A research team from the School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), in collaboration with Queen Mary University of London and the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, has unearthed the ancient evolutionary origins of genes critical to stem cell biology, dating back over 700 million years. Drawing on insights from evolutionary processes, this discovery reveals that tools borrowed from ancient single-celled organisms—and even recreated proteins from life’s earliest days—can transform mouse somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells capable of developing into any cell type in multicellular animals. This breakthrough challenges the longstanding belief that only animal genes possess this transformative ability, paving the way for new protein designs in novel therapies for regenerative medicine and disease studies to combat ageing and related health issues. The findings were recently published in Nature Communications.

Since its launch in 2015, the journal Engineering has been committed to international academic exchanges and engineering science and technology (EST) innovation. In this editorial, the editors-in-chief reflect on the journal’s decade-long journey. They emphasize the crucial role of EST in human development, from its impact on daily life to its role in driving civilization forward. With a new round of scientific and technological revolution underway, Engineering aims to become a top scholarly journal and a premier platform for international EST academic exchange. The editors express gratitude to those who have supported the journal and look forward to continued collaboration in serving the global academic community and contributing to EST innovation.

Concordia researchers became the first to show that the Dyslexia Adult Checklist, a free online resource developed by the British Dyslexia Association and among the most widely used dyslexia checklists globally, is both valid and reliable as an indicator of dyslexia. They do recommend, however, lowering the threshold of mild dyslexia from its current level.

Scientists have identified a key gene that regulates sugar metabolism and dramatically improves tomato fruit quality and resilience after harvest. 

Toxic chemicals, called PFAS, pose alarming danger to animals and humans in the Arctic, scientists say

Researchers from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with collaborators, uncovered a promising role for the neuronal guidance factor Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) in significantly slowing the progression of knee osteoarthritis by inhibiting nerve infiltration and maintaining cartilage health.

Researchers from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences constructed a library of live attenuated influenza A vaccines that utilize diverse E3 ubiquitin ligases to degrade viral proteins and achieve virus attenuation, and developed the next-generation proteolysis-targeting (PROTAR) strategy, PROTAR 2.0.

Traditional educational systems focused on prescribed, curriculum-defined courses of study impose societal expectations and limit student autonomy and personalized learning. To propose radical transformation to current educational systems, a team of researchers conducted an ecological analysis. Their proposed ‘school within a school’ approach can aid the utilization of artificial intelligence tools in education and equip students to face the challenges of the modern age.