Danger Dust

Penn-led researchers have turned a deadly fungus into a potent cancer-fighting compound. After isolating a new class of molecules from Aspergillus flavus, a toxic crop fungus linked to deaths in the excavations of ancient tombs, the researchers modified the chemicals and tested them against leukemia cells. The result? A promising cancer-killing compound that rivals FDA-approved drugs and opens up new frontiers in the discovery of more fungal medicines.

From curse to cure

Aspergillus flavus, named for its yellow spores, has long been a microbial villain. After archaeologists opened King Tutankhamun's tomb in the 1920s, a series of untimely deaths among the excavation team fueled rumors of a pharaoh's curse. Decades later, doctors theorized that fungal spores, dormant for millennia, could have played a role.

In the 1970s, a dozen scientists entered the tomb of Casimir IV in Poland. Within weeks, 10 of them died. Later investigations revealed the tomb contained A. flavus, whose toxins can lead to lung infections, especially in people with compromised immune systems.

Now, that same fungus is the unlikely source of a promising new cancer therapy.

Using molecular profiling during prostate tumor initiation, the researchers identified that inflammatory activation is a key regulator of cellular reprogramming and tumor initiation. Pharmacologically blocking inflammation prevents cellular reprogramming and prostate tumor initiation.

"By identifying the molecular mechanisms regulating cellular reprogramming required for prostate tumor formation, our results pave the way for new therapeutic approaches targeting inflammation-induced reprogramming, which could prevent the formation of prostate cancers and potentially other cancers," comments Professor Blanpain, the director of this study.

A groundbreaking national study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) has brought to light an alarming connection between prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke and an increased risk of heart failure (HF) in older adults. This research, unprecedented in its scope and scale, reveals that even slight increases in wildfire-derived particulate matter in the atmosphere over an extended period can significantly elevate the risk of developing heart failure. Notably, vulnerable groups such as women, older adults, and economically disadvantaged populations are disproportionately affected, highlighting an urgent public health concern as wildfire events become more frequent and severe worldwide.

At the core of this study is PM2.5, a type of fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory tract and entering the bloodstream. PM2.5 particles are emitted from numerous sources including vehicle exhaust, industrial activities, fossil fuel combustion, and notably, wildfires. However, the unique chemical composition and toxicity of wildfire smoke-derived PM2.5 differentiate it from other pollution types, underscoring its potentially heightened danger to cardiovascular health.

Published September 2022

Silica is one of the most abundant minerals on earth, and exposure to silica dust has been identified as a risk factor for many SARDs, including SS, RA, SLE, and AAV.

Individuals working in agriculture, mills, drilling, painting, and textiles have been identified to have a greater risk of developing AAV disease.

Multiple case reports have shown that continuous exposure to silica increases the risk of positive ANCA. Several studies have described cases of silica exposure and AAV.

There is a positive association between exposure to carbon monoxide and AAV frequency.

The role of silica is further supported by the increasing frequency of AAV observed following a severe earthquake in Yunnan Province of China in 2014.

Similar observations were made after large earthquakes in Japan in 1995 and 2011.

As these clouds of dust sweep across the region, medical professionals have weighed in on its effects.

Family physician Dr Sherry Belle said the dust in the atmosphere could adversely affect the ENT (ear, nose, and throat) organs as well as the eyes through several mechanisms.

“The size and composition of the particles, the duration of exposure and an individual’s sensitivity, such as pre-existing allergies or asthma, all play a role in how severe those effects may be. In the nasal cavity, dust particles irritate the mucosa and can lead to rhinitis.

Symptoms

“Patients often present with sneezing, nasal congestion, a runny nose and post-nasal drip. In those with allergic rhinitis, the dust can trigger a histamine response and exacerbate symptoms dramatically,” she said.

Belle further said that dust inhalation could also inflame the throat, noting that common symptoms included dryness, scratchiness, or even a sore throat.

“Many develop a reflex cough as the body tries to expel the particles and those with chronic pharyngitis or laryngitis may experience a notable worsening of their condition.

“Nasal inflammation from dust may impair Eustachian tube function. This can cause a sensation of ear fullness or mild hearing changes and, in some, even mild itching or discomfort in the outer ear canal, especially if there’s underlying dermatitis or eczema.”

