Academic research – Page 163

April 29, 2026

Bowel and Ovarian Cancer Cases Rise Among U.K. Young Adults

Cases of bowel and ovarian cancer are rising, but only among people under 50, according to research published in the British Medical Journal Oncology today, April 28, 2026. While other types of cancer are also rising in older adults, this particular trend among younger adults is striking.

A key factor, the researchers’ work suggests, is excess weight. But that does not fully explain the trends they saw.

In particular, there was a significant rise in 11 cancers among the younger adults with known behavioral risk factors. These cancers were: thyroid, multiple myeloma, liver, kidney, gallbladder, bowel, pancreatic, womb lining (endometrial), mouth, breast, and ovarian cancers.

Rates of all these cancers also rose significantly among the older adults, with the notable exceptions of bowel and ovarian cancers.

Besides mouth cancer, all 11 cancers associated with known behavioral risks were linked to obesity. And six (liver, bowel, mouth, pancreas, kidney, and ovary) were also linked to smoking; four (liver, bowel, mouth, and breast) were associated with alcohol intake; three (bowel, breast, and endometrial) were linked to physical inactivity; and one (bowel) was associated with dietary factors.

“Of the 11 cancers we identified which were increasing and linked to known lifestyle factors—the most common by far in younger adults was breast cancer,” the study’s lead author, professor Montserrat Garcia-Closas, MD, DrPH, told Inside Precision Medicine. Garcia-Closas is in Integrative Cancer Epidemiology, Division of Genetics and Epidemiology, and The Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research Unit, The Institute of Cancer Research, London.

The rising incidence of certain cancers among people under 50 isn’t unique to England, and one major question is whether changes in behavioral risk factors might be to blame.

This research group analyzed cancer incidence trends in England from the National Disease Registry Service for the period 2001 to 2019, comparing patterns by sex in two age groups: 20–49 year olds and those aged 50+ for more than 20 different cancer types.

This database, “Captures virtually every cancer diagnosis in England going back decades—one of the most complete registries in the world. That scale is what allows us to track trends reliably across the whole population, not just a sample,” said Garcia-Closas.

The team used national health surveys to look at trends in established risk factors: smoking, alcohol intake; diet (high red/processed meat, low fiber intake), excess weight (BMI), and physical inactivity to quantify any changes by age and sex and estimate the proportion of cancers attributable to specific risk factors.

Their analysis showed that new cases of 16 out of 22 cancers in younger women, and 11 out of 21 cancers in younger men, increased significantly in England between 2001 and 2019.

And five cancers—endometrial, kidney, pancreatic, multiple myeloma, and thyroid cancer— increased significantly faster in younger than in older women, while multiple myeloma increased faster in younger than in older men.

But with the exception of excess weight, trends in these risk factors over the past one to two decades have been stable or improving for younger adults, with the largest reductions of around 7% in red meat consumption.

The average daily amount of red meat eaten, they report, fell from 38 grams in 2008 to 17 grams in 2018 among younger men, and from 22 grams to 10 grams in younger women. And average processed meat intake in younger women was half that of younger men: 10 grams versus around 20 grams. And while more than 90% of younger adults weren’t eating enough fiber in 2018, their intake remained stable or slightly improved in both sexes between 2009 and 2019. And these trends were similar in older adults.

Established behavioral risk factors accounted for a substantial share of cancer cases. In 2019 these contributed 68%–65% of mouth cancers for younger and older men, respectively; 42%–48% of liver cancers; 49%–53% of bowel cancers, 29%–33% of kidney cancers, and 36%–34% of pancreatic cancers.

Among women they accounted for 52%–45% of mouth cancers; 35%–42% of endometrial cancers; 44%–46% of liver cancers; 38%–42% of bowel cancers; 33%–37% of kidney cancers; 31%–28% of pancreatic cancers; and 19% to 24% of gallbladder cancers.

Excess weight was the risk factor associated with most cancers in 2019, ranging from 5% for ovarian cancer to 37% for endometrial cancers.

“These patterns suggest that while similar risk factors across ages are likely, some cancers may have age-specific exposures, susceptibilities, or differences in screening and detection practices,” write the researchers.

