A new study finds that most beef cattle in South America experience hundreds to thousands of hours of heat-related discomfort each year, making heat stress one of the region’s most significant animal welfare challenges. By translating climate data into time animals spend in thermal discomfort, the research shows heat stress is a daily reality rather than an occasional risk. The study also finds that providing shade can dramatically reduce severe heat stress while delivering economic returns for producers.

Pregnant individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have higher levels of pro-inflammatory immune molecules, known as cytokines, in their vaginal mucosa than their healthy counterparts, according to a new study published January 14, 2026 in the open-access journal PLOS One by Ana Maldonado-Contreras of University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, U.S., and colleagues. However, the study also suggested that higher-quality diets, with more vegetables and fewer added sugars, are associated with lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in pregnant women both with and without IBD.