The year 2024 is on-track to be the hottest on record, and with it came some of the most challenging extreme weather conditions the modern world has witnessed.

A research team from the Erich Schmid Institute of Materials Science, Austrian Academy of Sciences, has unveiled a groundbreaking approach to improve irradiation resistance through high entropy crystalline and amorphous nanolaminates. This innovative material architecture exploits interfacial and synergistic effects between high entropy crystalline and amorphous plates, exhibiting structural stability under extreme irradiation conditions. This study paves the way for the design of advanced nuclear materials with tailored properties.

A new study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences has found that ocean warming in 2024 has led to new record high temperatures. The ocean is the hottest it has ever been recorded by humans, not only at the surface temperature but also for the upper 2000 meters.

Muscle atrophy, characterized by the loss of muscle mass and function, is a hallmark of sarcopenia and cachexia and is frequently associated with aging, malignant tumors, chronic heart failure, and malnutrition. Moreover, it poses significant challenges to human health, leading to increased frailty, reduced quality of life, and heightened mortality risks. Despite extensive research on sarcopenia and cachexia, consensus in their assessment remains elusive, with inconsistent conclusions regarding their molecular mechanisms. Muscle atrophy models are crucial tools for advancing research in this field. Currently, animal models of muscle atrophy used for clinical and basic scientific studies are induced through various methods, including aging, genetic editing, nutritional modification, exercise, chronic wasting diseases, and drug administration. Muscle atrophy models also include in vitro and small organism models. Despite their value, each of these models has certain limitations. This review focuses on the limitations and diverse applications of muscle atrophy models to understand sarcopenia and cachexia, and encourage their rational use in future research, therefore deepening the understanding of underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, and ultimately advance the exploration of therapeutic strategies for sarcopenia and cachexia.