A new active substance attacks a key protein in tumour cells, leading to complete degradation. In cell experiments, this caused cancer cells to lose their protection and die. The active substance was developed by researchers at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and the University Medical Center Mainz. Other substances usually try to inhibit the activity of the protein “checkpoint kinase-1” (CHK1). However, if the protein is completely broken down, a chain reaction is triggered which leads to other tumour proteins being destroyed. Thus, the cancer cells are further weakened. The new study was published in the journal “Angewandte Chemie”.

A new study has identified three existing medications that could be repurposed to treat or prevent Alzheimer’s disease. 

A new paper by evolutionary anthropologists Colin Shaw (University of Zurich) and Daniel Longman (Loughborough University) argues that modern life has outpaced human evolution. The study suggests that chronic stress and many modern health issues are the result of an evolutionary mismatch between our primarily nature-adapted biology and the industrialized environments we now inhabit.

Science still “sells” well on the internet. Influencers regularly hold scientific studies up to the camera, especially on platforms such as Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. But if you take a closer look, in many cases these studies do not prove what is being said at all, according to science journalists Maximilian Doeckel and Jonathan Focke in the latest episode of the BfR science podcast “Risiko” (‘Risk’). As the “Quarks Science Cops” in the WDR podcast of the same name, the two regularly expose scientific nonsense. This often involves supposedly hazardous substances in food and cosmetics – or even food supplements. The German-language “Risiko” podcast is part of the BfR’s public relations work and, in line with its legal mandate, aims to educate the public about health risks, looking beyond the scope of its own research. In the new episode, the “Science Cops” explain how they personally use humour and their scientific training to track down “charlatans” and expose their dubious methods.

Apriori Bio, a Flagship Pioneering portfolio company, and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR IDL) have announced a research collaboration to co-develop self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccine candidates targeting H5 influenza. The partnership combines Apriori’s Octavia™ AI-guided antigen-design platform with A*STAR IDL’s saRNA delivery technology and infectious-disease expertise, advancing breakthrough solutions for the advancement of human health, supporting the development of next-generation vaccines and contributing to Singapore’s growth as a global hub for biomedical innovation.