A little-known desert berry may hold the key to fighting diabetes

Scientists may have uncovered a surprising new weapon in the fight against diabetes: the fruit of an ancient desert plant. Known as Nitraria roborowskii Kom, this resilient shrub has long been used in traditional medicine but has only recently gained scientific attention. In modern experiments, its fruit extract displayed a remarkable ability to reverse insulin resistance and restore healthy metabolism in diabetic mice.

The results went far beyond stabilizing blood sugar. Researchers found that the extract also corrected lipid imbalances and reduced oxidative stress, two major complications of diabetes. These effects were linked to the activation of a key cellular signaling pathway that helps regulate metabolism...

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Saturn’s icy moon may host a stable ocean fit for life

Enceladus heat transfer infographic
A new study has constrained the Enceladus’ global conductive heat flow by studying its seasonal temperature variations at its north pole (yellow). These results, when combined with existing ones of its highly active south polar region (red) provide the first observational constraint of Enceladus’ energy loss budget (<54 GW) – which is consistent with the predicted energy input (50 to 55 GW) from tidal heating. This implies Enceladus’ current activity is sustainable in the long term – an important prerequisite for the evolution of life, which is thought possible to exist in its global sub-surface ocean. Image credit: University of Oxford/NASA/JPL-CalTech/Space Science Institute (PIA19656 and PIA11141)

A new study led by researchers from Oxford University, Southwest Research I...

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New holography-inspired reconfigurable surface developed for wireless communication

New holography-inspired reconfigurable surface for wireless communication
Overall schematic of holographic-inspired self-controlled RIS. Credit: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-025-01482-3 Credit: Zhu et al.

Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) are engineered structures comprised of several elements known as ‘meta-atoms,’ which can reshape and control electromagnetic waves in real-time. These surfaces could contribute to the further advancement of wireless communications and localization systems, as they could be used to reliably redirect, strengthen and suppress signals.

In conventional applications of RIS for wireless communication, each meta-atom is controlled by a system known as the ‘base-station,’ which is connected to the surface via electrical cables...

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Urolithin A nudges aging immune cells toward a youthful profile in 28 days

Urolithin A nudges aging immune cells toward a youthful profile in 28 days
Secondary end point—UA alters inflammatory immune response. Credit: Nature Aging (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s43587-025-00996-x

An international research team focused on aging reports that urolithin A at 1,000 mg per day shifted human immune profiles toward a more naive-like, less exhausted CD8+ state and increased fatty acid oxidation capacity, with additional functional gains.

Urolithin A is a metabolite produced by gut bacteria after breaking down ellagic acid from certain foods, such as pomegranates and walnuts. While produced naturally through microbial digestion, it is in much smaller quantities than available as a supplement or used in the study.

Aging bodies face reduced production of mature T cells, shrinking naive T cell pools and chronic low-grade inflammation...

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