Naked mole rats are not much to look at, but their biology has made them one of the most fascinating animals in aging research. These small, wrinkled rodents can live for decades, rarely develop cancer, and seem unusually protected from many of the diseases that normally arrive with age.

Researchers at the University of Rochester showed that one of those biological advantages can be moved into another mammal. By transferring a gene linked to the naked mole rat's unusually high levels of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMW-HA), the team improved health and modestly extended lifespan in mice.

The work, published in Nature in 2023, suggested that at least some longevity traits that evolved in long-lived animals may be adaptable beyond the species that developed them. The genetically modified mice lived healthier lives and had an approximate 4.4 percent increase in median lifespan compared with ordinary mice.

"Our study provides a proof of principle that unique longevity mechanisms that evolved in long-lived mammalian species can be exported to improve the lifespans of other mammals," says Vera Gorbunova, the Doris Johns Cherry Professor of biology and medicine at Rochester.

Gorbunova, along with Andrei Seluanov, a professor of biology, and their colleagues, focused on a gene that helps produce HMW-HA. This substance is abundant in naked mole rats and has been tied to their striking resistance to cancer, inflammation, and age-related decline.

Why Naked Mole Rats Fascinate Aging Scientists

Naked mole rats are about the size of mice, yet their lifespans are extraordinary for rodents. They can live up to 41 years, nearly ten times longer than similarly sized rodents.

Their long lives are not the only reason scientists study them. As they age, naked mole rats appear to avoid many conditions that commonly affect other mammals, including neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and cancer. For decades, Gorbunova, Seluanov, and other researchers have been investigating how these animals stay so resilient.

One major clue is HMW-HA. Naked mole rats carry roughly ten times more of it than mice and humans. In earlier work, researchers found that when HMW-HA was removed from naked mole rat cells, those cells became more likely to form tumors.

That finding raised a powerful question. If HMW-HA helps naked mole rats resist cancer and age-related damage, could the same mechanism work in a different animal?

Transferring a Naked Mole Rat Longevity Gene

To test the idea, the Rochester team engineered mice to carry the naked mole rat version of the hyaluronan synthase 2 gene. This gene helps make the protein that produces HMW-HA.

All mammals have a version of hyaluronan synthase 2, but the naked mole rat version appears to be especially active. It seems to drive stronger gene expression, leading to greater production of the protective molecule.

The modified mice developed higher levels of hyaluronan in several tissues. They also showed stronger protection against spontaneous tumors and chemically induced skin cancer.

The effects were not limited to cancer resistance. The mice carrying the naked mole rat gene stayed healthier overall, lived longer than regular mice, had less inflammation in multiple tissues as they aged, and maintained better gut health.

Because chronic inflammation is one of the major biological features of aging, the reduction in inflammation was especially important. The researchers believe HMW-HA may work partly by directly influencing the immune system, although more research is needed to explain exactly how it produces such broad benefits.

A Small Lifespan Gain With Big Implications

The increase in median lifespan was about 4.4 percent, which is modest. But the larger significance is that a longevity mechanism from one mammal was successfully transferred to another.

That makes the finding more than a mouse study about a single gene. It supports the idea that nature's long-lived species may contain biological tools that can be studied, adapted, and possibly used to improve health in other animals.

"It took us 10 years from the discovery of HMW-HA in the naked mole rat to showing that HMW-HA improves health in mice," Gorbunova says. "Our next goal is to transfer this benefit to humans."

The researchers believe there may be two main ways to pursue that goal. One would be to slow the breakdown of HMW-HA in the body. Another would be to increase its production.

 Source: ScienceDaily

“Cannot be explained” – New ultra stainless steel stuns researchers

A stainless steel breakthrough from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) could help solve one of the biggest problems facing green hydrogen: how to build electrolyzers that are tough enough for seawater, yet cheap enough for large scale clean energy.

Led by Professor Mingxin Huang in HKU's Department of Mechanical Engineering, the team developed a special stainless steel for hydrogen production (SS-H2). The material resists corrosion under conditions that normally push stainless steel past its limits, making it a promising candidate for producing hydrogen from seawater and other harsh electrolyzer environments.