“Prevention takes a long time and we must act now with what we know, with better and more effective public health policy and programs to address the overweight and obesity epidemic,” said Garcia-Closas.

The post Bowel and Ovarian Cancer Cases Rise Among U.K. Young Adults appeared first on Inside Precision Medicine.

April 29, 2026

Who Gets a Second Cancer—and When? Large Study Reveals Complex Patterns

As cancer survival rates improve, a new challenge is coming into sharper focus: what happens after the first cancer is treated. A large population-based study drawing on decades of U.S. registry data offers one of the most comprehensive looks yet at the risk of subsequent primary cancers (SPCs)—and reveals a complex, evolving landscape shaped by age, sex, and generational exposure. The work was published in PLOS Medicine.

Using data from more than 3.3 million individuals diagnosed with a first primary cancer between 1975 and 2019, investigators from the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine analyzed nearly 30 million person-years of follow-up, identifying more than 510,000 second cancers. Their findings, based on Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries, show that SPC risk is not static but varies significantly depending on when patients were born, how old they were at diagnosis, and the type of cancer they initially had.

“We have follow-up guidelines after treatment for the primary cancer, but we don’t really know what risk profile these patients fall into for another cancer,” said Susan Hong, MD, who co-directs a cancer survivorship outcomes research program at VCU and co-directed the study. “They’re not average-risk individuals—but they’re not necessarily at extremely high risk across the board either. That’s where it becomes very nuanced and complex.”

Age and sex drive risk—but not uniformly

The analysis confirmed that SPC incidence increases with age at first cancer diagnosis, rising substantially in both men and women, though more steeply in males. Among women, rates climbed from 915 per 100,000 person-years at ages 35–39 to 1,980 at ages 75–79; in men, the increase was from 1,228 to 2,945.

But these patterns were not consistent across all cancer types. For breast cancer survivors, the risk of developing a second cancer remained relatively stable regardless of age at diagnosis—a finding that surprised the investigators.

“I was kind of surprised that the risk of subsequent cancer didn’t vary by age among breast cancer survivors,” said Hui Cheng, PhD, the study’s lead analyst. “I thought older patients would have higher risk, but that wasn’t necessarily the case.”

By contrast, survivors of lung and bladder cancers and melanoma showed a clear age-related increase in SPC risk, suggesting that surveillance strategies may need to differ significantly by index cancer type.

Cohort effects point to environmental and behavioral drivers

One of the study’s most striking findings emerged from its age–period–cohort modeling: SPC risk peaked among individuals born between 1935 and 1945, then declined in more recent birth cohorts—with notable exceptions.

Researchers observed rising risks among female lung cancer survivors and male bladder cancer survivors, even as overall SPC incidence declined in more recent decades. The cohort-specific patterns hint at underlying environmental or behavioral exposures that vary across generations.

“We observed higher risk in cohorts born in the ’40s and ’50s,” Cheng said. “If we think back, those individuals were young adults during peak tobacco use, which may be a contributing factor. But we don’t have individual-level smoking data, so we can’t confirm that directly.”

This limitation underscores a key challenge of large registry-based studies: while they offer statistical power and long-term follow-up, they often lack granular data on treatment exposures, genetics, and lifestyle factors.

Treatment advances and unintended consequences

The findings also reflect the dual-edged nature of cancer treatment progress. As therapies improve and patients live longer, the window for developing late effects—including second malignancies—widens.

“We’re doing so well treating primary cancers, and people are living longer,” Hong said. “But we also need to think about what risk profile these patients fall into over time.”

Radiation therapy and certain chemotherapies are known contributors to secondary malignancies, with risks often emerging 10 to 15 years after exposure. Yet without detailed treatment data, the current analysis cannot disentangle these effects.

Instead, the study serves as what investigators describe as a “hypothesis-generating” effort—mapping broad patterns that can guide more targeted research.

Toward risk-stratified survivorship care

“We’re trying to figure out how to risk-stratify patients and pay attention to their long-term health care needs without overreacting or underreacting,” Hong said.

In practice, that could mean more intensive surveillance for older survivors of certain cancers, while maintaining consistent monitoring across age groups for others, such as breast cancer.

