A surface capable of responding to chemical signals generated by microorganisms and automatically producing biocidal substances – this is not a futuristic vision, but a description of how the B-STING silica nanocomposite works. The new material, developed at the Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences in Cracow, acts as a nanofactory of reactive oxygen species, activating itself only when necessary.

RNA viruses' rapid evolution challenges conventional diagnostics like reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, as mutations can cause detection failures. Researchers from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology prospected a dual-strategy for RNA virus detection in Medicine Plus: mutation-tolerant broad screening and precise variant discrimination. Integrating these into portable, multiplex devices using real-time genomic data is key for effective public health responses.

Researchers led by the University of Vienna and Liège University Hospital Centre have identified genetic variants associated with a rare inherited growth disorder in two prehistoric individuals who lived more than 12,000 years ago. Using ancient DNA analysis and modern clinical genetics, they diagnosed the condition in a mother and daughter buried together in southern Italy. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study shows that paleogenomics can now reconstruct ancient population history and diagnose rare genetic diseases in prehistoric individuals.