The discovery, reported in Materials Today in the study "A sequential dual-passivation strategy for designing stainless steel used above water oxidation," builds on Huang's long running "Super Steel" Project. The same research program previously produced anti-COVID-19 stainless steel in 2021, along with ultra strong and ultra tough Super Steel in 2017 and 2020.

A Cheaper Path Toward Green Hydrogen

Green hydrogen is made by using electricity, ideally from renewable sources, to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Seawater is an especially tempting feedstock because it is abundant, but it brings a serious materials problem: salt, chloride ions, side reactions, and corrosion can quickly damage electrolyzer components.

Recent reviews of direct seawater electrolysis continue to highlight the same core challenge. The technology could provide a more sustainable route to hydrogen, but corrosion, chlorine related side reactions, catalyst degradation, precipitates, and limited long term durability remain major obstacles to commercial use.

That is where SS-H2 could matter. In a salt water electrolyzer, the HKU team found that the new steel can perform comparably to the titanium based structural materials used in current industrial practice for hydrogen production from desalted seawater or acid. The difference is cost. Titanium parts coated with precious metals such as gold or platinum are expensive, while stainless steel is far more economical.

For a 10 megawatt PEM electrolysis tank system, the total cost at the time of the HKU report was estimated at about HK$17.8 million, with structural components making up as much as 53% of that expense. According to the team's estimate, replacing those costly structural materials with SS-H2 could reduce the cost of structural material by about 40 times.

Why Ordinary Stainless Steel Fails

Stainless steel has been used for more than a century in corrosive environments because it protects itself. The key ingredient is chromium. When chromium (Cr) oxidizes, it creates a thin passive film that shields the steel from damage.

But that familiar protection system has a built in ceiling. In conventional stainless steel, the chromium based protective layer can break down at high electrical potentials. Stable Cr2O3 can be further oxidized into soluble Cr(VI) species, causing transpassive corrosion at around ~1000 mV (saturated calomel electrode, SCE). That is well below the ~1600 mV needed for water oxidation.

Even 254SMO super stainless steel, a benchmark chromium based alloy known for strong pitting resistance in seawater, runs into this high voltage limit. It may perform well in ordinary marine settings, but the extreme electrochemical environment of hydrogen production is a different challenge.

The Steel That Builds a Second Shield

The HKU team's answer was a strategy called "sequential dual-passivation." Instead of relying only on the usual chromium oxide barrier, SS-H2 forms a second protective layer.

The first layer is the familiar Cr2O3 based passive film. Then, at around ~720 mV, a manganese based layer forms on top of the chromium based layer. This second shield helps protect the steel in chloride containing environments up to an ultra high potential of 1700 mV.

That is what makes the finding so striking. Manganese is usually not viewed as a friend of stainless steel corrosion resistance. In fact, the prevailing view has been that manganese weakens it.

"Initially, we did not believe it because the prevailing view is that Mn impairs the corrosion resistance of stainless steel. Mn-based passivation is a counter-intuitive discovery, which cannot be explained by current knowledge in corrosion science. However, when numerous atomic-level results were presented, we were convinced. Beyond being surprised, we cannot wait to exploit the mechanism," said Dr. Kaiping Yu, the first author of the article, whose PhD is supervised by Professor Huang.

Source: ScienceDaily

Ultra-processed foods linked to higher risk of heart disease and early death

 Eating large amounts of ultra processed food (UPF) may significantly increase the risk of heart disease and death, according to a new report published in the European Heart Journal. The report combines findings from all currently available research examining the connection between UPFs and cardiovascular disease.

Researchers say growing evidence links high consumption of UPFs to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and death related to cardiovascular conditions.

The authors are urging doctors to discuss UPF intake with patients and offer practical advice on reducing consumption as part of routine healthcare.

