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.

University of Stirling research has shed new light on the evolution of an important species of wasp – and believe that the findings could help improve the effectiveness of natural pest control. 

As decreasing sea ice allows ships to enter previously inaccessible regions, cruise ships and other vessels are now advancing into the most remote waters. When anchors are dropped, seafloor marine life is impacted. In the Antarctic Peninsula, ocean scientists have recorded crushed sponge colonies, disturbed soft sediment, and striations caused by anchor chain movement for the first time. Recognizing anchor damage as a pressing conservation issue is critically important to protect ocean life and develop mitigation strategies, the team said. 

Researchers from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) have developed an improved biological ageing clock, LinAge2, that offers doctors a practical and more accurate way to assess how quickly a person is ageing – and what can be done to slow it down.Researchers from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) have developed an improved biological ageing clock, LinAge2, that offers doctors a practical and more accurate way to assess how quickly a person is ageing – and what can be done to slow it down.