Leaf trichomes—tiny hair-like structures on leaves—play a crucial role in protecting plants from environmental stress and insect pests. 

The quality and effectiveness of medicinal herbs depend not only on their genetic blueprint but also on how they adapt to shifting climates. 

A joint study by Wroclaw Medical University and Duke University School of Medicine, published in the European Journal of Heart Failure, shows that faster lymph flow in the legs is linked to a better response to diuretics in patients with acute heart failure. Using indocyanine green lymphography, researchers demonstrated that efficient lymphatic drainage supports fluid removal and may determine treatment success. The findings position the lymphatic system as a potential new therapeutic target in managing heart failure.

Recently, a team of Estonian scientists published a study that may revolutionize how we analyze fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) measurements and address one of the major weaknesses in this approach. They used powerful computational tools originally built for artificial intelligence, but instead of relying on AI's "black box" methods, they applied these tools to optimize transparent, physics-based models.

In a pioneering study that explores innovative solutions for soil salinization, researchers are investigating the effects of subsurface organic fertilization on microbial necromass accumulation in saline soils. The study, titled "Subsurface Application of Organic Ameliorant in Saline Soils Increases Microbial Necromass Accumulation in Mineral-Associated Organic Matter," is led by Prof. Yuyi Li from the State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arable Land in China at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing, China. This research offers valuable insights into how subsurface organic fertilization can enhance soil health and mitigate the impacts of salinization.

Lentiviral vectors, long used in ex vivo gene therapy, are gaining attention for in vivo use. Luigi Naldini, Director of the San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy and a pioneer in the field, emphasizes their untapped potential across tissues and diseases. Rising academic and industry interest marks a new era for scalable, versatile gene therapies.

Scientists have decoded the molecular pathway behind the striking yellow petals of Camellia nitidissima and applied these insights to boost the nutritional profile of tomatoes. 

Every Rosh Hashanah, annual reports are released focused on birth rates, the average number of children per family, and other population growth data. However, there’s another side to these statistics: experiences of involuntary childlessness, in which people who wish to be parents are unable to for medical, social, or institutional reasons. A new study reveals that these experiences are far more widespread than commonly thought, especially among the LGBTQ+ community. The researchers note that an international comparison of this phenomenon is important, as countries vary widely in the degree of encouragement they offer for childbearing, the assistance they provide to prospective parents, and the barriers they place that can impede the path to parenthood. The current study compared responses from participants in the United States with those in Israel.