A new University of Kent spin-out has been launched to commercialise biotechnology that could make it cheaper and easier to produce proteins used in cancer treatments, vaccines and diagnostics tests.

An NJIT-led research team has developed an AI system that can spot faint warning signals of solar active regions, potential precursors to solar storms, nearly nine hours before they become visible.

For the first time, researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have demonstrated that the low-purity iron ore prevalent in Minnesota can be used to create semiconductor-quality iron sulfide, also known as “fool’s gold” or pyrite.

Air pollution from ships poses a serious health risk in major port cities, yet existing mitigation strategies often rely on reducing the speed of sailing, which affects operational efficiency. Researchers from Pusan National University have now developed an AI-powered framework that combines real-time weather data, physics-informed learning and multi-objective optimization. It recommends optimal ship routes and speed profiles to reduce peak pollution exposure by predicting how exhaust plumes disperse, while maintaining fuel-efficient operations. 

Bone healing, an intricate process involving multiple cell populations, relies not only on existing bone-forming cells but also on dormant progenitor cells outside the skeleton. A study published in Bone Research reveals that fibroadipogenic progenitors (FAPs) in skeletal muscle become bone-forming cells after injury, contributing to fracture repair and abnormal bone growth. The findings identify these cells as promising therapeutic targets for enhancing fracture healing while preventing unwanted bone formation.  

Outfitting cells in “invisibility cloaks” may offer an easier, less damaging treatment pathway for people with diabetes undergoing cell therapy, according to researchers at Penn State. The team manufactured these cloaks out of a jelly-like material known as hydrogel, which the team called biomimetic zona pellucida (BZP). The scientists reported that this thin layer of hydrogel effectively hid the therapeutic cells from the body’s immune system, while reducing blood sugar levels in a series of diabetic mice for 100 days, substantially longer than traditional cell therapies for diabetes.

A disability advocate and theatre performer, a population health professional and a ballet teacher are among 78 aspiring doctors who donned their white coats at Duke-NUS Medical School today, bringing professional skills and lived experiences from well beyond the traditional route into medicine.