The OLIGOTREND project has compiled a comprehensive global database on long-term water quality trends in lakes, rivers and estuaries. Spanning nearly four decades (1986–2023), this publicly available database includes over 30,000 annual records of Chlorophyll-a (a proxy for algal biomass) and nutrient concentrations. These parameters are key indicators of ecosystem health, as excessive nutrients can lead to eutrophication, which primarily is the overgrowth of phytoplankton, harming biodiversity and affecting water use for drinking, fishing, and recreation. Making these long-term trends visible and accessible helps scientists, policymakers, and the public better understand how inland and coastal waters are changing and what interventions are needed to safeguard aquatic ecosystems for future generations.

Liver organoids with proper blood vessel networks have been successfully produced, as reported by researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. This advancement addresses a major challenge in replicating the liver’s complex vasculature in lab-grown tissues. Using a novel 3D culture system, the researchers achieved the self-organization of four distinct precursor cell types into functional organoids, capable of producing essential clotting factors in a haemophilia A mouse model.

Aspergillus, a common mold-forming fungus, can cause severe respiratory disease in patients with reduced immunity. Through screening 23 A. spinulosporus strains, researchers have identified, for the first time, seven clinical A. latus strains in patient samples. Their discovery of A. latus strains in samples obtained between 2012 and 2023 revealed a high misidentification rate of 30.4%. Continued surveillance and improved diagnostic tools can aid in the clinical management of Aspergillus infections.