The clinical consensus statement was produced by the European Society of Cardiology's Council for Cardiology Practice and the European Association of Preventive Cardiology, along with a panel of experts led by Professor Luigina Guasti from the University of Insubria, Varese, Italy; Dr. Marialaura Bonaccio, IRCCS NEUROMED, Pozzilli, Italy; Professor Massimo Piepoli, University of Milan, Italy; and Professor Licia Iacoviello, LUM University, Casamassima, Italy.

Ultra Processed Foods and Heart Disease Risk

Professor Guasti said: "UPFs, made from industrial ingredients and additives, have largely replaced traditional diets. Research suggests these foods are linked to several risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, and to the risk of developing and dying from heart disease. However, this evidence has not yet made its way into the advice we give to patients on healthy eating.

"We hope that this consensus statement from the European Society of Cardiology will help doctors recognize UPFs as a potential risk factor and provide clear guidance to their patients on limiting UPFs to prevent cardiovascular risk factors, disease and death."

The report outlines several major findings from existing research:

• Adults who consume the most UPFs face up to a 19% greater risk of heart disease, a 13% higher risk of atrial fibrillation, and as much as a 65% higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease compared with people who consume the least.
• UPFs are also associated with worsening obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and unhealthy fat accumulation in the bloodstream.
• UPF consumption continues to rise across Europe. UPFs account for 61% of calories consumed in the Netherlands and 54% in the UK, compared with 25% in Spain, 22% in Portugal, and 18% in Italy.
• Many national dietary guidelines still focus mainly on nutrients and do not specifically address food processing.
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Doctors Urged To Discuss UPFs With Patients

The authors are calling for stronger public awareness about UPFs through updated dietary guidelines, clearer food labeling, and government regulation.

They also recommend that doctors caring for patients with cardiovascular disease, or those at risk for it, ask specifically about UPF intake when evaluating diet and lifestyle habits.

In addition, the report says healthcare professionals should encourage patients to reduce UPF consumption alongside standard advice about exercise, smoking, alcohol use, and overall nutrition. Researchers also note that some foods marketed as "healthier" options may still qualify as ultra processed foods.

The researchers say evidence linking UPFs to cardiovascular disease has been consistent across large and varied populations. However, they also point out that most studies so far have been observational, with relatively few long term intervention trials.

Why Researchers Are Concerned About UPFs

Dr. Bonaccio adds: "The associations between UPF and heart disease are consistent and biologically plausible. UPFs raise cardiovascular risk mainly by promoting obesity, diabetes, hypertension and the build-up of unhealthy fats in the blood. UPFs tend to be high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. They also have additives, contaminants and an altered food structure, which may trigger inflammation, metabolic disruption, gut microbiome changes and overeating.

"We need long-term intervention trials to test whether reducing UPFs improves cardiovascular health. More research is also needed to understand the effects of specific additives, processing compounds and food structures on heart health. Future studies could focus on implementing UPF-focused dietary interventions in clinical practice.

"The research on UPFs has been accumulating for a decade, and it highlights the risks of high UPF consumption and the benefits of choosing whole or minimally processed foods. This emphasizes that disease prevention should not focus solely on nutrients, but also on the degree of food processing. Even foods with good nutritional profiles can be harmful if highly processed. Integrating UPF awareness into routine medical care could improve patient's health without adding significant cost or time."

Source: ScienceDaily

Researchers say AI chatbots may blur the line between reality and delusion

 When generative AI systems give incorrect answers, people often describe the problem as AI "hallucinating at us," meaning the technology produces false information that users may mistakenly believe.

But new research suggests there may be a more concerning issue emerging: humans can begin to "hallucinate with AI."

Lucy Osler of the University of Exeter examined how interactions with conversational AI could contribute to false beliefs, distorted memories, altered personal narratives, and even delusional thinking. Using ideas from distributed cognition theory, the study explored cases in which AI systems reinforced and expanded users' inaccurate beliefs during ongoing conversations.

Dr. Osler said: "When we routinely rely on generative AI to help us think, remember, and narrate, we can hallucinate with AI. This can happen when AI introduces errors into the distributed cognitive process, but also happen when AI sustains, affirms, and elaborates on our own delusional thinking and self-narratives.

