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Peacock feathers can emit laser beams, study finds: Microscopic structures in the eyespots of peacock feathers can act as natural laser cavities, emitting faint beams of yellow-green light when energized with dye and external illumination, according to a study in Scientific Reports. Although peacocks are unlikely to use these laser emissions themselves, the discovery highlights how animal biology can inform the development of new biophotonic tools for imaging, diagnostics and other medical applications.

Babies free of mitochondrial disease born via DNA from three people: Eight healthy babies have been born in Britain using a technique that incorporates DNA from three people to prevent mitochondrial diseases. The technique involves transferring genetic material from the mother’s egg into a donor egg with healthy mitochondria, and it is permitted in the UK and Australia but not the United States.

FDA advisers suggest removing boxed warning from certain estrogen products: An advisory panel has recommended that the FDA remove boxed warnings from labels of vaginal estrogen products, citing a lack of data to support the warnings and noting that they discourage use. The warnings, which highlight risks for breast cancer, blood clots, and stroke, were introduced following a 2002 study of estrogen’s effects on women in menopause.

Inflammation and aging may not be universally linked: A study in Nature Aging that included nearly 3,000 adults across Italy, Singapore, Bolivia and Malaysia found that chronic inflammation increases with age and is tied to illness only in industrialized populations. Among Indigenous groups, inflammation remained stable with age and showed no link to common age-related diseases, challenging long-held assumptions about aging.

Kennedy ousts CDC Chief, sparks resignations: The CDC was plunged into turmoil when newly confirmed director Susan Monarez was abruptly fired after refusing HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s push to approve policies she believed were unscientific. Kennedy replaced her with Jim O’Neill, a nonscientist already serving as deputy secretary, who is known for his criticism of the CDC’s pandemic response. The leadership change has led to the resignation of three top CDC officials in protest, citing ethical concerns over the agency’s direction under Kennedy.

Clinical trial publication bias remains a problem: Publication bias remains a serious issue as many trials with negative results go unreported, risking patient safety and hindering progress. As a multiple myeloma patient, biostatistician Alessandro Liberati found four relevant trials that were unpublished, and wrote in the BMJ, “Research results should be easily accessible to people who need to make decisions about their own health,” Liberati wrote. “Why was I forced to make my decision knowing that information was somewhere but not available?”

Retrotransponsons tied to ALS, Alzheimer’s: Researchers are finding that retrotransposons, which make up over 40% of our genome and are usually inactive, can become reactivated with age or due to malfunctioning proteins like TDP-43 and tau, potentially triggering inflammation and nerve cell damage linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers are now testing HIV-style antiretroviral drugs to target the viral-like behavior of retrotransposons, with early results showing promise in slowing symptom progression.

Horse cancer research reveals genetic similarities with humans: Researchers are studying horses to gain insights into cancer, noting genetic similarities between equine and human skin cancers, including shared melanoma markers and cellular mechanisms that resist mammary tumor formation. These insights position horses as a valuable comparative model to investigate cancer susceptibility and resistance, with potential to inform new human treatments.

Startup develops blood test for endometriosis: Heranova Lifesciences, a Boston-based startup led by Chief Medical Officer Farideh Bischoff and Co-Founded by Penny Wan, has introduced a blood test called HerResolve for endometriosis that may present an alternative to surgical diagnosis. The test uses machine learning to analyze biomarkers and is as accurate as the current standard, which involves laparoscopic surgery. In the future, the company plans to develop a nonsurgical therapeutic for endometriosis.

First Alzheimer’s patient receives nasal spray treatment: A 79-year-old is the first person with Alzheimer’s disease to receive an experimental nasal spray treatment containing the monoclonal antibody foralumab, designed to reduce brain inflammation associated with the disease. The therapy, which is also being tested for multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and COVID-19, has shown promising results in decreasing inflammation, but its impact on cognitive functions is uncertain.