How much the average user actually cares to know how AI works depends on the extent to which a system meets users’ expectations, according to a new study by a team that includes Penn State researchers. Using a fabricated algorithm-driven dating website, the team found that whether the system met, exceeded or fell short of user expectations directly corresponded to how much the user trusted the AI and wanted to know about how it worked.

Blockchain is a promising solution for secure data sharing in the Internet of Things (IoT) networks, but existing systems often suffer from high latency that limits time-sensitive applications. Now, researchers from Japan have investigated how the structure of peer-to-peer blockchain networks affects IoT-blockchain performance. They developed Dual Perigee, a lightweight peer-selection algorithm that significantly reduces data propagation delays without increasing resource usage on IoT devices.

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis are marked by the buildup of misfolded proteins that slowly destroy brain cells, yet treatments that address this root cause are still lacking. Interestingly, researchers provide a comprehensive review of the role of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) molecular chaperones in several neurodegenerative diseases. Notably, Hsp70 exert neuroprotective effects and mitigate the occurrence of pathological protein aggregates.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), characterized by high aggressiveness and recurrence, poses a significant global health challenge. The interplay between the tumour microenvironment and exogenous exposures disrupts homeostasis, and tumour biological behaviours, then accelerating tumour progression. Sorafenib, a first-line targeted therapy, often faces resistance due to tumour heterogeneity and microenvironmental changes. Understanding the link between adverse exposures and drug resistance, identifying key molecules, and developing precise interventions are crucial for improving the management of advanced/drug-resistant HCC.

Climate change and armed conflict rank among the strongest drivers of migration across Africa. A new study by researchers at Chungnam National University analyzes 20 years of data (1995–2015) from African nations, finding that climate adaptation—particularly improvements in agricultural productivity—significantly weakens migration pressures linked to drought and armed conflict. Higher adaptive capacity, including better water access, health systems, and infrastructure, moderates these effects most during overlapping crises.

A new opinion paper argues that proprioception should be redefined beyond a fixed biological feedback loop. The authors propose that proprioception should be better understood as a dynamic, interpretable interface that can be edited, augmented, and potentially surpassed through engineered signals—an idea that could reshape rehabilitation strategies and open new directions for performance enhancement in elite athletes.