"By interacting with conversational AI, people's own false beliefs can not only be affirmed but can more substantially take root and grow as the AI builds upon them. This happens because Generative AI often takes our own interpretation of reality as the ground upon which conversation is built.

"Interacting with generative AI is having a real impact on people's grasp of what is real or not. The combination of technological authority and social affirmation creates an ideal environment for delusions to not merely persist but to flourish."

How Conversational AI Can Reinforce Delusions

The study highlights what Dr. Osler describes as the "dual function" of conversational AI. These systems act not only as tools that help people think, organize information, and remember details, but also as conversational partners that appear to share a user's perspective and experiences.

According to the research, this social aspect makes chatbots fundamentally different from tools like notebooks or search engines. While traditional tools simply store or retrieve information, conversational AI can make users feel emotionally validated and socially supported.

Dr. Osler said: "The conversational, companion-like nature of chatbots means they can provide a sense of social validation -- making false beliefs feel shared with another, and thereby more real."

The paper examined real-world examples in which generative AI systems became part of the cognitive process of individuals who had been clinically diagnosed with hallucinations and delusional thinking. Some of these incidents are increasingly being described as cases of "AI-induced psychosis."

Why AI Companions Raise Concern

The research argues that generative AI has several characteristics that may make it especially effective at reinforcing distorted beliefs. AI companions are always available, highly personalized, and often designed to respond in agreeable and supportive ways.

As a result, users may not need to seek out fringe online communities or persuade others to validate their ideas. The AI itself can reinforce those beliefs during repeated conversations.

Unlike another person who may eventually challenge troubling thoughts or establish boundaries, an AI system could continue validating stories involving victimhood, revenge, or entitlement. The study warns that conspiracy theories may also become more elaborate when AI companions help users build increasingly complex explanations around them.

Researchers suggest this dynamic may be especially appealing to people who are lonely, socially isolated, or uncomfortable discussing certain experiences with others. AI companions can provide a nonjudgmental and emotionally responsive interaction that may feel easier or safer than human relationships.

Calls for Better AI Safeguards

Dr. Osler said: "Through more sophisticated guard-railing, built-in fact-checking, and reduced sycophancy, AI systems could be designed to minimize the number of errors they introduce into conversations and to check and challenge user's own inputs.

"However, a deeper worry is that AI systems are reliant on our own accounts of our lives. They simply lack the embodied experience and social embeddedness in the world to know when they should go along with us and when to push back."

Source: ScienceDaily

Common knee surgery found ineffective, may make things worse

 A widely performed knee procedure known as partial meniscectomy may not deliver the benefits many patients expect. A major study with a 10-year follow-up has found that trimming a damaged meniscus does not improve symptoms or knee function when compared to a placebo procedure.

Partial meniscectomy is one of the most common orthopedic surgeries worldwide. While its use has declined in Finland in recent years, it remains a routine treatment in many countries

10-Year Study Finds Worse Outcomes After Surgery

The long-term results paint a concerning picture. Patients who underwent partial meniscectomy did not experience better outcomes than those who had sham surgery. In fact, they tended to do worse.

After a decade, these patients reported more knee symptoms and poorer function. They also showed greater progression of osteoarthritis and were more likely to need additional knee surgery compared to those who did not receive the actual procedure.

Unique Trial Design Strengthens Findings

The Finnish Degenerative Meniscal Lesion Study (FIDELITY) stands out for its rigorous design. It included a sham surgery control group, allowing researchers to directly compare outcomes against a placebo procedure. Participants with degenerative meniscal tears were randomly assigned to receive either partial meniscectomy or sham surgery, and their progress was tracked for 10 years.

Teppo Järvinen, Professor at the University of Helsinki and the principal investigator of the FIDELITY emphasizes the broader significance of the results:

"Our findings suggest that this may be an example of what is known as a medical reversal, where broadly used therapy proves ineffective or even harmful."

