Moss spores survive 9 months outside International Space Station

This moss survived 9 months directly exposed to the elements of space
A reddish-brown sporophyte can be seen at the top center of a leafy gametophore. This capsule contains numerous spores inside. Mature sporophytes like these were individually collected and used as samples for the space exposure experiment conducted on the exposure facility of the International Space Station (ISS). Credit: Tomomichi Fujita

Mosses thrive in the most extreme environments on Earth, from the peaks of the Himalayas to the sands of Death Valley, the Antarctic tundra to the lava fields of active volcanoes. Inspired by moss’s resilience, researchers sent moss sporophytes—reproductive structures that encase spores—to the most extreme environment yet: space.

Their results, published in the journal iScience on November 20, show that more than 80% of the spores survived nine...

Read More

Vision can be rebooted in adults with amblyopia, study suggests

MIT study shows how vision can be rebooted in adults with amblyopia
A new MIT study suggests a strategy for treating adults with amblyopia. Credit: Skitterphoto, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Temporarily anesthetizing the retina briefly reverts the activity of the visual system to that observed in early development and enables growth of responses to the amblyopic eye, new research shows.

In the common vision disorder amblyopia, impaired vision in one eye during development causes neural connections in the brain’s visual system to shift toward supporting the other eye, leaving the amblyopic eye less capable even after the original impairment is corrected. Current interventions are only effective during infancy and early childhood while the neural connections are still being formed.

But a new study in mice by neuroscientists in The Picower Institute f...

Read More

A new space radiation shield: Flexible boron nitride nanotube film shows promise

Blocking space radiation threats with nanotubes! 'Boron nitride nanotube space radiation shield' developed
Space is an environment exposed not only to primary cosmic radiation but also to secondary radiation, particularly neutrons, which are generated by interactions with spacecraft or the lunar surface and pose significant biological risks. The BNNT liquid crystal-based film demonstrates more efficient space radiation shielding performance than aluminum at the same mass thickness, and is especially effective at attenuating thermal neutrons. Credit: Korea Institute of Science and Technology

High-energy cosmic radiation damages cells and DNA, causing cancer, and secondary neutrons—generated especially from the planetary surfaces—can be up to 20 times more harmful than other radiations...

Read More

How a key protein helps drive healthy longevity by maintaining a precise balance

One foot on the gas and one on the brake: How a key protein helps drive healthy longevity
Illustration of the one-carbon metabolic pathway. Sirt6-dependent differentially acetylated proteins are highlighted by red circles. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2514084122

Researchers at Bar-Ilan University have discovered how the longevity-associated protein Sirt6 orchestrates a delicate molecular balancing act that protects the body from age-related decline and disease. The new findings, just published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveal how Sirt6 preserves health during aging and may pave the way for therapies that promote a longer, healthier life.

Sirt6, often described as a master regulator of aging, is known for its powerful protective effects against age-related diseases such as cancer, diabete...

Read More