NCCN—an alliance of leading cancer centers—publishes a new resource to inform people about the latest recommendations around hereditary and familial cancer risk.

DDT soil pollution is still a major problem in many parts of the world. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have developed a new method to manage ecological risks from the toxin by binding it with biochar. When they mixed biochar into contaminated soil at a former tree nursery, DDT uptake by earthworms in the soil was halved. This method may enable the growing of certain crops on land that is currently considered unusable due to the environmental risks.

Paper-thin optical lenses simple enough to mass produce like microchips could enable a new generation of compact optical devices. A team with researchers at the University of Tokyo and JSR Corp. fabricated and tested flat lenses called Fresnel zone plates (FZPs), but did so for the first time using only common semiconductor manufacturing equipment, the i-line stepper, for the first time. These flat lenses currently lack the efficiency of in-production lenses, but have the potential to reshape optics for industries ranging from astronomy to health care and consumer electronics.

Why are people in some regions happier and healthier than in other regions? For the first time, an international team of historians, psychologists, and economists has linked ancient Roman borders to today’s differences in personality, health and well-being across regions. ‘Our study shows how historical events from thousands of years ago can leave long-lasting psychological effects on populations today,’ says lead researcher Martin Obschonka from the University of Amsterdam.

Genetic changes are a significant cause of infertility, impacting over 15% of the global population. TLE6, a major protein involved in early embryonic development, is known to affect female fertility. In this study, researchers unravel its role in male fertility using a novel Tle6-deficient mouse model. Abnormal sperm morphology with a marked reduction in sperm count and motility highlighted the role of Tle6 in sperm function and production, and its potential association with male infertility.