Groundbreaking medical remedies; mysteries of basic biology; the impacts of well being coverage upheavals. Reside Science lined all these subjects and extra in 2025 — and you may compensate for a few of our greatest Well being channel long-reads from the yr beneath. The next record consists of interviews, ebook excerpts and information analyses, in addition to entries from our Science Highlight collection, which highlights how science is remodeling the world as we all know it.
1. Secrets and techniques of the world’s oldest girl
Maria Branyas Morera, as soon as the world’s oldest girl, died in 2024 at age 117. Reside Science took a deep take a look at a research that examined Branyas’ biology and uncovered key traits which will have protected her from illness in outdated age. May classes from the research assist others lead longer, more healthy lives?
2. What makes us human?
Many contemplate the mind to be a central characteristic of what makes us human — however how did the outstanding organ come to be? In an interview, science communicator Jim Al-Khalili mentioned what he discovered from capturing the brand new BBC present “Horizon: Secrets and techniques of the Mind,” which tells the story of how the human mind advanced. And in a ebook excerpt and interview with Reside Science, neuroscientist Nikolay Kukushkin described the evolutionary forces he believes have been key to the formation of the human mind and consciousness as we all know it.
3. May lab-grown brains acquire consciousness?
Miniature fashions of the human mind might be grown from stem cells within the lab, they usually’re getting increasingly more superior. Some scientists have raised considerations that these “minibrains” may develop into acutely aware and really feel ache. We investigated consultants’ considerations and hopes for future regulation of the analysis.
4. The promise of mRNA medication
mRNA could also be finest recognized for forming the idea of the primary COVID-19 vaccines, nevertheless it is also utilized in revolutionary most cancers therapeutics, immune-reprogramming remedies and gene therapies. The promise of those rising mRNA medicines is staggering, however because of the politicization of COVID-19 photographs within the U.S., mRNA analysis and improvement — even unrelated to vaccines — now hangs in precarious uncertainty. A Science Highlight characteristic described rising mRNA applied sciences and their wobbly standing underneath the second Trump administration.
5. Most cancers in younger individuals
You’ll have heard that extra younger individuals are being identified with most cancers. However which varieties of most cancers are driving this development? And why are the charges going up within the first place? We checked out what could also be driving this sample, from underlying most cancers triggers to raised methods for early detection.
6. Male vs feminine brains
Is there actually a distinction between female and male brains? And will we even have the info required to reply that query? A Science Highlight explored the current analysis on intercourse variations within the mind, discovering the outcomes murkier than one would possibly anticipate. Headlines typically proclaim that female and male brains are “wired in another way,” and that could be true in some delicate methods. However the organic penalties of these variations stay unclear, even to consultants within the subject.
7. AI is designing viruses
Synthetic intelligence can now be used to design brand-new viruses. Scientists hope to make use of these viruses for good — for instance, to deal with drug-resistant bacterial infections. However may the know-how usher within the subsequent technology of bioweapons? An evaluation probed this dual-use downside and what might be achieved to safeguard our biosecurity.
8. When pandemics are a “certainty,” how will we put together?
In a ebook excerpt, epidemiologist Dr. Seth Berkley defined how he and different well being leaders orchestrated a huge vaccine rollout to poor international locations in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, in order that the photographs would not completely be hoarded by rich nations. Reside Science additionally spoke with Berkley in regards to the classes discovered from the pandemic and the continuing combat for vaccine fairness.
9. USAID cuts
The USA Company for Worldwide Improvement (USAID), as soon as the world’s largest overseas support company, was hit by huge funding cuts underneath the second Trump administration. A couple of of its capabilities will reportedly proceed, underneath the management of the Division of State. We seemed on the predicted and devastating results that the lack of USAID will seemingly have on HIV care worldwide. And in an interview with writer John Inexperienced, who printed a ebook on tuberculosis (TB) this yr, we explored what the cuts may imply for TB sufferers.
10. Microplastics on the mind
A research went viral after suggesting that wholesome human brains could comprise an identical quantity of plastic as the typical plastic spoon. However ought to we actually be involved? Our evaluation broke down what we all know and what we do not about microplastics within the mind.
11. Dodging early Alzheimer’s illness
A person genetically assured to develop early Alzheimer’s illness continues to be disease-free in his 70s. We explored the main points of the person’s case, digging into his genetic profile and the broader classes it may train scientists about dementia.
12. Psychological well being after weight-loss surgical procedure
Weight-loss surgical procedures typically include enhancements in psychological well being — however analysis revealed that this impact is much less tied to the load loss itself and extra linked to the reduction from stigma that individuals typically expertise post-procedure. We examined this discovering and what it will possibly inform us in regards to the profound influence of weight stigma on individuals’s well being and well-being.
13. Measles makes a comeback
In 2000, the US hit a public well being milestone by eliminating measles. However now, there’s been a sustained resurgence of the extremely infectious illness, placing the nation on the point of dropping that treasured elimination standing. This story defined how we obtained right here and what’s at stake. And in an opinion piece, a number of consultants known as out the anti-vaccine motion that drove down measles vaccination charges — a motion that well being secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been spearheading for years.
14. Is America dropping the struggle on most cancers?
In a ebook excerpt, Nafis Hasan argued that the US has been using the flawed methods to combat most cancers for many years. Whereas hyperfocusing on discovering remedies for people with most cancers, America has largely ignored population-level methods that might assist drive down most cancers charges and most cancers deaths throughout the board, he argued.
15. Threats to fetal tissue analysis
The U.S. federal authorities is threatening to limit analysis carried out with human fetal tissue. In an opinion piece, cell biologist, geneticist and neuroscientist Lawrence Goldstein dispelled widespread myths and misinformation about this sort of analysis.
16. “The Huge One,” a catastrophe to dwarf COVID-19
Epidemiologist Michael Osterholm predicts that the subsequent pandemic may very well be even worse than COVID-19. In a ebook excerpt and interview with Reside Science, Osterholm described the teachings we should always have taken away from the coronavirus pandemic, and the way current adjustments in U.S. coverage could have destroyed our capability to deal with severe outbreaks.
17. Local weather change could drive up hyponatremia
Because the planet warms, a harmful situation known as hyponatremia could also be on the rise. The situation causes a dramatic decline in sodium within the physique, which may doubtlessly trigger seizures, coma and loss of life. A Reside Science unique seemed on the rising development.
