The Synthesis

Image from Freepik Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a type of pancreatic cancer, has a five-year survival rate of less than ten percent . Often diagnosed in later stages, it is one of the most lethal diseases. Pancreatic cancer is on the path to becoming the second-leading cause of cancer death by 2030 , with diagnoses rising each year. Current treatments include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, but do not improve clinical outcomes. A recent study published in th

In the mammalian world, bowhead whales are unrivaled in lifespan and second only to blue whales in size, yet these whales seemingly evade cancer. A recent study  led by researchers at the University of Rochester identified that this cancer resistance comes from a protein called CIRBP that helps repair DNA damage.  Cancer can develop when genetic errors accumulate in cells over time, but bowhead whales, which have a 200+ year lifespan and many  cells, have a paradoxical resist

Preeclampsia, a condition that causes high blood pressure and organ damage during pregnancy, is responsible for 14% of maternal deaths each year. Despite the high prevalence of preeclampsia, its causes continue to elude scientists. Even more troublingly, there are currently no tests that can consistently predict the onset of preeclampsia early on in pregnancy, and early diagnosis is critical for effectively treating the condition. A team of biologists and doctors may have hit

For axolotls, regenerating an arm is like an architect rebuilding a mansion after a fire. To reconstruct this complex building, an architect needs a blueprint.

With the final borehole dug on September 11, 2025, Smith College is well on its way to completing its intricate geothermal heating and cooling system. 40% of the campus is already benefiting from the system.

A recent study led by researchers from Stanford University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital discovered that lung cancer cells in the brain partner with neurons to promote tumor growth.