This peer-reviewed Perspective synthesizes a decade of research on a surprising candidate for autism science: the laboratory Beagle. Drawing together scattered studies, the review authors argue that dogs carrying engineered changes in the Shank3 gene reproduce core human features of autism spectrum disorder, including social withdrawal, altered sensory responses, and reduced attention to the eyes of a face. The synthesis assembles, for the first time in one place, the parallels between mutant dogs and autistic people, alongside early signals that oxytocin, a psychedelic, and a third compound may soften these traits. The authors frame the dog as a complementary, ethically governed model, not a replacement for existing ones.

Japanese researchers have developed an edible agent capable of social interaction through vocalizations and movement, and examined mind perception of the edible agent. In an online survey with 1,094 participants, different vocalizations and behaviors modulated mind perception of the edible agent, while no significant relationship was observed between mind perception and either reluctance to eat or guilt. This study offers a new experimental tool for investigating human perception in human-food interaction and the psychological and ethical aspects of eating.

Human fetal tissue research has contributed significantly to our understanding of human development and continues to support progress in regenerative medicine. However, the use of fetal tissue obtained following induced abortion raises important ethical considerations. In 2022, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) published standards for obtaining informed consent for fetal tissue donation. At present, Japan has no laws or guidelines that specifically govern fetal tissue research.

A research group led by Professor Misao Fujita, Professor Mitinori Saitou, and Professor Yasuhiro Takashima of the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi) and the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto University has examined the ethical, legal, and social issues surrounding human fetal tissue research in Japan. Drawing on an analysis of legal frameworks, regulations, and social contexts in Japan and other countries, the authors identified three key challenges in applying the ISSCR standards domestically: (1) minimizing burdens on potential donors; (2) determining the role of male partners in decisions regarding fetal tissue donation; and (3) addressing legal uncertainties surrounding the storage, use, and disposal of fetal tissue. The study proposes possible approaches to each of these issues.

These findings were published online in Regenerative Medicine on 11 June 2026.

Known for its high-minded ideals, it’s easy to forget that the Declaration of Independence was written not with stoicism but rage, the kind that pulled down houses and pelted neighbors’ doorways with buckets of pungent mud.

On the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding document, Binghamton University History Professor Robert Parkinson’s new book, Tyrants and Rogues: Understanding the Declaration of Independence, provides that context. It’s the first book in more than a century to focus on the 27 grievances that comprise its core, he said.

The first dozen grievances deal with executive overreach — in those days, royalty — while 13 through 22 concern Parliament, the legislative branch; the last five cover the war itself. In a sense, the Declaration strove to be inclusive in its range, weaving in concerns from North Carolina, New York, Massachusetts and the rest of the colonies.

“There’s a timelessness to the first two paragraphs: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ There’s something eternal and sacred to it,” Parkinson said. “But it’s also extremely timely. A lot of the grievances were ripped from the headlines.”

In the book, Parkinson provides detailed profiles of the men behind those headlines, their lives and impact. He begins his exploration with King George III and the members of his cabinet: men such as Lord North, the prime minister, and Lord Hillsborough, the secretary of state for the American colonies. The latter was so hated that Bostonians created a punishment they referred to as “Hillsborough Paint”: buckets of mud and feces, which they threw on the homes of people they disagreed with.

If your social media feed has suddenly filled with content about ultra-processed foods (UPFs), you’re far from alone. Since Health and Human Services tasked federal agencies last year with developing UPF guidelines, the buzz has been hard to miss. Yet, despite widespread attention, federal guidelines have not yet materialized and Americans are unsure how to make healthy choices for their families.