EurekAlert! In the Spotlight - Indigenous Peoples' Day

Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.

In honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day, we’re exploring how Indigenous communities contribute to science, conservation, health research, and much more.

Latest News Releases

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 20-Oct-2026 10:16 ET (20-Oct-2026 14:16 GMT/UTC)

Newly discovered mitochondrial microprotein linked to Type 2 diabetes — and shows early promise as a precision treatment

University of Southern California
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A previously unknown microprotein hidden within the human mitochondrial genome may help explain certain forms of Type 2 diabetes and could point toward a new, precision-medicine approach to treating it, according to a new USC study.

Journal: Theranostics
Funder: Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, Hanson-Thorell Family Research Award, Hinrich Foundation, Hevolution Foundation, Hinrich Endowment for Mitochondrial Genetics, USC Leonard Davis School

Biosphere reserves, allies against deforestation in the Western Amazon

Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Biosphere reserves help curb deforestation in the Western Amazon and, taken together, have prevented the loss of more than 7,400 square kilometers of forest over the last two decades compared to similar scenarios without this protection status. This is demonstrated by a study conducted by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB), Spain, which presents the first systematic assessment of the effectiveness of Amazonian biosphere reserves in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru in deterring deforestation.

Journal: Conservation Science and Practice

Book release - Holding the World in Balance: Indigenous Stories of Climate, Care and Continuance

Desert Research Institute
Book Announcement

The Native Resilience project at DRI is pleased to announce the release of a new eBook, Holding the World in Balance: Indigenous stories of climate, care and continuance. This open-access publication is a collection of journalism, poetry, fiction, and artwork produced by Indigenous writers, artists and storytellers on the topic of climate change. The book includes prompts for creative activities to invite engagement from readers, and a teacher’s guide to provide guidance in how to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and ways of thinking into K-12 classrooms.

New survey finds Native Americans open to plant-based diets rooted in indigenous food traditions but few know which foods help prevent or reverse type 2 diabetes

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Reports and Proceedings

U.S. Indigenous communities face significant health challenges and disparities. Life expectancy for Native Americans is 70.1 years compared to 78.4 years for the overall U.S. population. Native American adults are among the highest demographics for diabetes prevalence, 15% to 18%, and are about 50% more likely to be obese than white adults. Although Native Americans experience some of the nation's highest rates of type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases, a new national survey suggests many have not heard about one of the most effective dietary approaches for preventing and even reversing the disease.

Ceramic vessels reveal how social inequalities were also cooked into 19th-century Brazil

Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona
Peer-Reviewed Publication

An international study led by researchers from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) reveals that Indigenous, African and Afro-descendant communities relied more heavily on marine resources, while communities of immigrants from Germany consumed mainly plant species and terrestrial products.

Journal: Royal Society Open Science

New review highlights gaps in care for First Nations children in Canada

University of Toronto
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study finds that First Nations Children still face long-standing inequalities in health care access in Canada despite improvements made through the application of Jordan’s Principle — a policy designed to ensure First Nations children receive the services they need.

Journal: Journal of Indigenous Social Development

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