A research team has pinpointed PTCHD1-AS, a long non-coding RNA gene on the X chromosome, as a contributor to increased likelihood of ASD in males. Notably, deletions within PTCHD1-AS influence social interaction and repetitive behaviours, while leaving cognition unaffected.   

Scientists from EMBL and the University of Virginia discovered a new protein while investigating what happens to yeast cells when stressed. When yeast is deprived of glucose, a newly identified protein named SNOR attaches to its ribosomes, resulting in a dormant state that preserves resources and energy. SNOR’s more vital role comes in restarting protein synthesis once nutrients become available again. This study is an example of how new technologies, such as cellular cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) and visual proteomics, offer a ‘higher-definition’ approach to conducting structural biology, enabling scientists to discover the role of previously uncharacterised proteins.

BUFFALO, NY – May 13, 2026 – A new case report was published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget on May 4, 2026, titled “Laryngeal leiomyosarcoma: A rare case report and literature review.”

Woods Hole, Mass. (May 13, 2026) – Storm petrels are among the smallest and most mysterious seabirds. Until recently, the use of biologgers to track their movements was impossible. A new study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society: Biology Letters reveals that they routinely travel hundreds of kilometers while deliberately seeking crosswinds, an unexpected strategy that slows their flight but may help them survive above the open ocean.

A microscopic “plant destroyer” not only helped trigger one of the deadliest famines in modern history but also reshaped global agriculture and gave birth to an entirely new scientific discipline. Now, nearly 180 years after the Irish Potato Famine devastated Ireland and altered the course of human history, researchers are tracing the remarkable scientific journey of the organism behind it: Phytophthora infestans and the larger genus, Phytophthora.

A Chinese Medical Journal study reveals Rhein, a rhubarb-derived compound, protects against severe acute pancreatitis-associated intestinal injury by activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) to suppress NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and reprogram macrophage polarization from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. Rhein restored intestinal barrier integrity and reduced endotoxemia—effects abolished by PPARγ inhibition. This identifies the PPARγ/NLRP3/macrophage axis as a promising therapeutic target for SAP complications.

EPFL researchers have used a neural network to create all-atom models of proteins, as well as the dynamic movements that govern their function. Their comprehensive yet simplified approach resolves a major bottleneck in biology.

Human childbirth is commonly viewed as uniquely difficult and dangerous. The reason: the combination of bipedalism and large brains creates a tight fit between the baby and the birth canal. Research at the University of Vienna has now shown that many other mammals – from domestic livestock to wild species – face similar birth problems and mortality. In some species, these complications even occur as often as in some human populations, such as hunter-gatherers without modern medical care. The findings suggest that difficult childbirth is not uniquely human. The study was published in Biological Reviews.