An international research team led by Professor Kiavash Movahedi from the Brussels Center for Immunology at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has published groundbreaking results today in the prestigious journal Immunity . Their study sheds new light on the possibility of effectively replacing defective microglia-the brain's immune cells-marking a potential breakthrough in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

A small bone found 30 years ago at Dinosaur Cove in Victoria could change what we know about the evolution of two of Australia's most unique animals, the echidna and platypus. Until now, it was believed that both species of egg-laying monotremes descended from a land-dwelling ancestor, and while the platypus eventually became semiaquatic, the echidnas stayed on the land.

A recent analysis of the SURPASS-3 trial unravels the impact of treatment with the drug tirzepatide on muscle volume and fat infiltration in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes. Published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, the study is the result of a research collaboration lead by Professor Naveed Sattar from the University of Glasgow, alongside colleagues from University Hospitals Cleveland, AMRA Medical and Eli Lilly and Company.

A new clotbusting drug tested on mice has been shown by University of Manchester scientists to be significantly better at treating ischemic stroke than existing therapies. The compound, developed by the scientists and known as caADAMTS13, could be a breakthrough for patients who have brain blood clots with an overabundance of platelets- the tiny cell fragments that help form clots and are often not treatable by existing therapies.

Researchers from the University of Bern, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and ETH Zurich have developed an innovative technology which can clean implanted medical devices such as ureteral stents and catheters non-invasively, using ultrasound activation through the skin. This could significantly improve the quality of life of patients and at the same time reduce the financial burden on the healthcare system.

A study led by researchers from EPFL and the University of Vienna shows that concentrations of concerning chemicals as high as those by a busy road can be found in the air of bouldering gyms. Those who climb indoors are doing something for their health. But climbing shoes contain chemicals of concern that can enter the lungs of climbers through the abrasion of the soles.

Scientists discovered a new mechanism involved in blood pressure regulation, opening the door to novel therapeutic approaches. Hypertension affects nearly one in three adults worldwide and is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Previous studies suggest that the junctional protein paracingulin plays a role in the development of hypertension, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Ketamine addiction is linked to high levels of physical health problems and psychological consequences, with nearly half of those affected not seeking support or treatment, reports a new study by UCL and University of Exeter researchers. The study, published in Addiction , is the largest to date to explore the experience of people currently living with ketamine addiction in-depth.

Researchers at UCL have uncovered why individuals who experience anxiety and depression often struggle with persistent low self-belief in their abilities. A new study, published in Nature Communications , examined two large groups of people (230 and 278 participants) to measure their "confidence" when doing individual jobs and their "self-belief" when judging their overall performance of these individual jobs collectively.

Scientists have developed a new technique to screen engineered enzyme reactions, which could lead to faster and more efficient creation of medicines and sustainable chemicals. Enzymes are proteins that catalyse chemical reactions, turning one substance into another. In labs, scientists engineer these enzymes to perform specific tasks like the sustainable creation of medicines, and materials.

A new study has suggested that habitual coffee consumption is associated with a reduced risk of frailty. The study, funded by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC), is the first to analyse the relationship between coffee consumption and the underlying components of frailty. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam scientists Mette van de Linden, Margreet Olthof, Laura Schaap, and Hanneke Wijnhoven and Amsterdam UMC scientist Emiel Hoogendijk were part of the research group and worked together with Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA).

A study carried out at UdeM by Craig Turner and his doctoral supervisor Felipe Verdugo shows how pianists' "expressive intentions" may heighten their risk of long-term injury. Playing the piano involves much more than striking the keyboard. The pianist's entire body is in movement, from the torso to the fingers.

New findings suggest the vaccine may reduce the production of pro-inflammatory mediators to bacterial, fungal or viral infections by reprogramming innate immune cells to regulate inflammation Trinity researchers have found that the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine may offer protection beyond its intended, primary target.

It is hardly surprising that green spaces in noisy cities offer people respite from stress. However, a comprehensive study by Empa and WSL shows for the first time for Switzerland how much these recreational spaces actually affect physical and mental stress management. More and more people are moving to cities, which means more traffic, denser living and less space for parks or other green areas.

Why do some people do more for the community than others? A new study from the University of Zurich now shows that personality traits such as extraversion and agreeableness correlate with volunteering and charitable giving. People's willingness to do volunteer work or give to charity differs greatly.

Research published in the journal Human Reproduction reveals that women with endometriosis are at a significantly higher risk for developing a range of autoimmune, autoinflammatory, and mixed-pattern diseases. The new study, of unprecedented scale, examines not only clinical associations, but also for the first time the biological basis for these comorbidities - through genetics.

There is no difference over time in the spatial working memory of older people who have autistic traits and those who are neurotypical, finds a new study led by UCL researchers. The new research, published in The Gerontologist , is the first study to explore age-related rate of decline in spatial working memory in older people who may be autistic.

An aluminium tab from a drinks can found encased in a new form of rock on the Cumbrian coastline has helped provide scientists with a shocking new insight into the impact of human activity on the Earth's natural processes and materials. Researchers from the University of Glasgow have found that slag, an industrial waste product produced by the steel industry, is turning into solid rock in as little as 35 years.

A recent study by the Universities of Jena, Bielefeld and Münster provides evidence that some results of behavioural experiments with insects cannot be fully reproduced. So far, possible reproducibility problems have been little discussed in this context. If an experiment is repeated under similar conditions, the results should be the same.

To the point The researchers used the video game Minecraft to study social learning processes in a dynamic, realistic environment. The study shows that adaptability-i.e., the flexible shift between individual and social learning-is crucial for success. Using new computer-based methods to track gaze data and model decision-making, the researchers were able to precisely describe and predict individual and social learning strategies.