Rethinking the Cause of Knee Pain

The surgery has long been based on the idea that knee pain, especially on the inner side, is caused by a meniscus tear that can be fixed surgically. However, this assumption may not hold up.

"The surgery is based on the assumption that pain in the inside of the knee is caused by a medial meniscus tear, which can be treated surgically. Such reasoning -- assumption based on biological credibility -- is still very common in medicine but in this case, the assumption does not withstand critical examination. Based on current understanding, pain in various joints, such as the knee joint in this case, is related to degeneration brought about by aging," says Raine Sihvonen, Specialist in Orthopaedics and Traumatology and the other principal investigator of the FIDELITY study.

Concerns About Risks and Long-Term Harm

Earlier registry and observational studies have already raised red flags about potential downsides of this surgery. These include a higher likelihood of arthroplasty, or joint replacement surgery, and a possible increase in complications after the procedure. However, observational data alone cannot prove cause and effect.

"Several randomized studies have already demonstrated that partial meniscectomy has not improved patients' symptoms or function in the short (1-2 years) or medium (5 years) term. Regardless, the procedure has remained widely used in many countries," says Doctoral Researcher and Specialist in Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Dr. Roope Kalske.

Why the Procedure Is Still Widely Used

Despite mounting evidence, changing clinical practice has been slow.

"For nearly a decade, many independent, non-orthopedic organizations providing clinical guidelines have recommended that the procedure should be discontinued. Still, for example, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the British Association for Surgery of the Knee (BASK) have continued to endorse the surgery.

"This effectively illustrates how difficult it is to give up inefficient therapies," Järvinen sums up.

Strong Collaboration Behind the Study

The research was carried out across five hospitals, highlighting strong collaboration and patient commitment. Of the original 146 participants, more than 90% completed the final follow-up phase.

"The study conducted in five hospitals is an example of smooth multicenter collaboration, as well as the commitment of research patients to an interesting project. Of the original 146 participants, more than 90% took part in the final stage of the study," says the research manager Pirjo Toivonen.

The Finnish Degenerative Meniscal Lesion Study FIDELITY) is part of the broader work of the FICEBO research group in assessing the impact of surgical therapies. The project is a collaboration between the university hospitals of Helsinki, Kuopio and Turku, Hatanpää Hospital in Tampere, Hospital Nova in Jyväskylä and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.

Source: ScienceDaily

AI lets chemists design molecules by simply describing them

 Creating new molecules is one of the toughest tasks in chemistry. Whether the goal is a life-saving drug or a cutting-edge material, each compound must be built through a carefully planned series of reactions. Mapping out these steps requires deep expertise and strategic thinking, which is why chemists often spend years mastering the process.

A major hurdle is retrosynthesis. In this approach, chemists begin with the final molecule they want and work backward to figure out simpler starting materials and possible reaction routes. This involves many decisions, such as selecting the right building blocks, deciding when to form rings, and determining whether sensitive parts of the molecule need protection. While computers can scan enormous "chemical spaces," they still struggle to match the strategic judgment of experienced chemists.

Another challenge involves reaction mechanisms, which describe how reactions proceed step by step through the movement of electrons. Understanding these mechanisms allows scientists to predict new reactions, improve efficiency, and avoid costly trial and error. Although current computational tools can suggest many possible pathways, they often lack the intuition needed to pinpoint the most realistic ones.

A New AI Approach to Chemical Reasoning

Researchers led by Philippe Schwaller at EPFL have developed a new method that uses large language models (LLMs) as reasoning tools for chemistry. Rather than directly generating chemical structures, these models act as evaluators that guide existing computational systems.

The new framework, called Synthegy, combines traditional search algorithms with AI that can interpret chemical strategies written in natural language.

"When making tools for chemists, the user interface matters a lot, and previous tools relied on cumbersome filters and rules," says Andres M Bran, the first author of the Synthegy paper published in Matter. "With Synthegy, we're giving chemists the power to just talk, allowing them to iterate much faster and navigate more complex synthetic ideas."

