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Researchers led by Kanako Hayashi at Washington State University modified niclosamide, an existing anti-parasitic drug, to target cells involved in endometriosis lesions and tested it in mice. The study, published in Advanced Healthcare Materials, found the altered compound reduced disease activity without relying on surgery or hormone therapy, the two main current treatment approaches.
Nikon is reviewing the winning video in its Small World In Motion microscopy contest after scientists alleged it was partly AI-generated. The clip, submitted by Dr Ning Xu of Tsinghua University, purports to show cilia moving in a child's airway, but critics flagged structures appearing and vanishing oddly and a possible AI-generation watermark on the source image. Xu has denied breaking contest rules, acknowledging AI was used only to enhance grayscale images, not to generate the cilia or their motion.
Researchers at Northwestern University created a synthetic melanin compound, called allomelanin, embedded with a zirconium-based cluster that can absorb and break down organophosphorus nerve agents. The material, detailed in a study in ACS Nano, is designed to be woven into fabrics such as protective clothing and gloves. It is described as renewable and biodegradable, and functions by trapping toxic chemicals in its porous structure while the zirconium component chemically destroys them.
Carnegie Mellon University announced a $3 billion gift from Citadel founder Ken Griffin, described as the largest individual gift in higher education history. $1 billion will go toward CMU's Pittsburgh campus, while $2 billion will fund a new 35-acre campus, CMU Miami, in the Wynwood neighborhood, which aims to begin enrolling students in 2028.
Hedge fund CEO Ken Griffin is donating $3 billion to Carnegie Mellon University, the largest single gift ever made to a U.S. university. About $2 billion will fund a new 35-acre campus in Miami's Wynwood neighborhood for roughly 3,500 students, focused on areas like health, national security and energy, with construction starting next year. The remaining funds will split between renaming Carnegie Mellon's Pittsburgh computer science program after Griffin and other unspecified campus projects.
Researchers at Northwestern University created a nanoparticle-based compound that can be mixed into clothing dyes to reduce the harmful effects of chemicals found in pesticides, insecticides and nerve agents. The compound could be incorporated into protective gear such as masks, gloves and uniforms, or applied later by mixing it with water and spraying it onto exposed fabric. The findings were published in the journal ACS Nano.
Cultural historian Jacques Barzun, who taught for 48 years at Columbia University after emigrating from France following World War I, discussed his views on education and the role of the university in an interview with the Home Forum's David Owens. The conversation took place at Scribner publishing house, where Barzun works as a literary consultant, and covered his concerns about preserving the university's original purpose amid changing conceptions of higher learning.
A peer-reviewed study by Northeastern University researchers, conducted with Consumer Reports, tested 21 vehicles from 17 automakers and 30 companion apps. It found 19 of the 21 vehicles sent data to at least one third party, and seven apps shared sensitive information such as VINs, emails, phone numbers and precise location with companies tied to advertising and tracking, including Adobe, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Snap and Yahoo.
Anthropic announced on September 23 that its Claude AI model, running roughly 950 agents simultaneously, identified a gene-editing enzyme system with properties similar to Crispr within 21.5 hours. The company says the system's function remains unknown, and only one physical experiment has been reported so far in a non-peer-reviewed technical paper.
Researchers from Northeastern University and Consumer Reports tested 21 cars from 19 brands, monitoring network traffic while parked, idling, and driving. They found most vehicles sent data to advertising, tracking, and analytics domains, as well as to companies like Microsoft and Adobe, with companion smartphone apps often increasing the amount of data shared. The Tesla Model 3 was the most extreme case, contacting 34 advertising and tracking domains plus 37 more from integrated apps, while the Buick Envista and Mercedes-Benz EQS reportedly contacted no outside domains beyond their manufacturer.
Stanford University researchers led by Sergiu Pașca transplanted lab-grown human brain organoids into mice bred to lack most of their cerebral cortex. The transplanted tissue survived and formed functional connections to the animals' brains and spinal cords, according to a study published in Nature. The team describes it as the most extensive integration of human brain cells into an animal achieved to date.
A lawsuit filed against Cornell University and seven members of the Chi Pi fraternity alleges an hours-long sexual assault occurred in 2024. As details spread on social media, generating public outcry, some users report that platforms like Instagram appear to be limiting the visibility of posts about the case.