A team of researchers led by Thomas Richards at the University of Oxford, UK, studied the properties of membranes to understand how these cellular structures influenced the chemistry of life on earth as it began. The researchers published their findings on May 20^th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology.

Salk Professor Terrence Sejnowski has been elected to the Royal Society and the American Philosophical Society in recognition of his outstanding leadership and extraordinary achievement in computational neuroscience.

After invasive American bullfrogs "croak," native turtles return to Yosemite, finds a UC Davis study.

The findings, published recently in Cell Reports Medicine, offer new clues to why some viral infections appear to trigger autoimmune disease.

Miriam Merad, MD, PhD, an internationally acclaimed immunologist and oncologist, has been awarded the title of Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur [Knight of the Legion of Honor] by the French Republic. The prestigious distinction, presented at the Consulate General of France in New York by the Ambassador of France to the United States, honors Dr. Merad’s groundbreaking contributions to macrophage biology and immunology and her leadership in transforming the landscape of translational research and precision medicine. One of France’s highest civilian honors, the Legion of Honor recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to their fields and society at large. Dr. Merad was selected for her visionary research elucidating the role of innate immune cells in cancer and chronic inflammatory disease, as well as her commitment to fostering global scientific collaboration and advancing human health.

This review explores the complex interplay between the microbiome and human aging, highlighting how dysbiosis impacts host physiology and health, particularly in relation to genomic stability and telomere attrition. Recent advances in cellular and molecular biology have underscored the role of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors in human aging, with the microbiome emerging as a key determinant of host physiology and health. Dysbiosis—disruptions in microbiome composition—is linked to various age-related diseases and impacts genomic stability and telomere attrition, the progressive shortening of telomeres that limits cell division and contributes to aging. This review examines how microbiome dynamics influence aging by triggering inflammation, oxidative stress, immune dysregulation, and metabolic dysfunction, all of which affect two primary hallmarks of aging: genomic instability and telomere attrition. Understanding these interactions is essential for developing targeted interventions to restore microbiome balance and promote healthy aging, offering potential treatments to extend healthspan and alleviate aging-related diseases. The convergence of microbiome and aging research promises transformative insights and new avenues for improving global population well-being.