How Synthegy Improves Retrosynthesis Planning

Synthegy starts with a target molecule and a simple instruction written in everyday language. For example, a chemist might request that a specific ring be formed early or that unnecessary protecting groups be avoided. Standard retrosynthesis software then generates many possible pathways.

Each of these pathways is converted into text and reviewed by a language model. Synthegy scores how well each option matches the chemist's instructions and explains its reasoning. This makes it easier to rank and filter the best routes. By guiding searches with natural language, chemists can quickly focus on strategies that align with their goals.

Source:ScienceDaily

Scientists turn plastic waste into clean hydrogen fuel using sunlight

 Scientists are developing a new way to tackle two major global problems at once: plastic pollution and the demand for clean energy. By using sunlight, they are finding ways to turn discarded plastic into useful fuels.

A recent study led by Adelaide University PhD candidate Xiao Lu examines how solar-powered systems can convert waste plastics into hydrogen, syngas, and other industrial chemicals. This approach could help create a more sustainable, circular economy by giving new value to materials that are usually thrown away.

Plastic Waste as a Hidden Energy Resource

More than 460 million tonnes of plastic are produced worldwide each year, and large amounts end up polluting land and oceans. At the same time, the need to move away from fossil fuels has intensified the search for cleaner energy alternatives.

The research, published in Chem Catalysis, shows that plastics, which are rich in carbon and hydrogen, can be treated as a resource rather than just waste.

"Plastic is often seen as a major environmental problem, but it also represents a significant opportunity," said Ms Lu. "If we can efficiently convert waste plastics into clean fuels using sunlight, we can address pollution and energy challenges at the same time."

How Sunlight Converts Plastic Into Fuel

The method, called solar-driven photoreforming, relies on light-sensitive materials known as photocatalysts. These materials use sunlight to break down plastics at relatively low temperatures.

Through this process, plastics can be transformed into hydrogen, which is a clean fuel that produces no emissions at the point of use, along with other valuable industrial chemicals.Compared to traditional water splitting for hydrogen production, this approach can be more energy-efficient. Plastics are easier to oxidize, which makes the reactions require less energy and increases the potential for large-scale use.

Promising Results From Early Studies

According to senior author Professor Xiaoguang Duan from the School of Chemical Engineering at Adelaide University, recent experiments have delivered strong results.Researchers have reported high levels of hydrogen production, as well as the creation of acetic acid and even diesel-range hydrocarbons. Some systems have run continuously for more than 100 hours, demonstrating improving stability and performance.

Challenges to Scaling the Technology

Despite this progress, several obstacles must be addressed before the technology can be widely adopted."One major hurdle is the complexity of plastic waste itself," Prof Duan said. "Different types of plastics behave differently during conversion, and additives such as dyes and stabilisers can interfere with the process. Efficient sorting and pre-treatment are therefore essential to maximise performance and product quality."

Another key issue involves the photocatalysts themselves. These materials need to be highly selective and durable, capable of operating under demanding chemical conditions without losing effectiveness. Current versions can degrade over time, which limits their long-term reliability.

"There is still a gap between laboratory success and real-world application," Prof Duan said. "We need more robust catalysts and better system designs to ensure the technology is both efficient and economically viable at scale."

Engineering and Efficiency Hurdles

Separating the final products is also a challenge. The reactions often produce a mix of gases and liquids, which must be separated through energy-intensive processes. This can reduce the overall environmental benefits.

To overcome these issues, researchers emphasize the need for a more integrated strategy. This includes improvements in catalyst design, reactor engineering, and overall system optimization. New ideas being explored include continuous-flow reactors, systems that combine solar with thermal or electrical energy, and advanced monitoring tools to improve efficiency.

A Roadmap Toward Real-World Use

Looking ahead, the team has outlined steps for scaling up the technology. Their goals include boosting energy efficiency and enabling continuous industrial operation over the coming decades.

"This is an exciting and rapidly evolving field," Ms Lu said. "With continued innovation, we believe solar-powered plastic-to-fuel technologies could play a key role in building a sustainable, low-carbon future."

Source: ScienceDaily