The study also excavated the intricacies of chemical contamination within the recycled plastics. Through a thorough chemical analysis, researchers identified a variety of compounds leaching from the pellets into the water. Alarmingly, the study revealed not only additives commonly used in plastic production, such as UV stabilizers and plasticizers, but also other hazardous substances that are atypical for plastics. This included pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and biocides, suggesting the possibility of contamination from prior usage phases of these materials.

A French woman from the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe has been identified as the only known carrier of a new blood type, dubbed "Gwada negative," France's blood supply agency has announced.

The announcement was made 15 years after researchers received a blood sample from a patient who was undergoing routine tests ahead of surgery, the French Blood Establishment (EFS) said on Friday.

Researchers investigating the enigmatic and antibiotic-resistant Pandoraea bacteria have uncovered a surprising twist: these pathogens don't just pose risks they also produce powerful natural compounds. By studying a newly discovered gene cluster called pan, scientists identified two novel molecules Pandorabactin A and B that allow the bacteria to steal iron from their environment, giving them a survival edge in iron-poor places like the human body. These molecules also sabotage rival bacteria by starving them of iron, potentially reshaping microbial communities in diseases like cystic fibrosis.

This study highlights the promising potential of green roofs in mitigating microplastic pollution in coastal urban areas. Green roofs demonstrated an impressive average interception efficiency of more than 97.5% for trapping microplastics from atmospheric deposition.

The estimated annual interception flux of atmospheric microplastics in Shanghai is 1.70 × 1012 n L−1 (56.2 t yr−1).

The research found that higher rainfall intensities slightly increased interception efficiency due to enhanced moisture content and reduced hydraulic gradient, decreasing the driving force for stormwater and microplastic infiltration. Fibers were more challengeable to be captured than fragments. Most microplastics were retained in the planting soil layer (66–92%), with the overground part of vegetation contributing modestly.

However, the long-term operation of green roofs may lead to aging and degradation of plastic components, potentially generating new microplastics. These findings offer valuable insights and data for developing future microplastic pollution management strategies.

The largest ever biological study of ME/CFS has identified consistent blood differences associated with chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and liver disease.

Significantly, the results were mostly unaffected by patients' activity levels, as low activity levels can sometimes hide the biological signs of illness, experts say.

The volume and consistency of the blood differences support the long-term goal of developing a blood test to help diagnose ME/CFS, researchers say.

The volume and consistency of the blood differences support the long-term goal of developing a blood test to help diagnose ME/CFS, researchers say.

ME/CFS' key feature, called post-exertional malaise, is a delayed dramatic worsening of symptoms following minor physical effort.

Other symptoms include pain, brain fog and extreme energy limitation that does not improve with rest.

Full paper:

Replicated blood-based biomarkers for myalgic encephalomyelitis not explicable by inactivity

https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.1038/s44321-025-00258-8

The equipment they use for the testing is the MARS III Quantum Response System (Multiple Analytical Resonance Systems). If the use of the word Quantum is already worrying you, perhaps the reassurance that the device is “manufactured and listed as a medical scanning device class 11a” should help. Sadly, this is almost certainly wrong. Chances are they actually mean IIa as per the UK Government Classification of Medical Devices. This classification also doesn’t speak to whether the machine in question does what it claims, but more about the risk that it carries. The £25 I paid for my test may have sounded like a bargain initially, but it seems that I paid a quarter of the price of buying the machine itself as it can be found for less than £100 on Amazon – tempting!

Food intolerance is of course a real thing, and there’s useful guidance from the NHS on how it might be diagnosed and treated. If you think you may have some form of this, or something else which is causing your symptoms, then please keep your hair intact, put down your wallet, pick up the phone, and call a real doctor.

A construction company is being prosecuted for causing the deaths of two former workers and one of their partners by exposing them to asbestos dust.

Eternit, based in Goor, near Enschede, is accused of failing in its duty of care towards its employees by knowingly letting them work in a hazardous environment.

The public prosecution service (Openbare Ministerie) confirmed reports in the Telegraaf and Trouw newspapers that the company, a division of Belgian-based Etex Group, had been charged with deliberate and involuntary manslaughter.

