Dr. Arum Han, electrical and computer engineering professor and associate dean for research for the Texas A&M University College of Engineering, is leading organ-on-a-chip technology development efforts in the newly established $15.3 million National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported center, which he says has the potential to significantly reduce or even replace animal testing in the future.

Detecting microcystin-leucine-arginine (MC-LR) in freshwater is increasingly important as harmful algal blooms intensify, but biosensor readings are affected by changing water conditions. Researchers at Hanbat National University and the University of Central Florida developed a machine learning-based calibration framework for biosensors using water quality data. The model accurately predicted MC-LR levels while reducing the need for repeated recalibration, enabling more reliable on-site monitoring.

Myeloablative therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy damage not only hematopoietic cells but also the bone marrow (BM) niche—the specialized environment that supports BM cells. However, the mechanisms and therapeutic strategies for BM niche recovery after injury remain unclear. Now, researchers have identified the role of YAP/TAZ signaling pathway that regulates the BM niche and developed a novel small molecule that promotes niche recovery and thereby accelerates hematopoietic regeneration.

In a global breakthrough published in Nature Genetics, researchers have successfully mapped the cells and genes that regulate bone formation and loss at an unprecedented scale and discovered the critical role that blood vessel cells play in bone health.

Air pollution from cruise ships could be damaging the health of people living in port cities by increasing inflammation and susceptibility to viruses such as the common cold and COVID-19.

The team constructed a hierarchical “herb–compound–target–disease” network that aligns with the holistic philosophy of TCM. This paradigm upgrades TCM intervention from single‑target modulation to network target regulation, scientifically interpreting the molecular logic of the “monarch‑minister‑assistant‑guide” compatibility principle and syndrome differentiation. It builds a foundational bridge between classical TCM theory and modern molecular biology.

Procrastination is on the rise, partly because of digital distractions and modern work, a new book warns. Working out which types of procrastinators we are is crucial to overcoming a problem that harms our finances, health and relationships.