While aging is known to weaken bone repair, the underlying causes remain unclear. Researchers have now discovered that mitochondrial DNA structures called G-quadruplex accumulate in periosteal stem cells, disrupting energy production and driving cellular senescence. This shift impairs bone regeneration while increasing cartilage formation, a hallmark of poor healing. By identifying this mechanism, the study offers insights into potential targets for therapies to improve bone repair in older adults.

Chalk-stream salmon should be officially classified as a sub-species, new research suggests.

Salk researchers collaborated with scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine to develop a new class of probes for imaging living cells. The probes, called visible-spectrum antigen-stabilizable fluorescent nanobodies (VIS-Fbs), generate high-contrast images with minimal disruption to normal cellular activity. The technology enables more precise investigation of complex biological processes, including cell signaling, development, and disease progression.

Gibraltar’s famous macaques have started eating soil, a behaviour linked to their access to tourist snacks, according to a new study. Scientists say it may help the animals digest high-calorie foods, and is an example of primate culture adapting to “anthropogenic landscapes”.

Researchers have discovered the Huaxi Green Pitviper (Trimeresurus lii) in the misty mountains of Sichuan, China, a new species named in honour of the philosopher Laozi to celebrate the harmony between nature and humanity. This discovery within the Giant Panda National Park demonstrates the importance of continued biodiversity surveys in the region’s high-altitude rain zones.