The findings also highlight gaps in the current survivorship infrastructure—particularly for adult-onset cancers. While pediatric oncology has long benefited from coordinated long-term follow-up systems, similar frameworks are less developed for adult survivors.

“There’s been a long-standing effort to follow childhood cancer survivors, but we don’t have that kind of system in place for adults,” Hong noted. “Now that we’re seeing more cancers in younger adults, we need to think about how to address decades of survivorship.”

A starting point for deeper investigation

Ultimately, the study raises as many questions as it answers. Why do certain cohorts carry higher risks? How do treatment regimens, genetics, and lifestyle interact to drive SPC development? And which risk factors are modifiable?

The research team is already looking ahead to studies that can incorporate more detailed patient-level data, with a focus on identifying actionable prevention strategies.

“We’re very interested in understanding what factors are associated with better or worse outcomes—especially modifiable risk factors,” Cheng said.

The post Who Gets a Second Cancer—and When? Large Study Reveals Complex Patterns appeared first on Inside Precision Medicine.

April 29, 2026

Hodgkin Lymphoma Develops as a Result of Arrested B Cell–Plasma Cell Transition

Weill Cornell Medicine researchers have defined new transcriptional and functional characteristics of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells in classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), detailing how malignant cells are the result of an arrested stage of B cell development. The research, published Blood Cancer Journal, shows that characteristics of HRS cells are incomplete plasma cell differentiation, robust unfolded protein response (UPR) activation, and coordinated immune evasion mechanisms that influence both T cells and natural killer (NK) cells.

“Hodgkin lymphoma is unique in that the tumor cells don’t form continuous sheets of tumor cells, but they are largely scattered within lymphoid tissues that are not cancerous,” senior author Ethel Cesarman, MD, PhD, pathologist at Weill Cornell Medicine told Inside Precision Medicine. “High proliferation or reduced cell death are not the predominant features of these cells. It is tumor of B cell origin, but unlike normal B cells that develop into plasma cells that produce antibodies but can no longer divide, the tumor cells of Hodgkin lymphoma are stuck in between.”

To define the molecular activity that leads to this arrested state, the researchers analyzed RNA sequencing data from 18 primary cHL tumors, four cHL cell lines, and matched intra-tumoral B cells. They then compared these data with 40 cases of primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma (PMBL).

The resulting data showed that HRS cells lose core B cell identity programs while simultaneously acquiring partial plasma cell-like gene expression. This reflects an “abortive plasma cell differentiation” process in which B cell development begins but is not completed. Normally, germinal center B cells transition into antibody-secreting plasma cells, but in cHL this process is interrupted, and immunoglobulin production is lost.

An important finding of this study was activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway, which is usually active in plasma cells to help manage the stress of high-volume antibody production. In HRS cells, however, immunoglobulin synthesis is absent. This mismatch appears to place the cells under chronic endoplasmic reticulum stress, which may then be redirected to serve as a survival mechanism.

The study also found that UPR-related genes, including XBP1, ATF6, and particularly PDIA6, were highly expressed in HRS cells. PDIA6 emerged as a potentially specific diagnostic marker. As Cesarman noted in her interview, Hodgkin lymphoma sometimes can be hard to diagnose. “A marker commonly used is CD30, but these may be expressed in other neoplastic and benign conditions, so PDIA6 may be a useful immunohistochemical marker for further differentiation,” she added.

This provides a new framework for understanding the role of UPR activation, which has not been widely implicated in prior models of Hodgkin lymphoma. Historically cHL research has focused on B cell receptor signaling defects, NF-κB activation, and immune checkpoint expression.

The team also noted that HRS cells showed many similarities to plasma cell malignancies such as multiple myeloma, notably their reliance on UPR signaling. However, unlike multiple myeloma, cHL cells fail to complete terminal plasma cell differentiation and do not consistently express CD138 or secrete immunoglobulins, showing that the two malignancies have only a partially shared differentiation trajectory.

The Weill Cornell team also found that immune evasion is another defining feature of cHL. They found evidence of downregulation of SLAM family ligands, including CD48, which are required for NK cell recognition and activation. This loss impairs NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. The study also found reduced NK cell infiltration in tumor microenvironments. Additionally, HRS cells are known to evade T cell surveillance through antigen presentation defects and checkpoint ligand expression. Together, these findings show cHL mounts a coordinated escape from both innate and adaptive immunity.

