One of the differences between humans and the other great apes is that we commonly get chronic joint disease, while chimps and gorillas almost never do. At first glance, we seem to have struck a poor evolutionary bargain. Natural selection is supposed to weed out harmful traits, so why are we so much more prone to wear-and-tear disorders of the joints and spine than our evolutionary cousins? Osteoarthritis, for example, a major cause of disability and reduced quality of life, affects hundreds of millions worldwide. In a study published today in Nature, Israeli and Japanese researchers propose an answer based on the use of hybrid human-chimpanzee cells and other advanced techniques. They reveal that painful joints may be a hidden price we pay for traits that make us human.

People with neurodiversity, particularly autism and ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), may be more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) at younger ages, with particularly high prevalence of neurodiversity observed among individuals diagnosed with T2D before the age of 20, finds an analysis of patient data being presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan, Italy (September 28–October 2.

With prevalences of ADHD and autism among those aged under 20 years reaching as high as 14% and 5%, respectively, the authors underscore the importance of considering the needs of neurodivergent people when planning clinical services and support for those with early-onset T2D.

A new AI-based model can predict where glioblastoma is most likely to return after initial surgery, potentially giving doctors a chance to treat it before it becomes visible on MRI. 

Ancient cattle, sheep and goat bones suggest introduced livestock spread rapidly across Madagascar about 1,200 years ago.

The timing coincides with forest loss, expanding grasslands and declines of large native herbivores, including elephant birds and pygmy hippos.

The findings suggest that hunting, introduced animals, land-use change, vegetation shifts and climate variability all could have contributed to Madagascar’s megafauna extinctions.

The study offers historical context for land stewardship today, as Madagascar works to support livestock-reliant livelihoods while protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.