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Most effective digital interventions to stop smoking identified

Smoking remains one of the most deleterious habits for human health, as it is known to increase the risk of several life-threatening diseases, including lung and throat cancers, heart disease and strokes. While most smokers are well aware of its associated health risks, ceasing this habit can be a very difficult process.

Moreover, conventional programs for cessation, such as those based on psychotherapy or , are not financially or physically accessible for all individuals who wish to stop smoking. In recent years, behavioral scientists and psychologists have been working with engineers to create digital interventions that support people in their efforts to quit this unhealthy habit.

Researchers at Sichuan University in China have carried out a and meta-analysis of past research studies investigating the effectiveness of various digital interventions for smoking cessation. The results of their analyses, presented in a paper published in Nature Human Behavior, suggest that personalized and group-customized technology-based programs could be particularly beneficial for smokers who wish to quit, with middle-aged individuals responding better than younger populations.

NASA seeks student solutions for lunar lander life support technologies

NASA has launched the 2026 Human Lander Challenge, inviting U.S.-based university students to propose fresh concepts for life support and environmental systems vital to long-duration spaceflight. The program, part of the Artemis campaign, focuses on advancing Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) technologies needed to sustain astronauts on the Moon and future missions to Mars.

The challenge seeks undergraduate and graduate teams to design systems-level solutions across four subtopics: noise control, sensor reduction in health monitoring hardware, potable water dispensing, and fluid transfer between lunar or Martian surface assets. Proposals must improve ECLSS reliability in areas such as air, water, and waste management.

“A robust ECLSS transforms a spacecraft like a lander from just hardware into a livable environment, providing breathable air, clean water, and safe conditions for astronauts as they explore the Moon,” said Kevin Gutierrez, acting office manager for the Human Landing Systems Missions Systems Management Office at NASA Marshall. “Without ECLSS we can’t sustain human presence on the Moon or take the next steps toward Mars. The subtopics in the 2026 Human Lander Challenge reflect opportunities for students to support the future of human spaceflight.”

New digital cognitive test for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease

“The unique aspect of our BioCog test is that unlike other digital tests, it has been evaluated in a primary care population, i.e. patients seeking treatment at a health centre because they are experiencing cognitive problems, such as memory problems. Combining the results of the digital test and the blood test increases the accuracy of diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. The purpose of the test is to make things easier for primary care doctors,” says one of the authors.

The digital test is done by the patient individually on a tablet computer. The test measures:


Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. As new disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer’s disease are now becoming available, both early and accurate diagnosis in a resource-efficient assessment process are becoming increasingly important, as not everyone responds to the new drugs. Seeking medical care for cognitive impairment is not necessarily the result of Alzheimer’s disease – it can for example be caused by depression, fatigue or other dementias.

“Primary care does not have the resources, time or specialist knowledge to investigate possible Alzheimer’s disease in the same way as specialised memory clinics. And this is where a digital cognitive test can make the biggest difference,” says the senior author.

Unlike pen-and-paper tests, which are generally used to assess cognitive impairment, digital tests provide a more detailed picture. More aspects and new variables that could not previously be measured as easily are included.

Galaxies Reveal Hidden Maps of Dark Matter in the Early Universe

Researchers uncover a key protein and a promising strategy to prevent bone damage from steroids.

The rheumatology and orthopedic researchers discovered that a protein called Basigin, which gets activated in stem cells when people take steroids, is a key reason why bones weaken and blood vessels in bone tissue become abnormal. By blocking Basigin, they were able to protect and even restore bone health in mice, suggesting a promising new treatment path.

Their findings were published in Nature Communications.

This Popular Diet Seems to Reduce Gum Disease, Scientists Say

There’s something rather special about the Mediterranean diet: already associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, early death, poor mental health, and more besides, a new study links the diet to better gum health too.

The study, carried out by researchers from King’s College London and the University of Catania in Italy, involved 195 participants with an average age of 49, who were given a health check-up and quizzed on their dietary habits.

Those participants who stuck more closely to the plant-rich Mediterranean diet were less likely to have gum disease, the data showed – especially those who didn’t eat much red meat.

Childhood stress strongly linked to chronic disease in adulthood, researchers report

Research published by Duke University researchers has found a strong link between higher stress in children and adverse health conditions for them later in life. Appearing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study used measurable metrics of health over time to create a more quantitative view of how stress early in life affects health.

“We’ve had an idea for a long time, since the ’80s at least, that when children have adversity in their lives, it affects how their bodies work, not just psychologically, but also physiologically. It gets underneath the skin, and it becomes embodied in the way your body handles stress,” said co-author Herman Pontzer, Duke professor of evolutionary anthropology and global health.

Researchers focused on (AL), which refers to the wear and tear on the body because of chronic stress. The researchers “tested associations between childhood AL and adult cardiometabolic health,” relying on biomarkers that included antibodies of C-reactive protein, which is a marker of inflammation in the body; and the Epstein-Barr virus, which is common and highly contagious; body mass index; and .

Rising Cognitive Disability as a Public Health Concern Among US Adults

From 2013 to 2023, rates of cognitive disability nearly doubled among U.S. adults under 40.

Cognitive disability includes self-reported serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.

Rates are highest among people with chronic diseases or lower household incomes.


Background and Objectives.

Unlocking the immune system’s instruction manual: How T follicular helper cells mount a flexible response

Scientists have uncovered how a key type of immune cell adapts its behavior depending on the type of infection, paving the way for better vaccines and advancing research into immune-related diseases.

In their study published in Nature Immunology, a WEHI-led research team has revealed how T follicular helper (Tfh) cells tailor their instructions to the depending on the pathogen they encounter.

The findings shed light on the molecular “instruction manual” that guides and long-term immunity, offering new tools to improve vaccine design and develop targeted therapies for immune-related conditions and other major health challenges, including cancer.

Home high-intensity aerobic training outperforms balance training for cerebellar ataxias

Columbia University Medical Center-led research reports that home high-intensity aerobic training improved ataxia symptoms, fatigue, and aerobic fitness more than dose-matched home balance training in individuals with cerebellar ataxias.

Cerebellar ataxias are a group of different disorders marked by progressive loss of coordination that leads to disability. About 150,000 people in the US live with these conditions, with mean annual health care costs above $18,000 per person. Ongoing trials are searching for treatments that slow disease progression and improve functional abilities. Clinical practice guidelines advise balance training for .

Previous work in ataxia has centered on balance-focused programs that can improve Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) scores by 1.0 to 2.8 points when exercises are sufficiently challenging, a range that meets or exceeds the minimal clinically significant difference of 1.0 point.

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