This paper to be published in Science reveals a surprising new role for immune cells in regulating blood sugar.

Key Findings: Immune cells migrate from the intestine to the pancreas during periods of low energy, like intermittent fasting or exercise.

This migration triggers glucagon release, helping to stabilise blood sugar levels.

These results uncover a remarkable, previously unknown “three-way conversation” between the nervous, immune, and hormonal systems.

Why it matters:

Shows that the immune system not only fights infections but also actively maintains metabolic balance, enabling the body to handle fasting and intense exercise more efficiently.

Opens doors to new therapies targeting diabetes, obesity, and even cancer, since some cancers hijack metabolic pathways—including glucagon—to fuel their growth.

A new study suggests that boosting adolescent mental health is linked with long-term economic benefits. In contrast to similar findings from prior studies, these estimated relationships could be readily incorporated into standard government budgeting analyses for assessing potential policy impacts. Nathaniel Counts of The Kennedy Forum, US, and colleagues present this work in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine on January 16^th.

Researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso have been awarded a $2.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to explore the neurobiological mechanisms behind drug-taking behaviors and addiction. The study will focus on striosomes, clusters of cells within the brain that play a pivotal role in decision-making,