A research team led by Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, has published a comprehensive review in ExRNA that sorts out the diverse roles of extracellular vesicle-associated RNAs (EV-RNAs) in the development and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). By integrating the latest findings from multi-omics studies and animal experiments, the review points out that EV-RNAs can serve as non-invasive biomarkers for early IBD detection and disease monitoring, and also hold great potential as targets for next-generation targeted therapies. This work provides a solid theoretical basis for advancing personalized precision treatment for the millions of IBD patients worldwide suffering from this chronic recurrent gastrointestinal disorder.

Making wheat more resilient to climate change without compromising yields has become an urgent priority for the agricultural sector. Now, a study led by a research team from the University of Barcelona and the Agrotecnio research centre has identified an innovative way to address this challenge: combining advanced technology and artificial intelligence to select the best varieties of this crop.

As traditional power plants are replaced by intermittent sources like solar and wind, maintaining grid stability has become a complex engineering challenge. Hussain Khan’s doctoral dissertation at the University of Vaasa, Finland, introduces advanced AI-based control strategies that ensure local grids remain reliable and resilient.

The rapid evolution of CRISPR/Cas genome editing has redefined the possibilities of cellular and gene therapy, enabling precise correction, disruption, and regulation of disease-associated genes. Yet, as genome editing technologies transition from laboratory innovation to clinical application, ensuring robust non-clinical safety assessment has become a critical priority.

Researchers in Lithuania have identified a promising new approach to cartilage regeneration using extracellular vesicles derived from menstrual blood stromal cells. Their study shows that these tiny cell-released particles can improve cartilage cell function, slow tissue degradation, and stimulate regenerative processes even in older cartilage cells with reduced healing capacity. The findings suggest a potential future cell-free therapy for osteoarthritis, a condition affecting more than 600 million people worldwide. To enhance the stability and delivery of these vesicles, the interdisciplinary team is also developing biomimetic scaffolds that protect the vesicles and release them gradually within the joint. The research highlights both the therapeutic potential of menstrual blood-derived biological material and the importance of combining biomaterials, cell biology, and engineering in regenerative medicine.

In a paper published in SCIENCE CHINA Earth Sciences, a research team systematically interpreted the key scientific issues such as the DO threshold, structural characteristics, distribution patterns, formation and maintenance mechanisms, and driving factors of the OMZ in the context of global change. It may provide important scientific basis for further exploring the coupling relationship between global change and oceanic OMZ, and for understanding marine hypoxia and deoxygenation issues from a global perspective