Latest News Releases 6 April

Korea University College of Medicine (Dean Pyun Sung-Bom) and Yonsei University College of Medicine (Dean Choi Jae-Young) are kicking off a step-by-step global R& D network project in earnest to train future domestic physician-scientists.

In a study that tracked explicit and implicit bias against stigmatized groups in 33 countries between 2009 and 2019, researchers found substantial reductions in explicit, self-reported bias against all categories of stigma they examined: age, race, body weight, skin tone and sexual orientation. The picture for implicit bias, which is sometimes described as “hidden” or “automatically revealed” bias, was more varied, however.

From Catholics to Evangelicals, a surprising 90 percent of U.S. Christian leaders believe in man-made climate change, yet remain largely silent, a new report by Boston College researchers reveals. The findings may help shape how Christians address climate change, knowing their beliefs about the climate crisis align with their church’s values.

A paper published in National Science Review highlights the role of China's natural terrestrial ecosystems (NTEs) as significant sources and sinks of methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), two potent greenhouse gases. The study, led by Dr. Tingting Li and her team, compiles a new CH₄ and N₂O inventory for China's NTEs from 1980 to 2020, revealing the complex interplay between climate change, land-use changes, and greenhouse gas emissions. The findings underscore the importance of NTEs in global greenhouse gas budgets and provide recommendations for enhancing carbon sequestration and reducing emissions.

Illiberal pro-China narratives serve as sharp power tools, influencing democratic societies. Researchers analyzed Twitter (now X) data and conducted experiments on political ideology and aversion to protests. Findings show both left- and right-wing groups engage with these narratives. Notably, right-wing individuals, despite criticizing China, accept illiberal narratives when triggered by protest aversion. Further experiments confirm that those strongly averse to protests resist liberal narratives, revealing a key vulnerability in Japan’s political discourse.

Lysosomes are considered as the major degradative site and were recently recognized as dynamic regulators of cellular homeostasis. Many diseases, including cancer, have been linked to functional changes in lysosomes. Natural products and their structural analogs have historically made major contributions to pharmacotherapy. By employing the natural small molecule isowalsuranolide as a chemical probe, the underlying mechanisms of its lysosome-inducing effects were investigated. This study revealed that isowalsuranolide targets TrxR1/2 and triggers lysosomal biogenesis and autophagy via the p53-TFEB/TFE3 axis. This study provides important insight into the lysosomal adaptation mechanism to redox signals and the application of lysosome-inducing agents in the treatment of lysosome-related diseases, including cancer.

A team of researchers has unveiled an innovative diagnostic tool that transforms an everyday toy into a high-tech bacterial detection device. 

Climate change in the Arctic is paving the way for the spread of infectious diseases with pandemic potential, warn scientists.

This paper reports the discovery of a high-velocity star J07 ejected from globular cluster M15 approximately 21 million years ago, providing strong evidence for the presence of an IMBH constrained to within a few AU of the central region of M15.