An international research group recently demonstrated that the antibody NG101 promotes the regeneration of damaged spinal cord tissue. Now, under the leadership of scientists at the University of Zurich and Balgrist University Hospital, the group has revealed for the first time how the therapy actually works. With a boost from this novel antibody, new nerve fibers form functional connections once again, allowing patients to become more independent.

Targeted protein degradation has become one of the most promising strategies in modern drug discovery, enabling scientists to eliminate disease-causing proteins instead of merely blocking them. Now, researchers at CeMM, AITHYRA (both Institutes of the Austrian Academy of Sciences), and CeTPD have discovered that a single small molecule can recruit not one, but two independent protein disposal systems at the same time. This dual mechanism introduces a built-in redundancy that could make future degrader therapies more robust and less vulnerable to resistance. The findings, reported in Nature Chemical Biology (DOI: 10.1038/s41589-026-02224-y), expand the design principles of targeted protein degradation and open new avenues for more resilient medicines.

Why do some people cope better with stress than others, even under pressure? A new psychological study by researchers at the RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau and the University of Amsterdam offers new insights into this question. The results show that higher resilience is associated with placing greater weight on positive aspects in cost-benefit decisions. This link is mediated by a specific way the brain processes negative information. 

Fast charging shortens the life of vehicle batteries, but is necessary on longer journeys with electric vehicles. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have now developed a new AI method that adapts fast charging to the health of the battery. Their study shows that battery life can be increased by almost 23 per cent without extending the charging time. All that is required is an update of the vehicle’s software.