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Frontiers: Dietary restriction (DR)

Defined as reduced caloric intake or selective limitation of specific nutrients without malnutrition, is one of the most robust interventions known to extend lifespan and healthspan across species. Studies from yeast to mammals demonstrate that DR elicits conserved genetic, transcriptional, and epigenetic programs that promote cellular maintenance and stress resistance. At the molecular level, DR engages evolutionarily conserved nutrient-sensing pathways, including insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS), the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and NAD+-dependent sirtuins, which converge on key transcription factors (TFs) and transcriptional coactivators (TCs) to coordinate metabolic and longevity-associated gene expression. Downstream, these pathways enhance autophagy and proteostasis, remodel mitochondrial function and redox balance, reshape immune and inflammatory networks, and induce epigenetic and transcriptional reprogramming. Recent work further highlights amino acid–specific sensing mechanisms, endocrine mediators such as fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), the gut microbiome, circadian regulators, and nuclear pore–associated transcriptional plasticity as integral components of DR responses. Importantly, the physiological outcomes of DR are context dependent and influenced by genetic background, sex, age at intervention, and the type and duration of restriction. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the genetic and molecular architecture underlying DR-induced longevity and health benefits across species, discuss implications for aging-related diseases, and outline future directions toward precision nutrition and safe translational strategies.

Aging is characterized by a progressive decline in physiological integrity, reduced stress resilience, and increased susceptibility to chronic diseases (Lopez-Otin et al., 2023). Among numerous genetic, pharmacological, and lifestyle interventions examined over the past decades, dietary restriction (DR) remains the most robust and evolutionarily conserved strategy for extending lifespan and improving healthspan. Originally described in rodents nearly a century ago, the beneficial effects of reduced nutrient intake have since been validated in a wide range of organisms, including yeast, nematodes, flies, and mammals (Wu et al., 2022). While often used interchangeably, it is critical to distinguish between different nutritional interventions to avoid conceptual overlap. Caloric restriction (CR) typically refers to a chronic reduction in total calorie intake (usually 20%–40%) without malnutrition.

AI threatens to eat business software—and it could change the way we work

In recent weeks, a range of large “software-as-a-service” companies, including Salesforce, ServiceNow and Oracle, have seen their share prices tumble.

Even if you’ve never used these companies’ software tools, there’s a good chance your employer has. These tools manage key data about customers, employees, suppliers and products, supporting everything from payroll and purchasing to customer service.

Now new “agentic” artificial intelligence (AI) tools for business are expected to reduce reliance on traditional software for everyday work. These include Anthropic’s Cowork, OpenAI’s Frontier and open-source agent platforms such as OpenClaw.

SRIC4 Newsletter #04 — What is Quality of Life?

What truly defines “Quality of Life” (QoL), and why we have titled the SRI IV World Congress on it?QoL is a broad concept, including all of the aspects of the life of us, human inhabitants of the third planet of this Solar System. Traditionally, we define QoL through the essentials—food, shelter, health, and education. These are the pillars of economic and cultural development, and they are non-negotiable. Yet, at Space Renaissance, we believe QoL aims higher. It is the freedom to pursue our highest ideals, to have a beautiful life, to explore spirituality, and to seek a global reduction in suffering. Interestingly, the perception of QoL varies wildly across our globe today. The Western post-industrial societies are often clouded by a lack of confidence and a fading hope for what lies ahead. The Eastern emerging societies, fueled by rapid industrial growth, look toward the horizon with immense anticipation. If we could measure QoL through the lens of hope, these emerging societies might actually outrank the West. Why? Because the belief that one is part of a “great project”—one that glorifies human intelligence and potential—is the ultimate antidote to social suffering.

Whether we progress or regress, fall into crisis or rise in a renaissance, it all depends on the mass-psychological mood of the people. When survival is secured, and economic growth creates opportunities for all, social fear dissolves. And as John Lennon famously sang, when fear fades, we finally “give peace a chance.”

We align ourselves with this progressive spirit, like a modern Promethean manifesto. However, we must be realistic: this hope has an expiration date. Without the launch of civil space development by 2030, the “closed world” will inevitably reach its limits. Eastern hopes will be dashed, and Western lifestyles will suffer a sharp decline.

Social Risk Prevalence in AYAs With and Without a History of Cancer

About one-third of adolescents and young adults, with or without Cancer, reported at least one social risk such as financial hardship or food insecurity, highlighting the need for routine screening.

This cross-sectional study used data from KPNW, an integrated health care system serving more than 620 000 members in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington, representing approximately 16% of the region’s population. The KPNW Institutional Review Board deemed the study exempt from review and informed consent under category 4 of the Common Rule, meaning that this research was determined to be low risk as it involves the use of secondary data. The study followed the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) reporting guideline for cross-sectional studies.

