They found a way to sneak around an important law governing atoms.
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How the cheese-noodle principle could help counter Alzheimer’s
Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have clarified how spermine—a small molecule that regulates many processes in the body’s cells—can guard against diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s: It renders certain proteins harmless by acting a bit like cheese on noodles, making them clump together. This discovery could help combat such diseases. The study has now been published in the journal Nature Communications.
Our life expectancy keeps rising—and as it does, age-related illnesses, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, are becoming increasingly common. These diseases are caused by accumulations in the brain of harmful protein structures consisting of incorrectly folded amyloid proteins. Their shape is reminiscent of fibers or spaghetti. To date, there is no effective therapy to prevent or eliminate such accumulations.
Yet a naturally occurring molecule in the body called spermine offers hope. In experiments, researchers led by study leader Jinghui Luo, in the Center for Life Sciences at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, have discovered that this substance is capable of extending the lifespan of small nematode worms, improving their mobility in old age, and strengthening the powerhouses of their cells—the mitochondria. Specifically, the researchers observed how spermine helps the body’s immune system eliminate nerve-damaging accumulations of amyloid proteins.
To Meld A.I. With Supercomputers, National Labs Are Picking Up the Pace
For years, Rick Stevens, a computer scientist at Argonne National Laboratory, pushed the notion of transforming scientific computing with artificial intelligence.
But even as Mr. Stevens worked toward that goal, government labs like Argonne — created in 1946 and sponsored by the Department of Energy — often took five years or more to develop powerful supercomputers that can be used for A.I. research. Mr. Stevens watched as companies like Amazon, Microsoft and Elon Musk’s xAI made faster gains by installing large A.I. systems in a matter of months.
Ursula Eysin on Uncertainty and Future Scenarios
How do we turn uncertainty from a threat into an advantage?
Three years ago, I sat down with someone who has built her entire career around that question: Ursula Eysin, founder of Red Swan and one of the most multidimensional futurists I’ve ever met.
Ursula is a trained ballerina who speaks seven languages, reads chemistry books for fun, mentors startups, and teaches at five universities — and somehow still finds time to help leaders navigate the unknown with clarity and courage.
In this conversation, we dig into: • Why predicting the future is a powerless position • Scenario planning vs. futurism — and why leaders need both • How to reframe uncertainty as a strategic asset • What it truly means to connect as humans in an age of AI • And why strong, diverse leadership matters more than ever.
My favourite line from Ursula remains razor-sharp:
“Turn uncertainty into an advantage. See it as a gift. And connect to other people.”
If you’re steering a team, a company, or even your own life through volatility, this one is worth your time.
A “Very Old, Undisturbed Structure” May Have Been Discovered Beyond The Orbit Of Neptune, 43 AU From The Sun
If confirmed, the structure may be primordial.
An Autism Epidemic?
The CDC website now says: “The claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim…” Psychologist David Myers from Hope College summarizes the relevant evidence.
You are an educated reader, so I know that you know that vaccines do not cause autism. However, you probably have also read headlines such as the recent U.S. Health and Human Services release, “Autism Epidemic Runs Rampant.”