Biotechnology
Engineered floral-scented fungus lures and kills mosquitoes, study finds
Heather Vogel Larawang ginawa ng AI Fact checked
Researchers have engineered a mosquito-killing Metarhizium fungus that emits a flower-like scent, longifolene, to draw in the insects and infect them. The work, published October 24, 2025, in Nature Microbiology, could provide a safe, affordable complement to chemical pesticides amid rising mosquito-borne disease, the team says. ([doi.org](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-025-02155-9))
MIT refines prime editing to reduce gene therapy errors
Researchers at MIT have improved prime editing, a gene-editing technique, to make it 60 times more accurate by minimizing unintended DNA mutations. This advancement could enhance the safety of treatments for genetic diseases. The study, led by Vikash Chauhan, was published in Nature.
Stanford scientists scale up mini-brain production using xanthan gum
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a method to grow thousands of identical brain organoids using xanthan gum, a common food additive, to prevent them from sticking together. This breakthrough, led by Sergiu Pasca and Sarah Heilshorn, enables large-scale testing for brain development and drug screening. The technique could advance studies on disorders like autism and schizophrenia.
Scientists create mushroom-based memory devices for eco-friendly computing
Researchers at The Ohio State University have developed organic memristors from shiitake mushrooms that mimic neural activity in computer chips. These biodegradable devices switch electrical states thousands of times per second while using minimal power. The findings, published in PLOS One, suggest potential for sustainable, brain-like computing.
Engineers create low-voltage artificial neurons from bacteria
Iniulat ng AI
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed an artificial neuron using protein nanowires from electricity-producing bacteria, operating at just 0.1 volts to mimic natural brain cells. This breakthrough enables direct communication with biological systems and promises energy-efficient computing. The innovation could transform wearable electronics and bio-inspired computers.
Gene-edited pigs resist classical swine fever virus
October 22, 2025 04:40Experts explain importance of improved crops
October 20, 2025 00:01Naked mole-rats' cGAS mutations enhance DNA repair and longevity
October 12, 2025 00:30MIT engineers stealth CAR-NK cells for cancer therapy
October 11, 2025 00:51Plant-based serum boosts hair growth in weeks
October 04, 2025 00:35Researchers engineer bacteria to accelerate oil spill cleanup
October 04, 2025 00:28Researchers unveil DNA-based method for ultra-dense data storage
October 03, 2025 02:37New AI model boosts protein structure prediction accuracy
Venture capitalist praises Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s leadership after Argentina swap move
Petra Hartmann Larawang ginawa ng AI Fact checked
Guy Paul Nohra, a longtime life-sciences investor and co-founder of Alta Partners, uses a Daily Wire opinion piece to applaud Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s approach to financial stability and innovation, citing a new $20 billion currency-swap arrangement with Argentina and signs of a tentative biotech rebound.
Researchers directly visualize alpha‑synuclein oligomers in human Parkinson’s brain tissue
Heather Vogel Fact checked
Scientists in the U.K. and Canada report the first direct visualization and measurement of alpha‑synuclein oligomers—the small protein clusters long suspected of triggering Parkinson’s—in human brain tissue. Using an ultra‑sensitive imaging method, the team found these clusters were larger and more numerous in Parkinson’s than in age‑matched controls, a result published in Nature Biomedical Engineering that may help guide earlier diagnosis and targeted therapies.
MIT scientists uncover persistent genome loops during cell division
Researchers at MIT have found that the genome's three-dimensional structure does not fully disappear during cell division, as long believed. Instead, small loops known as microcompartments remain intact and even strengthen, potentially explaining brief gene activity surges in mitosis. This discovery challenges traditional views of how cells maintain genetic regulation across divisions.
Researchers create glowing probe to track ocean microbe sugar breakdown
A team of scientists has invented a fluorescent molecular probe that lights up when marine microbes degrade sugars, revealing key processes in the ocean's carbon cycle. This tool allows real-time observation of how algae and bacteria interact in breaking down complex carbohydrates. The breakthrough, detailed in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, promises deeper insights into carbon storage and release in marine ecosystems.
Startup revives human embryo gene editing
Seven years after the 2018 revelation of the first gene-edited babies, biotech startup Manhattan Genomics is seeking to edit human embryos to create disease-free children. The initiative draws on CRISPR technology previously used by Chinese scientist He Jiankui. This development reignites debates in the field of genetics.
Scientists develop retron-based gene editing for multiple mutations
Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have created a new gene-editing technique using bacterial retrons that corrects multiple disease-causing mutations simultaneously. This method targets complex genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis and improves efficiency over traditional tools. The breakthrough, published in Nature Biotechnology, offers hope for more inclusive therapies.
Scientists create mini human livers to predict drug toxicities
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Roche have developed a human liver organoid microarray platform that models immune-driven drug reactions. This system, built from patient-derived stem cells and immune cells, accurately replicates toxicities like those from flucloxacillin in genetically susceptible individuals. The findings were published online on September 26, 2025, in Advanced Science.