a faster way to screen enzyme variants, helping scientists identify promising drug-making molecules much earlier and easing a major bottleneck in biocatalysis that has slowed pharmaceutical discovery for decades.

– The new method enhances mass spectrometry by capturing molecular shape, not just weight, allowing scientists to distinguish between molecules that weigh the same but behave very differently in the body—an essential capability for safe and effective drug development.

– Using this approach, the team streamlined production of the neurochemical kainic acid, reducing its synthesis from many complex chemical steps to just two, including a single enzyme-driven reaction inspired by seaweed biology.

Predicting tumour progression is one of the major challenges in oncology. Scientists at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research have discovered that neutrophils, a type of immune cell, undergo reprogramming when they come into contact with the tumour ecosystem and contribute to its progression. They then produce a molecule — the chemokine CCL3 — which promotes cancer growth rather than fighting it. This mechanism appears to be a major variable in tumour biology and could serve as an indicator of disease progression. These findings are published in the journal Cancer Cell.

Scientists used a group of plants called melastomes as a case study to determine how, when and why a mountain range in Hispaniola became exceptionally biodiverse.