The new findings could have implications for clinical care in the future. The identification of UPR dependency presents the opportunity to target proteostasis pathways as a treatment strategy.

“The UPR is a complex pathway, but there have been studies in solid tumors aiming to target it therapeutically, and in the context of multiple myeloma, it has been suggested that proteosomal inhibitors like bortezomib, act in part by leading to the accumulation of unfolded proteins leading to ER stress and eventually apoptosis,” Cesarman said. “While much more work needs to be done to fully characterize the UPR in Hodgkin lymphoma and identify therapeutically actionable aspects of this pathway, our findings point us in the right direction to explore the potential of such an approach.”

Cesarman also noted that while NK cell-based therapies are under development in oncology, the observed downregulation of NK ligands suggests this may not be a viable strategy for therapeutic development.

Future research will now focus on understanding more about how plasma cell differentiation programs become arrested in germinal center B cells, identifying upstream regulators of UPR activation in cHL, and determining whether these stress pathways are required for tumor cell survival. Additional studies are also expected to explore whether restoring immune recognition signals or targeting proteostasis can be combined with existing immune checkpoint therapies.

The post Hodgkin Lymphoma Develops as a Result of Arrested B Cell–Plasma Cell Transition appeared first on Inside Precision Medicine.

April 29, 2026

An Internet of Things–Based Audio and Radio Connected System Supporting Older Adults With Physical and Cognitive Health Challenges: Qualitative Stakeholder-Informed Design Study

Background: Older adults managing chronic illnesses, such as cancer and Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD), often experience significant physical or cognitive impairments that hinder daily activities and increase caregiver burden. Smart Internet of Things (IoT) technologies offer promising solutions by enabling passive monitoring, timely reminders, and personalized support at home. However, these technologies must be carefully tailored to accommodate users’ individualized needs and preferences. Objective: This formative qualitative study aimed to explore stakeholder perspectives, including patients, caregivers, health care providers, and technical experts, on the use of smart home–based IoT systems to support chronic illness management. The goal was to inform the early development of the audio and radio connected (AURA) system, an IoT prototype integrating Wi-Fi sensing, wearable trackers, and voice-assistive features. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 6 patients who underwent postostomy creation for colorectal or bladder cancer treatment and 5 patients with ADRD and their caregivers. Input from additional stakeholders, including 2 health care providers, 2 community health workers, and 2 computer scientists, was also included in the report. Stakeholders reviewed a demonstration video depicting the conceptual features of the AURA system. Interviews explored stakeholders’ needs and preferences for using such systems. Thematic analysis was guided by the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) framework, with 5 adapted constructs: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, and hedonic motivation and habit. Results: Stakeholders identified distinct yet complementary needs across populations. Patients with cancer emphasized physical health monitoring, integration with health care systems, and customization; ADRD stakeholders prioritized routine support, emotional engagement, and simplicity; caregivers and clinicians emerged as key influencers of adoption. Barriers included privacy concerns, technology literacy, and fatigue, while facilitators included perceived caregiving support, streamlined interfaces, and electronic health record integration. Patients with cancer focused on motivational cues for physical activity, while emotional engagement and habit were more prominent for ADRD users. Conclusions: Stakeholder insights underscore the importance of designing adaptable, user-centered IoT systems that reflect the varied capabilities and care needs of older adults with chronic illnesses. These findings informed the design of the AURA prototype and highlighted theoretical considerations for technology acceptance in health care. Future work will test AURA in real-world settings to evaluate usability, acceptability, and clinical relevance. Trial Registration:

April 29, 2026

Loss of Smell Therapies Informed by Olfactory Receptor Spatial Mapping

A new study published in Cell titled, “A spatial code governs olfactory receptor choice and aligns sensory maps in the nose and brain,” led by researchers from Harvard Medical School (HMS) has created the first detailed map of the spatial distribution of over 1,000 olfactory receptors in the epithelium. The study informs the development of therapies for loss of smell, where treatment options are limited.

