A research team from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), led by Professors Gan Jianping (Department of Ocean Science) and Professor Yang Can (Department of Mathematics), has developed a novel AI-powered tool named STIMP for diagnosing coastal ocean productivity and ecosystem health. STIMP introduces a novel paradigm that imputes missing data and then predicts Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations across large spatiotemporal scales. In tests across four representative global coastal regions, STIMP significantly outperformed existing geoscience tools, reducing the mean absolute error (MAE) for imputation by up to 81.39% and for prediction by 58.99%. Accurate Chl-a prediction aids in early detection of harmful algal blooms, ecosystem protection, and provides data-driven insights for evidence-based policy-making. 

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASLD) is a liver disease with complex pathogenesis, characterized by abnormal lipid accumulation within hepatocytes, inflammation, and fibrosis. Its increasing incidence in recent years constitutes a serious public health concern, underscoring the need for identifying therapeutics that can improve hepatic lipid metabolism, alleviate liver burden, and reverse or mitigate disease progression.

Molecular Sustainable Solutions, a spin-off from the Universitat Jaume I of Castelló (UJI), secures €186,000 investment from BeAble Capital, a leading Science Equity fund specializing in disruptive scientific technologies. The disinfection and sterilization methods developed by Molecular Sustainable Solutions —more powerful and sustainable than current ones— are capable of tackling particularly resistant and dangerous microorganisms, such as the fungus Candida auris, popularly known as “the killer fungus.”

With this investment, Molecular Sustainable Solutions will be able to accelerate the maturation of its technology and move towards rapid market entry, strengthening its position as a benchmark in innovative solutions for public health and sustainability. The company, based at Espaitec, the UJI Science and Technology Park, thus becomes the first spin-off from the public university in Castelló to receive funding from a venture capital firm.

How did different countries fare in achieving a balance between infection control and economic stability during the COVID-19 pandemic? To address this question, researchers studied the temporal dynamics of number of deaths, vaccination rates, production, and economic recovery across multiple countries. The study highlights that countries differed in risk attitudes and economic preferences that shaped policy decisions, hence impacting their performance. These insights will benefit governments and citizens in forming social defense during future pandemics.

Medications taken years ago can continue to shape the human gut microbiome, according to a large-scale study from the University of Tartu Institute of Genomics.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogenic compounds introduced in food due to cooking methods such as smoking, grilling, and frying. Recently, researchers from Seoul National University of Science and Technology have leveraged a new method called QuEChERS-GC-MS to extract and detect PAHs in common food items, finding the highest levels in soybean oil, followed by duck meat and canola oil.

Higher activity of PGC-1α enables brown fat cells in females to thermogenic activity and energy expenditure compared to males, reveals a study conducted in Japan. This research demonstrates that PGC-1α protein promotes phospholipid synthesis, which strengthens mitochondria of brown fat cells and enhances their heat-generating capacity in female mice. The findings reveal a female-specific mechanism of energy metabolism, boosted by PGC-1α and estrogen, which could inspire new therapies for the prevention of obesity and diabetes.