Asbestos production was banned in the Netherlands in 1993, but medical studies since the 1960s have provided evidence of a link between inhaling fine asbestos dust particles and respiratory diseases, as well as some types of cancer.

A man who lost four family members to asbestos-related cancer has backed an MP's campaign to have the potentially deadly material removed from all public buildings.

South Shields Labour MP Emma Lewell used a Commons debate to press the government to create a register of UK buildings containing asbestos and plan for its removal.

Her grandad John Henry Richardson died in 1998 from asbestosis - a hardening of the lungs - after working in the area's shipyards, while her constituency has one of the country's highest death rates from contact with the material.

Raymond Turnbull, from Washington, supported Lewell's call with the plea: "We've got to really get it out there how dangerous it is."

Mr Turnbull has seen asbestos take a terrible toll on his family.

His mother died from mesothelioma in 1979, aged 72, and his brother and uncle also succumbed to the same cancer.

All three worked at the now closed Turner and Newall factory in Washington which made products containing asbestos.

But the biggest blow for Mr Turnbull was the loss of his wife, Jean, who died aged 62 in 2009.

"When she was young he used to play with other children on big white heaps near the factory," he said

In 2024, the Biden administration issued a ban on the last type of asbestos still used in the United States due to its links to cancer. The Trump administration isn’t so sure that we need to protect people from such things. Earlier this week, the New York Times reported that Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency will delay the ban on the material and reconsider the rule entirely. Because, hey, when has a little cancer ever hurt anyone?

The material at the core of this back-and-forth policymaking is chrysotile asbestos, otherwise known as “white asbestos.” While it has been on the way out for a while, it’s far from eliminated. White asbestos is still used in some roofing materials, textiles, cement and is found in brake pads and other automotive parts. It is also sometimes used to make chlorine. Its usage continues despite the fact that the material has been linked to lung cancer, ovarian cancer, laryngeal cancer, and mesothelioma, which is a cancer in the linings of the lungs, abdomen, heart, or testicles. The EPA estimates that asbestos exposure is linked to more than 40,000 deaths in the United States.

Some cancers and chronic inflammatory diseases are treated with immunotherapies. These stimulate the patient's immune system to recognize and destroy tumor cells. To improve such therapies, researchers are looking for mechanisms involved in triggering an immune response.

Now, researchers have discovered such a mechanism in an unexpected place: they have found that the centromeres—the areas of chromosomes that are particularly important for cell division—are directly linked to the immune system. Based on this, further helpful molecules can be developed.

Genetically modified cells known as chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells have become potent cancer fighters, and scientists are now studying them as treatments for autoimmune diseases and other illnesses. But making them involves harvesting and transforming a person’s immune cells—a process that can take so long that patients sometimes die before the therapy is ready.

A new approach induces the patient’s body to produce its own CAR-T cells, relying on the same messenger RNA (mRNA) technology that was instrumental for some COVID-19 vaccines.

This is a critical decade: human-induced global warming rates are at their highest historical level, and 1.5 °C global warming might be expected to be reached or exceeded in around 5 years in the absence of cooling from major volcanic eruptions (Sects. 8 and 9). Yet this is also the decade when global GHG emissions could be expected to peak and begin to substantially decline. The indicators of global climate change presented here show that the Earth's energy imbalance has increased to around 1.0 W m−2, averaged over the last 12 years (Sect. 5), which represents a 25 % increase on the value assessed for 2006–2018 by AR6. This also has implications for the committed response of slow components in the climate system (glaciers, deep ocean, ice sheets) and committed long-term sea-level rise (through ocean thermal expansion and land-based ice melt/loss), to be addressed further in future updates.

Of the total budget, Rs 1,158 crore has been earmarked for the hiring of 250 water sprinkler vehicles equipped with anti-smog guns.

These will operate in three daily shifts, using treated water supplied free of cost, 15,000 kiloliters per day by the Delhi Jal Board.

In addition, the government will spend Rs 1,230 crore over the next seven years in hiring 70 mechanical road sweeping machines. These units, which come equipped with 210 water sprinklers, tankers and anti-smog guns, will focus on cleaning road carriageways, not footpaths or green verges.

