In a new study, researchers used more than 5 million measurements from individual trees across much of eastern North America and showed the rate at which introduced species are spreading has increased over the last two decades. Additionally, native tree diversity is on the decline in areas where exotic species originally introduced by humans have encroached.

If there was a contest for biggest female bullies of the animal world, lemurs would be near the top of the list. It’s the ladies who get their way and keep males in line. In one branch of the lemur family tree, however, some species have evolved to have a more harmonious relationship between the sexes. New findings suggest that this amiable shift was driven by changes in the “love hormone” oxytocin inside their brains.

Researchers have developed a noninvasive method to detect anemia using grayscale photos of the eye’s conjunctiva, taken with standard smartphones. By applying machine learning to spatial and textural features extracted from over 12,000 photos of 565 children aged 5 to 15, the study found strong associations between these features and anemia status. Unlike other approaches, this method does not rely on color analysis or specialized equipment, making it practical for use in low-resource settings. The findings suggest a scalable, affordable tool for anemia screening in children, especially in areas with limited access to laboratory testing.

A research team from Westlake University has published a groundbreaking study in Science Bulletin, demonstrating the innovative use of thin-film deposition technology to create micron-scale metal patterns on the surface of tardigrades, often regarded as the "toughest creatures on Earth." This breakthrough not only adorns them with a "metallic armor" but also realizes the intriguing concept of artificially controlling biological movement. The study extends the boundaries of traditional fabrication techniques. Where precision nanotechnology intersects with billions of years of evolutionary wisdom, this extraordinary convergence may spark a technological singularity that redefines the boundaries of life and machine.

A recent review published in Genes & Diseases sheds light on the complex and multifaceted role of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in cancer progression, with a particular focus on the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). Traditionally recognized for its critical functions in neural development, FMRP is now emerging as a key regulator in cancer biology, influencing tumor growth, metastasis, and therapy resistance. This growing body of knowledge presents a shift in understanding how RNA metabolism can drive oncogenic processes and potentially offer novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.