Early online research in journals of the American Meteorological Society discusses the increased risk of urban heat stress for children and pets due to radiant heat from sidewalks, the effects of solar eclipse totality on wind and insects, an extension of the climate "warming stripes", thunderstorms and gamma rays, and more.

Scientists at UCLA's Olympic Analytical Laboratory turned their sophisticated analytical capabilities for testing athlete samples for performance-enhancing drugs to research examining the U.S. meat supply as part of a study led by Texas Tech. The study was designed to investigate concerns that residues of growth promoters used in meat production could potentially cause athletes to test positive.

A new review in Genes and Diseases explores the central role of MYC, a master regulatory protein, in the development and progression of cancer, spotlighting its potential as a multidimensional therapeutic target. MYC is dysregulated in nearly 70% of human cancers, where it influences a vast network of biological processes including cell cycle control, metabolism, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and immune evasion. The article underscores how MYC not only drives aggressive tumor behavior but also contributes significantly to drug resistance, making it one of the most compelling yet complex targets in oncology.

The nuclear pore complex protein RANBP2 has emerged as a critical factor in the development and progression of various solid malignancies. As a SUMO E3 ligase, RANBP2 plays a pivotal role in post-translational modification, specifically SUMOylation, which is essential for regulating the cell cycle. Recent insights have highlighted the multifaceted involvement of RANBP2 in tumorigenesis, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for cancer treatment.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) editing has emerged as a revolutionary approach in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). As these diseases continue to impose a significant global health burden, the innovative use of mitochondrial gene editing offers a promising avenue to address their underlying causes. The dysfunction of mitochondria, triggered by mutations in mtDNA, is now recognized as a pivotal factor contributing to the development of several debilitating conditions, including Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

A new publication shines a spotlight on HER3, a long-overlooked member of the ErbB receptor family, revealing its critical role in cancer progression and resistance to therapy. Once considered a passive player due to its weak kinase activity, HER3 is now recognized as a major contributor to the survival and spread of various solid tumors, including breast, lung, colorectal, pancreatic, and gynecologic cancers.

The interaction between RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) has emerged as a key area of interest in understanding cancer biology. As critical regulators of gene expression, RBPs control the formation and function of circRNAs, influencing various cancer-related processes such as tumor proliferation, metastasis, drug resistance, and immune evasion. This dynamic interplay has positioned the circRNA-RBP network as a promising target for developing innovative cancer therapies.