In two new papers, researchers from The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) report the successful use of two approaches -- gene therapy and bone marrow transplantation – to alleviate symptoms of multiple sulfatase deficiency (MSD), an ultra-rare genetic disease with no cure. The studies, carried out in mice, not only offer new hope to children with MSD and their families but can also help researchers better understand common diseases with related genetic mutations.

Two ambitious multi-stakeholder projects that aim to tackle the threat of invasive alien species have been launched at a conference in Europe last week (20-23 January 2025).

GuardIAS and OneSТOP — covering marine and freshwater, and terrestrial habitats respectively — will work in tandem to alleviate the adverse impacts of invasive alien species on endangered species, natural sites and human health, providing comprehensive coverage of Europe’s ecosystems.

A new study published today in JAMA Network Open explores the effects of both recent and lifetime cannabis use on brain function during cognitive tasks.

The study, the largest of its kind ever to be completed, examined the effects of cannabis use on over 1,000 young adults aged 22 to 36 using brain imaging technology. The researchers found that 63% of heavy lifetime cannabis users exhibited reduced brain activity during a working memory task, while 68% of recent users also demonstrated a similar impact.

This decline in brain activity was associated with worse performance on working memory - the ability to retain and use information to perform tasks. For example, working memory allows a person to follow instructions they’ve just been given or to mentally visualize and manipulate information, like solving a math problem.

In Physics of Fluids, researchers propose a novel system that uses standing surface acoustic waves to separate circulating tumor cells from red blood cells with unprecedented precision and efficiency. The platform integrates advanced computational modeling, experimental analysis, and artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze complex acoustofluidic phenomena. The researchers included an innovative use of dualized pressure acoustic fields and strategically located them at critical channel geometry positions on a lithium niobate substrate. By means of acoustic pressure applied within the microchannel, the system design provides for the generation of reliable datasets.