The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been facing unprecedented cuts in research grants and contracts, largely driven by the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a entity led by billionaire Elon Musk. Top NIH officials have revealed that DOGE representatives have been directing them to terminate specific projects, sparking concerns about political interference…
Earth on The Soothsayer / page 2
Researchers at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of weight loss. By gene-editing mice to lack the enzyme cystathionine γ-lyase, which breaks down other molecules into cysteine, they found that the mice lost 30% of their weight in just one week on a cysteine-free diet….
A recent study published in PLOS Medicine has discovered that molecules in urine and blood can reveal how much of a person’s diet comes from ultra-processed foods. This breakthrough could lead to a more objective way of tracking consumption of ultra-processed food, which has been linked to various diseases such as diabetes and cancer. The…
A team of scientists has developed the first mRNA bird-flu vaccine for cattle, which triggers a strong immune response to the virus and protects against infection in calves. This breakthrough could mark a crucial step towards creating influenza vaccines for livestock and reducing the risk of animal-to-human transmission of the bird flu virus, which poses…
A recent survey of scientists has revealed that nearly half of the respondents have experienced territorial and undermining behaviors from their peers, with many attributing these behaviors to high-profile researchers or their own supervisors. The study, which coined the term “Gollum effect,” highlights the profound impact of these behaviors on the careers of early-career researchers,…
A machine-learning tool has been developed to predict individuals at high risk of developing post-partum depression, a condition that affects around 17% of people giving birth worldwide. The tool uses electronic health records and post-partum-depression screening scores to identify parents who would benefit most from preventive care. Researchers hope that this tool will help develop…
The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has increased the number of grant applications it has rejected without funding, affecting medical research. Over 2,500 applications have been withdrawn, mostly due to the closure of around 100 funding categories that supported researchers from diverse backgrounds. This move has sparked concerns about the loss of an entire…
Prime Medicine, a biotechnology company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has made history by using prime editing, a cutting-edge gene-editing technique, to treat a teenager with a rare immune disorder. The treatment, called PM359, aims to correct a mutation that causes chronic granulomatous disease. Although it’s too early to determine the treatment’s success, experts are optimistic about…
A recent study published in Nature Human Behaviour has found that chatbots, specifically large language models (LLMs), are more persuasive in online debates than humans, especially when they can personalize their arguments using information about their opponent. The study involved 900 participants in the United States who debated with either a human or OpenAI’s GPT-4…
In response to the Trump administration’s deep cuts to research budgets and dismantling of science agencies, countries worldwide are launching initiatives to attract US research talent. The European Research Council has doubled its start-up funding for researchers moving to Europe, while the European Commission has announced a €500 million programme to make Europe a magnet…