Biochar is often described as a stable form of carbon that can improve soils, store carbon, and help immobilize pollutants. But once biochar is applied to farmland, contaminated sites, or other soils, it does not remain unchanged. A new review published in Biochar examines how biochar weathers over time and what those changes mean for soil health, carbon sequestration, and soil remediation.

Chromosome numbers and cell size fuel cancer progression, according to new studies published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Cancer Research.

Scientists from Wroclaw Medical University and the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences discovered that the type of tea used in kombucha production strongly affects the drink’s chemistry, aroma, and antioxidant activity. Kombuchas made from green and oolong teas showed the highest antioxidant potential, while each tea created a distinct flavor and chemical profile during fermentation. The researchers emphasize that kombucha is not a single universal product and that further clinical studies are needed to confirm its health effects.

Early-onset intervertebral disc degeneration is partly driven by cellular senescence, yet effective disease-modifying therapies remain limited. Researchers report that the senolytic combination dasatinib and quercetin reduces senescence markers, inflammatory signaling, and degenerative tissue changes in a genetic mouse model of disc disease. In contrast, navitoclax shows no benefit. The study identifies JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) signaling as a key pathway underlying disease progression and therapeutic response, highlighting a potential strategy for slowing spinal disc degeneration.

How does the host immune system recognize candidalysin, a key toxin secreted by Candida albicans? A new study reveals that TREM2 on macrophages directly binds candidalysin, activating the DAP12/Syk/NF-κB pathway to rapidly produce TNF-α, which orchestrates antifungal responses including enhanced phagocytosis, neutrophil NETosis, and appropriate modulation of IL-17 signaling. This work fills a critical gap in understanding fungal immunology and host-pathogen coevolution, and opens new avenues for antifungal therapy and vaccine development.