Differences in forest structure and function, measured by aircraft, can help explain how birds use existing habitats, how they respond to threats, and which communities may be most at risk as forests change. As deforestation, climate change and land-use pressures continue to reshape tropical forests, researchers say the method could help land managers anticipate ecological change and prioritize strategies that protect both species diversity and ecosystem function.

Research led by the University of Oxford has found that rapid economic growth brought major gains in access to electricity and cleaner cooking in India, but growing reliance on coal-fired power has contributed to worsening outdoor air pollution and a sharp rise in urban air-pollution-related deaths. The study has been published today (25 Sept) in Nature Cities.

AI-assisted TB screening could reduce costs and bring diagnostic support to underserved communities, helping narrow gaps in public healthcare in the Philippines.

A research team from the Vision and Action Laboratory, Visual Perception and Cognition Laboratory, and Cognitive Neurotechnology Unit in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Toyohashi University of Technology, led by Associate Professor Hideki Tamura, has shown that the temporal patterns of pupillary responses differ depending on whether observers evaluate the same object images in terms of glossiness or attractiveness. The research team used images of 60 everyday objects as visual stimuli and measured pupil diameter while participants separately evaluated their perceived glossiness and attractiveness. Exactly the same set of images was used in both tasks. The results showed that higher glossiness ratings were associated with greater pupil constriction during a relatively early time window centered at approximately 1 second after stimulus onset. In contrast, higher attractiveness ratings tended to be associated with greater pupil dilation at later time points. These findings suggest that even when viewing the same objects, the temporal characteristics of pupillary responses may differ depending on what observers are evaluating.

The study was published in Journal of Vision on September 1, 2026.

https://doi.org/10.1167/jov.26.9.1

Researchers have developed a laser-assisted method that rapidly detects tiny amounts of CEACAM-5, a colorectal cancer biomarker, in blood. The technique enhances antibody–antigen interactions and achieves detection even at low concentrations within minutes. The researchers also identified nanoscale CEACAM-5 aggregates that may enhance the method’s sensitivity.

Researchers from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan, assessed the ethics of large language model-generated advice for modifying built environments to support health. In the first study of its kind, researchers evaluated 180 ChatGPT responses across six health pathways, neighborhood income contexts, and budget conditions using four ethical criteria. ChatGPT consistently avoided harmful recommendations and rarely gave lower-income neighborhoods weaker proposals, but showed less consistent community participation and oversight, particularly under constraints.