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Dual-action nanoparticle therapy targets obesity by converting white fat and reducing inflammation

Researchers at Terasaki Institute and University of Maryland School of Pharmacy collaborate to develop a dual-action nanotherapy for obesity
Graphical abstract. Credit: Journal of Controlled Release (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2025.113670

Scientists at the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, in collaboration with the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, have developed a new nanoparticle therapy that tackles obesity through two complementary mechanisms: converting energy-storing white fat into calorie-burning beige fat while simultaneously reducing obesity-related inflammation.

Their findings, published in the Journal of Controlled Release, are detailed in an article titled “Apigenin-loaded nanoparticles for obesity intervention through immunomodulation and adipocyte browning...

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Photonic chips boost computing speed and efficiency to address growing demand

Computer chips that combine the use of light and electricity are shown to increase computational performance, while reducing energy consumption, compared with conventional electronic chips. The photonic computing chips, described in two papers in Nature this week, might address the growing computing demands driven by advancing artificial intelligence technology.

The growth in the complexity of artificial intelligence and deep learning models is pushing conventional electronic computing to its limits and has ever-increasing energy demands. Photonic computing, which uses photons rather than electrons, presents a potential solution to these challenges.

Multiplication and accumulation—central computational operations for artificial intelligence—can be performed faster and more effic...

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Scientists discover how stellar-mass black holes emit powerful plasma jets

Scientists discover how stellar-mass black holes emit powerful plasma jets
The inner edge of the gas disk rapidly shrinks towards the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) near the stellar black hole, triggering the eruption of a plasma jet. The jet continues to erupt until the inner edge stops moving, at which point the jet ceases. Credit: T. Kawaguchi (University of Toyama) & K. Yamaoka (Nagoya University)

Black holes are fundamental to the structure of galaxies and critical in our understanding of gravity, space, and time. A stellar mass black hole is a type of black hole that forms from the gravitational collapse of a massive star at the end of its life cycle. These black holes typically have masses ranging from about 3 to 20 times the mass of our sun.

Sometimes black holes generate beams of ionized gas (plasma) that shoot outward at nearly light spee...

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Handheld device could transform heart disease screening

Person wearing a grey t-shirt holding a palm-sized device to their chest

Researchers have developed a handheld device that could potentially replace stethoscopes as a tool for detecting certain types of heart disease.

The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, developed a device that makes it easy for people with or without medical training to record heart sounds accurately. Unlike a stethoscope, the device works well even if it’s not placed precisely on the chest: its larger, flexible sensing area helps capture clearer heart sounds than traditional stethoscopes.

The device can also be used over clothing, making it more comfortable for patients – especially women – during routine check-ups or community heart health screening programmes.

The heart sound recordings can be saved on the device, which can then be used to detect signs of heart v...

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