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Colossal Biosciences as a company name was picked to engage children, says chief executive Ben Lamm.Credit: Colossal BiosciencesThe meaning behind our monikerColossal Biosciences, in Dallas, Texas, describes itself as the world’s first de-extinction company. It aims to revive lost species using CRISPR gene-editing technology, including the mammoth (Mammuthus spp.). It attracted controversy when it announced it has ‘de-extincted’ the dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus), a large-bodied wolf species that last roamed North America during the ice age that ended some 11,500 years ago. Its co-founders are technology entrepreneur Ben Lamm, Colossal’s chief executive, and George Church, the company’s genetics adviser, who…

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT 26 September 2025 Experiments show that the bacterial component of fine particulate matter has a highly potent inflammatory effect.

Mark Kelley, PhD, IU School of Medicine [Tim Yates, IU School of Medicine] Indiana University (IU) School of Medicine scientists have identified a previously unrecognized connection between two proteins that help pancreatic tumor cells survive against oxidative stress. Exploiting this connection could offer a new treatment approach not only for pancreatic cancer, but also other tumors that rely on the redox pathway. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer that is highly resistant to therapy, surviving despite hypoxia, oxidative stress, and nutrient deprivation, explain Mark Kelley, PhD, Betty and Earl Herr Professor of Pediatric Oncology Research at the IU…

Any amount of alcohol consumption raises dementia risk, challenging the previously held beliefs on the benefits of light drinking. Heavy drinkers who consumed 40 or more drinks a week displayed a 41% higher risk.Early cognitive decline might lead to reduced alcohol intake, which could explain the supposed “protective” effects of alcohol seen in earlier research.Consuming any volume of alcohol raises the risk of dementia, suggests the largest combined observational and genetic study on the subject to date. It warns that light drinking, which researchers previously thought was protective, is unlikely to lower the risk.Researchers note that a common belief is…

For decades, gene-editing science has been limited to making small, precise edits to human DNA, akin to correcting typos in the genetic code. Arc Institute researchers are changing that paradigm with the development of a universal gene editing system that allows for cutting and pasting of entire genomic paragraphs, rearranging whole chapters, and even restructuring entire passages of the genomic manuscript. In a published paper in Science, the research team, headed by Patrick Hsu, PhD, an Arc Institute core investigator and University of California, Berkeley bioengineering faculty member, demonstrated how bridge recombinase technology can be applied to human cells. The…

This postdoc’s research bridges fundamental neuroscience and molecular biology to tackle chronic pain and neurodegeneration.Image credit:Isaac Killgore Photography, © iStock, koto_fejaQ | Write a brief introduction to yourself including the lab you work in and your research background. I am Kishore Kumar S Narasimhan, a neuroscientist passionate about understanding synaptic plasticity. As a postdoc in the Dravid Lab at Texas A&M University, I specialize in wet-lab techniques, advancing neural adaptability, and drug discovery projects. My academic journey from India to the US fuels my goal of translating scientific discoveries into impactful therapies for neuronal disorders.Q | How did you first get…

Kodiak Cakes just brought back its seasonal Pumpkin Power Cakes with 15 g of protein.Kodiak also launched a new microwaveable Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffin Cup.Both are flavorful ways to add more protein to your day and shake up your snack rotation. My one extremely picky child with sensory issues eats Kodiak Buttermilk Power Cakes every single day, either in waffle or pumpkin form, and my other picky child with even more sensory issues will eat Kodiak Power Cakes as pancakes when it suits him.  Actually, Kodiak Cakes are one of the only protein-rich foods that they both will eat. Chicken…

Millions of Americans are living with dementia, and those numbers are on the rise.Brown rice is rich in antioxidants and vitamins that may protect against dementia.It also provides fiber for steady blood sugar, which is critical for long-term brain health. Nearly 7 million Americans over age 65 are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease. And that number is expected to double over the next 35 years. While Alzheimer’s is, perhaps, the best-known form of dementia, there are other types of cognitive decline that can also impair your memory, decision-making skills and mental clarity.  Fortunately, healthy lifestyle choices can go a long…

United Space Structures Founder Bill Kemp on why governments must treat aging itself as the world’s greatest health challenge. Our healthcare systems are fighting an unwinnable war. Year after year, trillions are spent managing the symptoms of chronic disease – heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s – yet the toll only grows. The cost to the US alone is over $4.8 trillion annually, 16.7% of GDP. That equates to more than $14,000 per citizen per year; for families it means savings drained and caregivers pulled from the workforce; for society it is a tax on productivity, innovation and well-being. The breakdown…

After a mouse received treatment to eliminate immune cells called microglia, it was injected with human progenitor cells that developed into human immune cells (green, pink and blue) in the animal’s brain.Credit: M. M.-D. Madler et al./NatureA fresh supply of the immune cells that keep the brain tidy might one day help to treat a host of conditions, from ultra-rare genetic disorders to more familiar scourges, such as Alzheimer’s disease.In the past few months, a spate of new studies have highlighted the potential of a technique called microglia replacement and explored ways to make it safer and more effective. “This…