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Credit: jxfzsy / iStock / Getty Images Plus The recent creation of the NIH Office of Research Integrity, Validation, and Adoption of New Approach Methodologies (ORIVA) is more than just an administrative shift. It represents a historic inflection point in biomedical research. For decades, the scientific community has acknowledged the limitations of animal testing: it is expensive, slow, and often poorly predictive of human outcomes. Yet progress toward replacing animal studies with innovative, human-relevant approaches has been incremental, hindered by fragmented standards, a lack of validation pathways, and limited regulatory acceptance. ORIVA has the potential to change that. By establishing a…

Tailored vitamin D3 supplementation for heart attack patients may halve their risk of a second heart attack, according to new clinical findings. Researchers at the Intermountain Health non-profit healthcare system in Salt Lake City, US, led the large, randomized trial that monitored patients’ vitamin D blood levels and optimized their vitamin D3 dosing accordingly.Lead investigator of the study Heidi May, Ph.D., a cardiovascular epidemiologist at Intermountain Health, says the results are promising for “target to treat” dietary interventions.“We observed no adverse outcomes when giving patients higher doses of vitamin D3 supplementation,” she adds. “We’re excited with these results but know…

Marie Antoinette’s hair allegedly turned white overnight, just before her execution. Many later suggested that this account was likely exaggerated—her hair probably grayed gradually due to the stressful living conditions behind bars. For centuries after that, many people have observed that stress seemed to make their hair as well as others’ go gray. However, scientists didn’t uncover the biological mechanisms that underlie this process until recently. Fight-or-Flight Hormone Drives Irreversible, Stress-Induced Hair Graying in MiceIn a 2020 study, a team led by Ya-Chieh Hsu, a stem cell biologist at Harvard University, discovered that in mice, stress—whether it was physical or…

A new drive to tackle “rampant levels of bullying and harassment” experienced by ethnic minority staff in the health service has been launched by the NHS Race and Health Observatory.As part of a 16 month programme, researchers from the universities of Birmingham and Sheffield and the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s Yorkshire and Humber Patient Safety Research Collaboration will use a mixed method study to analyse NHS staff survey data and produce recommendations for resources to close the “ethnicity gap in bullying, harassment and abuse.”The announcement follows a recent open letter to The BMJ from doctors and healthcare…

Credit: Avalon_Studio / Getty Images Researchers at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center have developed a new test that could diagnose Lyme disease earlier and more accurately than currently available testing methods. Results presented today at the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) 2025 Annual Meeting & Expo show this new test achieved 90.9% sensitivity in a small set of samples. This represents a major improvement when compared to two-tiered serology testing, the current diagnostic standard for Lyme disease, which typically has a sensitivity lower than 50% during early stages, leading to many false negative results in the first six weeks of infection. …

Eating a nutrient-packed breakfast is a great way to support memory and overall brain health.Look for cereals rich in fiber, protein, B vitamins and iron, which support steady energy and fuel the brain.Try to keep added sugar low and opt for cereals made with whole-food ingredients. Starting your morning with a bowl of cereal can do more than just save time—it may also help support your memory and focus. Research shows that nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, iron and antioxidants can play important roles in maintaining brain function by supporting blood flow, reducing inflammation and protecting brain cells…

Much of humanity lives close to the shore. A 2024 study estimated that in 2018, around 2 billion people lived within 50 kilometres of a coast, with half of them — about 15% of the world’s population — settled within just 10 km (A. G. Cosby et al. Sci. Rep. 14, 22489; 2024). Coastal zones are also growing faster than inland areas: between 2000 and 2018, some 460 million people moved to the coast, a shift the authors liken to adding 46 new megacities of 10 million residents each.Nature Index 2025 Science citiesAt the same time, sea levels are rising…

This week’s dinner plan includes recipes that are lower in sodium and saturated fat to support heart health. Each meal is balanced with protein, carbs and healthy fats for something satisfying and flavor-packed. Delicious sheet-pan recipes like salmon with broccoli and autumn veggies with chicken sausage let your oven do the work. It’s never too early to start thinking about supporting your heart health. It’s crucial for blood flow, healthy blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels and reduced overall cardiovascular disease risk. Luckily, eating in a heart-healthy way doesn’t have to be complicated. In this week’s dinner plan, all of the recipes can…

Leading 10 cities overallBeijing’s output, measured by adjusted Share*, increased by 9.14% between 2023 and 2024, while Shanghai’s grew by 20%. The adjusted Share of all US cities in the top 10 declined.Leading 10 cities by subjectChinese cities have claimed 6 of the top 10 positions in physical sciences in 2024, the same number as in 2023. Seoul, in fifth place, is the top-ranked non-Chinese city.The biological sciences top 10 features mostly Western cities, led by New York and Boston. Beijing, in third place, is less than 30 Share points behind Boston. Guangzhou, meanwhile, has jumped from 13th place in…

Sick of drinking water on the keto diet? Diet soda seems like the perfect solution. It’s sweet, it doesn’t have any added sugar, and the carb count is zero. But unfortunately, it’s not that simple.The artificial sweeteners used in place of sugar disrupt your metabolism and prompt sugar cravings, which can interfere with your progress if you drink diet soda on keto.Plus, although the jury is still out, artificial sweeteners have been linked to other health problems, like an increased risk of glucose intolerance, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obesity, according to a review published in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology.What…