During the production of fermented products such as kefir, Parmesan, or mountain cheese, as well as in the production of protein powders, bitter-tasting peptides can form, which impair the taste and thus the acceptability of the products. A research team led by the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich has now developed and successfully tested an AI-based method that can predict the bitterness of peptides. It also makes it possible to design new, bitter-tasting peptides from scratch. This is another important step forward in taste and food research.

Candidemia is a major cause of hospital-acquired bloodstream infections, with high mortality and substantial healthcare costs. However, delayed diagnosis, limited susceptibility testing, antifungal resistance, and the complexity of treatment continue to challenge effective patient management. This review examines recent advances in candidemia epidemiology, diagnosis, and therapy. It also discusses emerging approaches, including artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis, vaccine-based prevention, and synergistic therapies, that could reshape candidemia management and improve outcomes.

The Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientsits today announced three Laureates and six Finalists whose postdoctoral research exemplifies the extraordinary scientific excellence found across the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The Blavatnik Regional Awards honor outstanding postdoctoral researchers in Chemical Sciences, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences & Engineering. A distinguished jury of scientists and engineers selected one Laureate per category, each receiving a $30,000 unrestricted award, along with two Finalists per category, each receiving $10,000 in unrestricted funds.

Researchers led by Aarhus University have developed light-sensitive nanoparticles that can be injected into the eye and make blind retinas respond to light. In mice, the researchers detected light-induced signals in the visual cortex and observed behavioural responses to light. The technology, also tested in pig retinal tissue, could form the basis of a new type of retinal prosthesis. The research is published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.

Plastic pollution is increasingly being recognized as more than an environmental problem. Tiny plastic particles can enter living organisms, circulate through biological systems, and potentially reach reproductive tissues. A new review now brings together growing evidence that polystyrene nanoplastics may affect male and female reproductive health in different ways while also posing risks to developing offspring.

University of Warwick and University of Turin researchers find the world's only singing lemur opens its mouth wider on higher notes, just like a trained soprano.

BUFFALO, NY — September 21, 2026 — A new review was published in Volume 18 of Aging on August 31, 2026, titled “The guardian paradox: DNA damage response overactivation as an integrative driver of aging – a tumor suppressor–negative regulator framework.”