The researchers examined approximately 5.5 million neurons in more than 300 individual mice using single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics. Results showed that neurons are organized into tight, overlapping, horizontal stripes from the top to the bottom of the nose based on the type of smell receptor expressed. This highly organized receptor map was consistent across mouse models and mirrored the organization of smell maps in the brain. Similar maps have been observed in vision, hearing, and touch.

Notably, the olfactory map was informed by a gradient of retinoic acid in the nose, which allowed each neuron to express the correct type of smell receptor based on its spatial location.

“Our results bring order to a system that was previously thought to lack order, which changes conceptually how we think this works,” said Sandeep (Robert) Datta, PhD, professor of neurobiology at HMS and senior author and corresponding author of the study. “We show that development can achieve this feat of organizing a thousand different smell receptors into an incredibly precise map that’s consistent across animals.”

The authors also found that the receptor map in the nose matches up with smell maps in the olfactory bulb of the brain, shedding insight into how information moves from the nose to the brain.

While sensory maps that describe how receptors in the eye, ear, and skin are organized to capture and interpret auditory, visual, and touch information, mapping olfactory receptors has been a longstanding challenge due to high receptor diversity. As an example, mice have approximately 20 million olfactory neurons that express more than a thousand types of smell receptors, compared with only three main types of visual receptors for color vision. Each type of smell receptor detects a unique subset of odor molecules.

The team is also studying smell receptors in human tissue to understand to what degree the smell map is consistent across species to inform treatments, such as stem cell therapies and loss of smell and its consequences, such as an increased risk of depression.

“Smell has a really profound and pervasive effect on human health, so restoring it is not just for pleasure and safety but also for psychological well-being,” Datta said. “Without understanding this map, we’re doomed to fail in developing new treatments.”

The post Loss of Smell Therapies Informed by Olfactory Receptor Spatial Mapping appeared first on GEN – Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

April 29, 2026

First Atlas of Female Reproductive System Maps Uncharted Menopause Biology

The first large-scale study across all major female reproductive organs has uncovered how aging processes impact each organ and tissue in unique ways. Published today in Nature Aging, the study has identified novel blood biomarkers that could help physicians anticipate health risks associated with menopause, such as pelvic floor prolapse.

“Until now, we tended to consider menopause mainly as the end of the ovary’s reproductive function,” says Marta Melé, PhD, leader of the transcriptomics and functional genomics group at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) and director of the study. “However, our results show that it acts as a turning point that profoundly reorganizes other organs and tissues of the reproductive system, and allow us to identify the genes and molecular processes that could be behind these changes.”

Menopause is a complex biological process with significant implications for overall health, which is estimated to be actively affecting 6% of the world’s population at any given time. However, the cellular and molecular processes driving it across reproductive organs and tissues have historically remained understudied.

To map the complex biology of menopause, Melé’s team analyzed 1,112 tissue images and 659 RNA sequencing samples from 304 women between the ages of 20 and 70. This allowed the researchers to reconstruct aging trajectories of the uterus, ovary, vagina, cervix, breast, and Fallopian tubes. Using deep learning algorithms, they were able to identify key changes associated with aging in each organ, both at the molecular and tissue levels.

Results showed that not all organs age uniformly across the female reproductive system. For instance, the ovary and vagina were shown to age gradually in a process starting years before menopause. Meanwhile, the uterus undergoes a very abrupt transition during menopause.

Even within the same organ, different tissues were shown to age in distinct ways. In particular, the muscle tissue of the uterine wall and the vaginal epithelium were observed to be the most affected during menopause, undergoing sharp changes.

The study also analyzed blood plasma samples from 21,441 women, which led to the identification of molecular signals of aging that can be detected in the blood. These biomarkers could offer non-invasive monitoring of female reproductive organs during menopause and enable more accessible, less invasive follow-up tests for women at risk of complications associated with menopause, such as pelvic floor prolapse.

“We not only identified the molecular changes underlying the aging of these organs, but we also saw that they can be detected in blood, which opens the door to new clinical tools,” says Oleksandra Soldatkina, PhD, lead author of the study and researcher at BSC.

This study marks a step toward better understanding a key biological process that has historically been left behind, leading to better prevention, diagnosis and treatment of multiple diseases linked to menopause. The researchers highlighted that their findings “position menopause as a key inflection point in female aging and provide insights with tissue-specific focus to support healthier menopausal transitions and reduce age-related disease risk.”