Members of KPNW are demographically similar to the surrounding community, with a broad age distribution (approximately 23% aged 18–35 years and 40% aged 36–64 years), a nearly equal sex distribution (52% female), and a racial and ethnic composition comparable to that of the regional population. Approximately 18% of members live below 200% of the federal poverty level, and approximately 80% receive coverage through employer-sponsored plans, contributing to high annual retention rates (approximately 88%). In early 2020, KPNW implemented a social risk screening tool via the EPIC-based (Epic Systems Corp) HealthConnect system. Full details of the screening process have been previously described.22,23

We included KPNW members aged 15 to 40 years who received care at KPNW; completed the social determinants of health screener between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024 (the first screening was defined as the index date); and had at least 6 months of follow-up data (eFigure 1 in Supplement 1).

Microbes harvest metals from meteorites aboard space station

If humankind is to explore deep space, one small passenger should not be left behind: microbes. In fact, it would be impossible to leave them behind, since they live on and in our bodies, surfaces and food. Learning how they react to space conditions is critical, but they could also be invaluable fellows in our endeavor to explore space.

Microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi can harvest crucial minerals from rocks and could provide a sustainable alternative to transporting much-needed resources from Earth.

Researchers from Cornell and the University of Edinburgh collaborated to study how those microbes extract platinum group elements from a meteorite in microgravity, with an experiment conducted aboard the International Space Station. They found that “biomining” fungi are particularly adept at extracting the valuable metal palladium, while removing the fungus resulted in a negative effect on nonbiological leaching in microgravity.

Pearls & Oy-sters: Reversible Leukoencephalopathy and Parkinsonism Due to CNS Involvement in Cryoglobulinemia

What is metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease?

Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) involves accumulation of fat in the liver and may progress to liver inflammation and scarring.

The main risk factors for MASLD are obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Usually people with MASLD show no symptoms but some may feel tired or have pain or discomfort in the upper right side of their abdomen.

Eating a low-carbohydrate, low-fat, and low-calorie diet; avoiding alcohol; and exercise are the first-line of treatment for MASLD. sciencenewshighlights ScienceMission https://sciencemission.com/What-Is–MASLD

This JAMA Patient Page describes metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its risk factors, symptoms and complications, diagnosis, and treatment.

Continue reading “Pearls & Oy-sters: Reversible Leukoencephalopathy and Parkinsonism Due to CNS Involvement in Cryoglobulinemia” | >

The 5 Foods Every 100-Year-Old Ate Daily (Blue Zones Diet Breakdown)

The controversial diet truth backed by 155 dietary surveys across 90 years that food scientists don’t want you to know.

Dan Buettner exposes why meta-analyses prove most nutritional debates wrong and reveals what centenarians actually ate as children to live past 100.

The peasant food formula that’s cheaper than a hamburger, 50 times more nutrient dense, and leaves you completely satisfied.

Plus why the 15 countries with the highest life expectancy all eat white rice daily.

Dan Buettner is a New York Times bestselling author, National Geographic Fellow, and co-producer of the Emmy Award winning Netflix series Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones.

Frequently distracted? Your brain rhythms may be to blame

Scientists may have new answers to why pop-ups or notifications grab our attention. Turns out our attention is on a cycle, shifting seven to 10 times per second. This rhythmic occurrence may be crucial for survival, as it prevents us from becoming overly focused on one thing in our environment. It could help us to see a car backing up in a parking lot while we search for where we parked, or to duck to avoid a low-hanging tree branch on a walk while watching a kid ride a bike.

However, these windows that shift our attention could also make us more susceptible to distractions, especially in modern times. As we live in a world surrounded by screens, digital alerts, and other visual stimuli, these frequent and innate windows for shifting attention may make it easier to be pulled away from a task.

“For our ancestors who had to continue to monitor the environment for predators while foraging for food, this was a beneficial trait,” said Ian Fiebelkorn, Ph.D., assistant professor of Neuroscience at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester and senior author of a study out in the journal PLOS Biology. “But in our modern environment, with laptops open in front of us and a smartphone nearby, rhythmically occurring windows for beneficial attentional shifts might also work against us. That is, rhythmically occurring windows for attentional shifts are also associated with increased susceptibility to distracting information.”

How many bee species exist? New global count puts the total near 26,000

The world has far more bees than anyone realized. Scientists have, for the first time, estimated just how many species of bees are out there on a global scale, offering a clearer look at how these vital pollinators are distributed around the planet. The landmark study, led by University of Wollongong (UOW) evolutionary biologist Dr. James Dorey, provides the most comprehensive count to date—broken down by continent and country—calculating there are, at a minimum, between 3,700 and 5,200 more bee species buzzing around the world than currently recognized.

The research, outlined in a new paper published Tuesday, February 24, in Nature Communications, lifts global estimates to between 24,705 and 26,164 bee species and reveals a richer and more complex picture of the world’s bees than ever before. The findings highlight how many bee species remain unclassified or overlooked, showing that even our much-loved pollinators are not fully understood, and that closing these knowledge gaps is crucial for conservation and food security.

“Knowing how many species exist in a place, or within a group like bees, really matters. It shapes how we approach conservation, land management, and even big-picture science questions about evolution and ecosystems,” Dr. Dorey said. “Bees are a perfect example. They’re keystone species; their diversity underpins healthy environments and resilient agriculture. If we don’t understand how many bee species there are, we’re missing a key part of the puzzle for protecting both nature and farming.”

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