Living cells may generate electricity from motion
Scientists have developed a new theoretical explanation for how living cells might generate electricity on their own. At the center of the idea is the cell membrane, the thin, flexible…
Smart drug strikes a hidden RNA weak point in cancer cells
Researchers have designed a new class of drug molecule capable of specifically destroying TERRA, an RNA molecule that some cancer cells rely on to survive. Using a technique known as…
Scientists find brain cells that could stop Alzheimer’s
In Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia, microglia (the brain’s immune cells) play a double role. They can protect the brain by clearing harmful debris or, under certain…
Scientists create LED light that kills cancer cells without harming healthy ones
Scientists have developed a promising cancer therapy that uses LED light and ultra-thin flakes of tin to eliminate cancer cells while protecting healthy tissue. Unlike traditional chemotherapy and other invasive…
Breakthrough cancer therapy stops tumor growth without harming healthy cells
Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute and Vividion Therapeutics have discovered chemical compounds that can precisely prevent the cancer-driving gene RAS from connecting with a key pathway responsible for tumor…
Scientists watch Parkinson’s protein drill holes in brain cells
A toxic protein forms dynamic pores in the membranes of brain cells – and that may be the key to understanding how Parkinson’s disease develops. This is the conclusion of…
Cells “vomit” waste in a hidden healing shortcut that could also fuel cancer
When injured, cells have well-regulated responses to promote healing. These include a long-studied self-destruction process that cleans up dead and damaged cells as well as a more recently identified phenomenon…
Breakthrough lung cancer treatment supercharges immune cells with mitochondria
While chemotherapy remains a cornerstone of lung cancer treatment, it often weakens the immune system it relies on for long-term control. Now, researchers have found a way to turn this…
Clockwork from scratch: How scientists made timekeeping cells
A team of UC Merced researchers has shown that tiny artificial cells can accurately keep time, mimicking the daily rhythms found in living organisms. Their findings shed light on how…
This sugar substitute does more than sweeten — it kills cancer cells
Stevia may provide more benefits than as a zero-calorie sugar substitute. When fermented with bacteria isolated from banana leaves, stevia extract kills off pancreatic cancer cells but doesn’t harm healthy…