The treatment showed rapid and long-lasting effect. Within a few days, the pathogenic B-cells disappeared from the blood entirely. Functional improvements also occurred: The patients regained the ability to move around safely, some for the first time in years. Objective parameters, including clinical scores and neurophysiological tests, improved by more than 200%.

No further immune therapy was required after the single-time CAR-T treatment in both patients.

To explore how early can cancers be detected prior to clinical signs or symptoms, we assessed prospectively collected serial plasma samples from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, including 26 participants diagnosed with cancer and 26 matched controls. At the index time point, eight of these 52 participants scored positively with a multicancer early detection (MCED) test. All eight participants were diagnosed with cancer within 4 months after blood collection. In six of these 8 participants, we were able to assess an earlier plasma sample collected 3.1 to 3.5 years prior to clinical diagnosis. In four of these six participants, the same mutations detected by the MCED test could be identified, but at 8.6 to 79-fold lower mutant allele fractions.

These results demonstrate that it is possible to detect circulating tumor DNA more than three years prior to clinical diagnosis, and provide benchmark sensitivities required for this purpose.

When could scientists have first known that fossil fuel burning was significantly altering global climate?

We attempt to answer this question by performing a thought experiment with model simulations of historical climate change.

We assume that the capability to monitor global-scale changes in atmospheric temperature existed as early as 1860 and that the instruments available in this hypothetical world had the same accuracy as today’s satellite-borne microwave radiometers.

We then apply a pattern-based “fingerprint” method to disentangle human and natural effects on climate. A human-caused stratospheric cooling signal would have been identifiable by approximately 1885, before the advent of gas-powered cars.

Our results suggest that a discernible human influence on atmospheric temperature has likely existed for over 130 y.

Our study reveals that with suitable high-quality temperature measurements, a “discernible human influence on global climate” could have been detected by the end of the 19th century. It is unclear whether such early knowledge of the climate-altering consequences of fossil fuel burning would have prompted human societies to follow a more environmentally sustainable greenhouse gas emissions pathway.

Today, however, we know with high confidence that sustainable pathways must be followed to avoid dangerous anthropogenic interference with climate.

Humanity is now at the threshold of dangerous anthropogenic interference. Our near-term choices will determine whether or not we cross that threshold.

The study found that while the sharp, abrasive lunar dust can act as a physical irritant, it did not cause the severe cellular damage or inflammation seen from the urban Earth dust. "It's important to distinguish between a physical irritant and a highly toxic substance," Smith said.

"Our findings suggest that while lunar dust may cause some immediate irritation to the airways, it does not appear to pose a risk for chronic, long-term diseases like silicosis, which is caused by materials like silica dust."

Advances in the field of asteroid dynamics continue to yield new knowledge regarding the behavior and characteristics of asteroids, allowing unprecedented levels of accuracy for predicting trajectories and contributing to impact avoidance strategies. Meanwhile, more detailed information regarding the physical composition of asteroids has reignited interest in asteroid mining as a potential new resource sector. This article considers some of the technical, ethical, legal and social issues facing global planetary defense efforts and off-world mining proposals. It considers issues such as claim jumping, weaponization of the space environment and ownership issues for resources extracted from space.

The clinical heterogeneity in systemic autoimmune diseases often complicates the management of individual patients1. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is primarily characterized by Raynaud’s phenomenon and skin sclerosis, with an estimated global prevalence of approximately one million individuals. Patients with SSc present with a particularly diverse range of organ manifestations2. These complications directly impact the daily activities of SSc patients and are associated with a poor prognosis.

The specific organs affected vary between patients; 50–65% develop interstitial lung disease (ILD), approximately 50% develop digital ulcers, and 1–14% develop scleroderma renal crisis (SRC), which is the most severe acute organ complication leading to end-stage renal disease and even death.

While vascular damage and tissue fibrosis due to immune dysregulation play a central role in the pathogenesis of SSc, the immunological abnormalities underlying the clinical heterogeneity of the disease and the diversity of organ involvement have not been sufficiently investigated.

Therefore, it is of great interest to explore the variation of immune abnormalities underlying the diversity of organ involvement in SSc.

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a technique that comprehensively captures the diversity of individual cells. Since 2018, scRNA-seq studies of SSc patient samples have provided important insights into the pathology of the disease.