The post First Atlas of Female Reproductive System Maps Uncharted Menopause Biology appeared first on Inside Precision Medicine.

April 29, 2026

Plasma Biomarker Patterns Distinguish Early-Onset Dementia

Plasma biomarker levels change in differing ways for different types of early-onset dementia, with unique clinical associations that could help stratify risk in patients, research suggests.

The findings may help improve detection and prognosis of these neurodegenerative diseases, which manifest before the age of 65 years and are often challenging to treat due to atypical symptoms and clinical heterogeneity.

The report, in JAMA Network Open, revealed differences in both the concentrations of biomarkers over time and their association with clinical outcomes in early-onset Alzheimer disease (EOAD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

“Our results highlight disease-specific plasma biomarker dynamics and their potential utility in monitoring disease progression in early-onset dementia,” reported Eun-Joo Kim, PhD, from Pusan National University Hospital in Korea, and colleagues.

Recent developments with plasma biomarkers have changed the landscape of dementia diagnosis.

Phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217), a marker specific of Alzheimer’s disease, has been found to be highly accurate in detecting its pathology.

Meanwhile, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light chain (NfL) are emerging as astrocytic activation and neurodegeneration markers, respectively, with NfL particularly relevant for FTD.

Combining p-tau217 and NfL could therefore enable Alzheimer’s disease and FTD, two leading causes of dementia at an early age, to be distinguished.

To investigate further, Kim and team compared biomarker trajectories and clinical outcomes in 322 patients with EOAD and FTD, of whom 245 had EOAD and 77 FTD.

Around two thirds of each group was female, and the mean age was in the early to mid 60s.

High baseline levels of p-tau217, GFAP, and NfL were significantly associated with all clinical outcomes in the EOAD group, assessed using scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Clinical Dementia Rating–Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB).

However, among patients with FTD, only baseline GFAP and NfL were associated with decreases in MMSE scores.

The association of p-tau217 and GFAP levels with clinical outcomes was greater at earlier stages of EOAD, with the former biomarker showing no association at later stages of disease.

The plasma biomarkers followed distinct longitudinal trajectories in the two forms of early-onset dementia. In the EOAD group, the levels of all three biomarkers increased significantly over time, but with FTD only NfL increased.

Annualized changes in levels of all three biomarkers showed outcome-specific associations with clinical decline in EOAD. GFAP and NfL changes were associated with declines in MMSE score and p-tau217 levels with worsening CDR-SB score in this group. No such associations were observed for patients with FTD.

“In this multicenter, prospective cohort study of patients with EOAD and FTD, the clinical relevance of plasma biomarker levels and longitudinal changes may vary between EOAD and FTD,” the authors summarized.

“These findings may inform future clinical practice and trial design regarding stratifying patient populations and monitoring clinical progression, particularly in EOAD.”

The post Plasma Biomarker Patterns Distinguish Early-Onset Dementia appeared first on Inside Precision Medicine.

April 29, 2026

The Download: storing nuclear waste and orchestrating agents

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.

It’s time to make a plan for nuclear waste

Today, nuclear energy enjoys rare support across the political spectrum. Public approval has spiked, and Big Tech is throwing money around to meet rising electricity demand. That newfound interest is exactly why it’s time to talk about an old problem: nuclear waste.

In the US, nuclear reactors produce about 2,000 metric tons of high-level waste each year—and there’s nowhere to put it. Now, the need for a permanent storage solution is becoming urgent. Here’s what’s at stake.

—Casey Crownhart

This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Review’s weekly climate newsletter. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday.

Orchestrated agents are coming for white-collar work

When people say AI will transform industries, what they have in mind—whether they know it or not—are AI agents. ChatGPT showed AI can talk. But to change the world, it needs to do stuff.

The real power comes when agents work as teams, coordinating multiple roles to tackle complex tasks. Apps like Codex and Claude Cowork offer a glimpse of this shift, bringing multi-agent general-purpose productivity tools.

In theory, networks of AI agents could do to white-collar knowledge work what assembly lines did to manufacturing. That’s the vision. But as agents move into real-world systems, the risks grow too. Read the full story.

