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It was a meeting that shocked the world. On 28 February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Trump’s aim was “getting some of the rare earth” as payment for US weapons after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Negotiations broke down at the meeting, but later, on 30 April, Trump landed his deal. And he has been seeking other deals since, including signing a joint agreement with Australia on 21 October to secure critical-mineral and rare-earth supply chains.Climate change is devastating mining of minerals needed to fight itAccess to minerals has long…

Packaged shredded lettuce is convenient, but it often comes with a compromise in quality.Chefs highlight that packaged shredded lettuces lack freshness and flavor and are prone to contamination.Instead, chefs recommend using whole heads of lettuce for the best quality and freshest taste. Salads are a simple solution for a quick lunch or a healthy side for dinner. Central to most salads are the lettuce greens, providing the crisp, tender centerpiece for an assortment of veggie or protein mix-ins.  Yet, when it comes to making salads, there is one ingredient chefs never use but many people swear by: shredded bagged lettuce.…

For years, major medical organizations like the American Heart Association have recommended aiming to get at least 150 minutes of heart-pumping physical activity a week. But new research suggests that number should be higher — for men, at least.[1]The study, published in the journal Nature Cardiovascular Research, suggests men and women should have different exercise goals to prevent heart disease — and that men should aim to do nearly twice as much activity as women.“It’s a complex issue, but there clearly are some differences between men and women and exercise’s impact on disease risk,” says Kevin Shah, MD, cardiologist and program…

This easy sheet-pan dinner features hearty ingredients—perfect for weeknights and entertaining guests when the weather turns chilly.It’s packed with satiating protein and fiber, as well as anti-inflammatory nutrients. Feel free to swap the boneless, skinless chicken thighs with skin-on thighs or chicken breasts. Our Maple-Miso Chicken Thighs, Brussels Sprouts & Spaghetti Squash is sure to get added to your regular dinner rotation. Juicy, tender and protein-packed chicken thighs are roasted with inflammation-fighting Brussels sprouts in a maple-miso glaze that caramelizes under the high heat. It’s a flavor match made in heaven. This sits on a bed of silky spaghetti squash that…

Credit: koto_feja /E+/ Getty Images By stimulating cancer cells to produce and release an enzyme that activates the cGAS-STING signaling pathway in nearby immune cells, MIT researchers found a way to force tumors to trigger their own destruction. The researchers used lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS) mRNA to cancer cells. This results in production of the endogenous stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist cGAMP, which is then released and transferred to neighboring immune cells. STING is a protein that helps to trigger immune responses. Studies in mouse cancer models found that activating the cGAS-STING signaling…

As the study’s lead author, Cara Palmer, Ph.D., explains in a news release, “This study represents the most comprehensive synthesis of experimental sleep and emotion research to date, and provides strong evidence that periods of extended wakefulness, shortened sleep duration, and nighttime awakenings adversely influence human emotional functioning.”

Plans to transform the NHS in England over the next decade will not succeed without substantial investment in management to professionalise and develop its role, a report from a leading healthcare think tank has warned.1The King’s Fund said “high-calibre, well-trained management” alongside clinical leadership was essential to delivering the government’s much heralded 10 Year Health Plan.2 The report argues that it is time to embed a strong national framework for NHS managers that will include a code of practice, standards and competencies, and a national development curriculum.It points out that Ara Darzi’s rapid investigation into the state of the NHS…

Whether it’s jitters before a big presentation or excitement with a romantic interest, many people recognize the fluttery sensation of “butterflies in their stomach.” But what exactly causes these metaphorical butterflies to take flight? Wei-Li Wu focuses on decoding the microbial signals in the gut-brain axis that contribute to different behaviors.Hao-Chiang ChienWei-Li Wu, a neurobiologist at National Cheng Kung University, compares the sensation of butterflies in the stomach to the butterfly effect, where small changes trigger larger physiological responses. Emotional triggers, such as stress and anticipation, activate the body’s fight-or-flight response. “The first neurotransmitter to respond to stress is norepinephrine,”…

To produce enough ‘critical metals’ such as copper, lithium and nickel to support the green-energy transition, the mining industry needs to boost operations two-to-fivefold worldwide by 20501. Geopolitical tensions, environmental damage and social conflicts will constrain this growth2. But another threat needs much more attention: climate change.Extraction of the very metals needed to address global warming will be increasingly impeded by the extreme weather that accompanies climate change.Thousands of critical-mineral mines are in sensitive environments, including deserts in Africa, highlands in the Andes and coastlines across the Asia-Pacific. Mining areas are already regularly exposed to hazards. In 2023 alone, wildfires…

Published in Food & Nutrition Research, the randomized, double-blind, controlled crossover study aimed to evaluate the relative bioavailability of Optifolin+ versus standard folic acid, comparing their pharmacokinetic profiles over 24 hours in healthy men and women (aged 29-40). Researchers from BioTeSys and the Universities of Applied Sciences and Hospital of the Saarland, Germany, found that plasma concentrations of L-5-MTHF, the bioactive form of folate that is used by the body to support vital cellular functions, were significantly higher following Optifolin+ intake compared to those after folic acid. Optifolin+ also increased folate status (as 5-MTHF) by more than 240% as compared…