Pear is one of the world's most important fruit crops, but the genetic story behind its origin, spread, and most desirable traits has remained difficult to untangle.

A new commentary in Forest Ecosystems warns that peer review in forestry journals is under mounting pressure: published articles have quadrupled since 2000 while the reviewer workforce has shrunk. The authors examine how AI tools could help fill the gap, finding they are useful for catching technical errors but cannot replace the deeper judgement of human experts. They call on journals to experiment with new review models, consider compensating reviewers, and develop clear policies for responsible AI use.

Patients with advanced prostate cancer may need periodic imaging scans to catch tumor growth even with stable levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein in the blood that doctors routinely monitor for cancer progression, according to an analysis led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and Duke University. In some cases, cancer progression was detected on scans even when PSA levels were undetectable.

What do bee venom, frog skin secretions, and the body's own antimicrobial molecules have in common? According to a new review published in the Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines, they all contain naturally derived oncolytic peptides, small proteins that are emerging as promising tools in the fight against cancer. Unlike many conventional therapies that target specific molecular pathways, these peptides primarily attack the outer membranes of cancer cells, allowing them to destroy tumors through a fundamentally different mechanism. Many can also stimulate immune responses against cancer, raising interest in their use alongside modern immunotherapies. The review summarizes recent advances in peptide discovery, molecular engineering, drug delivery, and clinical development, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges involved in translating these natural molecules into future cancer treatments.

Chronic wounds and drug-resistant infections are becoming increasingly difficult to manage, creating an urgent need for new treatment options. Plant essential oils, such as tea tree oil, clove oil, and thyme oil, are known for their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, but their medical use has been limited because they evaporate easily and are difficult for the body to absorb effectively. A review published in the Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines explores how nano-emulsions, tiny droplets that improve the delivery of active ingredients, may help overcome these challenges. By enhancing stability, penetration, and bioavailability, nano-emulsions could strengthen the antimicrobial and wound-healing effects of essential oils. The review summarizes recent advances in this rapidly developing field and discusses how these formulations may help transform traditional plant-derived compounds into practical tools for infection control and wound management.

Researchers at The University of Manchester in collaboration with Hebei University of Technology have identified how a new class of catalyst can break down lignin – one of the most abundant components of plant biomass – into useful chemical building blocks, offering a more sustainable route to replace fossil-based materials.

This study, published in Forest Ecosystems, examines what controls the stability of forest regeneration under climate variability using 15 years of seedling data from a temperate forest in northeastern China. It finds that the stability of dominant species is the primary driver of consistent seedling survival and recruitment, outweighing the roles of biodiversity and species asynchrony. Seasonal drought reduces regeneration stability by weakening both dominant species and compensatory dynamics among species, while deeper snow enhances stability by buffering environmental stress. Local factors further shape these patterns, with dense tree neighborhoods reducing survival stability but sometimes supporting more stable recruitment. Overall, the results show that forest regeneration is highly sensitive to climate change, and that maintaining stable dominant species is key to sustaining forest resilience.