—Will Douglas Heaven

Agent Orchestration is one of the 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now, MIT Technology Review’s guide to what’s really worth your attention in the busy, buzzy world of AI. We’re unpacking one item from the list each day here in The Download, so stay tuned.

MIT Technology Review Narrated: no one’s sure if synthetic mirror life will kill us all

In February 2019, a group of scientists proposed a high-risk, cutting-edge, irresistibly exciting idea that the National Science Foundation should fund: making “mirror” bacteria.

These lab-created microbes would be organized like ordinary bacteria, but their proteins and sugars would be mirror images of those found in nature. Researchers believed they could reveal new insights into building cells, designing drugs, and even the origins of life.

But now, many of them have reversed course. They’ve become convinced that mirror organisms could trigger a catastrophic event threatening every form of life on Earth. Find out why.

—Stephen Ornes

This is our latest story to be turned into an MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast, which we publish each week on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Just navigate to MIT Technology Review Narrated on either platform, and follow us to get all our new content as it’s released.

The must-reads

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 Elon Musk says Sam Altman “stole a charity” at the OpenAI trial
Musk testified for the first time yesterday in the landmark legal showdown. (FT $)
+ He said OpenAI was founded as a non-profit to avoid a “Terminator outcome.” (Wired $)
+ And claimed he came up with the idea for the company. (Reuters $)
+ The trial could upend the global AI race. (MIT Technology Review)

2 The White House has plans to bypass Anthropic’s blacklisting
It’s drafting guidance to sidestep the supply-chain risk designation. (Axios)
+ The White House is also meeting other tech firms to discuss AI risks. (Politico)
+ The Pentagon’s culture war against Anthropic has backfired. (MIT Technology Review)

3 OpenAI is tightening ties with Amazon after retreating from Microsoft
AWS customers are getting extra access to OpenAI systems. (NBC News)
+ While OpenAI gets new users and cloud-computing capabilities. (CNBC)

4 AI bots told scientists how to create biological weapons
And unleash them in public spaces. (NYT $)
+ AI will change war forever. (MIT Technology Review)

5 China has suspended robotaxi licenses after a scary outage
Dozens of Baidu vehicles suddenly stopped last month. (The Verge)
+ Chinese robotaxi firms are planning global expansions. (Guardian)

6 Meta has been found in breach of EU rules on protecting children
After failing to block access to Facebook and Instagram. (Guardian)
+ Parents are forcing schools to roll back classroom tech use. (NYT $)

7 AI is spotting pancreatic cancer years before symptoms appear
A study found it could catch the tumor early enough to treat. (Bloomberg)

8 The Iran war is disrupting data center rollouts
Oaktree-owned Pure DC is the latest firm to pause investments. (CNBC)

9 SpaceX is tying Elon Musk’s pay to Mars colonization goals
It’s set lofty goals for his jaw-dropping compensation. (Reuters $)

10 AI has reconstructed the face of an ancient Pompeii victim
Technology is reshaping our understanding of the distant past (NPR)

Quote of the day

“Overnight, without you even knowing it, your own life chances, the life chances of your children, will be dependent on people continuing to prop up Musk’s visions of how the world should look.”

—Elon Musk biographer Michel Martin tells NPR how the Tesla tycoon is shaping our lives.

One More Thing

a person with luggage walks through and airport setting

Inside Clear’s ambitions to manage your identity beyond the airport

If you’ve ever been through a large US airport, you’re probably aware of Clear, the identity verification service that uses biometric scans to whisk travelers past standard security checks.

Now Clear wants to expand that “face-first” experience from airports to just about everywhere, from retailers and banks to even your doctor’s office. Its CEO has designs on making Clear the “identity layer of the internet” and the “universal identity platform” of the physical world.

All you have to do is show up—and show your face. But as biometric identity systems go mainstream, concerns about privacy, security, and control are becoming harder to ignore. And the cost of convenience may not be shared equally. Discover what’s at stake.

—Eileen Guo

We can still have nice things

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line.)

+ Discover why the eight-hour night is a modern invention.
+ This artist creates masterpieces using only a vintage typewriter and a lot of patience.
+ Test your local knowledge with this game that drops you in a random Street View location.
+ Watch this incredible feat of precision piloting as a race aircraft touches down on a 120km/h cargo train.

April 29, 2026

Bibliometric analysis of neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging: research patterns, evolution, and frontier

BackgroundNeurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI), an emerging diffusion MRI technique for estimating the microstructural pathology of brain tissue in vivo, has attracted significant research interest. However, a systematic bibliometric analysis of this field remains unexamined. This study aims to perform a bibliometric analysis of the NODDI literature to explore the current research landscape, identify emerging trends, and provide insights for future investigations.MethodsNODDI-related publications were retrieved from the Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus databases during the period of 2012 to 2025. CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix R package were used to generate visualization maps.ResultsA total of 679 publications related to NODDI were identified from WOS, including 653 research articles and 26 review papers. 844 relevant publications were retrieved from the Scopus database. After 2012, the number of publications on NODDI increased rapidly. Sweden demonstrated the highest average citation per paper, while the United States contributed the largest number of publications. University College London was the most productive institution. Hui Zhang was identified as the most prolific author, while Alexander DC achieved the highest average citation count. NeuroImage was recognized as the leading journal in terms of publication frequency. Common keywords included “diffusion magnetic resonance imaging,” “NODDI,” “brain,” and “multiple sclerosis.” Recent studies show the research focus is shifting from methodological development to clinical application, especially in the field of neuropsychiatric disorders, and is being integrated with emerging methodologies such as Mendelian randomization.ConclusionsThis bibliometric analysis highlights potential directions for future NODDI-related research. Future studies may focus on optimizing imaging techniques, investigating neuropsychiatric disorders, and integrating advanced methodologies.

April 29, 2026

Acupoint temperature as a biomarker: infrared thermography in the diagnosis of adolescents with major depressive disorder

BackgroundThe prevalence of adolescent major depressive disorder (MDD) is rising; however, diagnosis relies on subjective measures due to a lack of objective biomarkers. This study explored infrared thermography (IRT) as a non-invasive tool to quantify thermal radiation characteristics of acupoints in adolescents with MDD. The objective was to establish diagnostic models based on acupoint temperature-derived biomarkers.MethodsA prospective, multi-center observational study enrolled 108 participants (65 adolescents with MDD and 43 healthy controls [HCs]). We first examined correlations between acupoint temperatures and depression severity using Pearson analysis. Multiple linear and binary logistic regression models were developed to diagnose MDD and assess severity. The diagnostic model for MDD was visualized as a nomogram and validated using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, Hosmer-Lemeshow tests, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Internal validation was performed using the bootstrap method.ResultsAmong 27 acupoints analyzed, adolescents with MDD exhibited altered acupoint temperatures at Taiyang (EX-HN5), Quchi (LI11), Yanggu (SI5), and Waiqiu (GB36). Subsequent Pearson correlation analysis revealed negative correlations between the infrared relative temperatures of Taiyang (EX-HN5), Quchi (LI11), and Waiqiu (GB36) and depression severity (P = 0.001, r = -0.319; P = 0.022, r = -0.229; P = 0.001, r = -0.325) and a weak positive correlation between the infrared relative temperature of Yanggu (SI5) and depression severity (P = 0.043, r = 0.202). Building on these findings, two diagnostic models were developed: a linear regression model for depression severity of adolescents (Y = 52.25-9.52*TEX-HN5-13.07*TGB36) and a logistic regression model for adolescents with MDD diagnosis (P = ex/(1+ex), x = 0.22-1.14*TEX-HN5+0.45*TSI5-2.19*TGB36). The nomogram-based model demonstrated good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow P = 0.855), discrimination (AUC = 0.785, 95%CI: 0.693 – 0.876), and clinical utility. Internal validation using the bootstrap method produced a C-index of 0.752 (95% CI: 0.617 – 0.877), further confirming the model’s robustness.ConclusionsIn conclusion, acupoint temperature-based models show promising efficacy for the objective and non-invasive diagnosis and severity quantification of adolescents with MDD, offering valuable tools for early clinical intervention. Future studies should validate these findings across diverse populations and integrate multi-modal biomarkers to enhance diagnostic precision.Clinical Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT06750640.