Scientists are raising concerns about free-living amoebae, resilient microbes that can survive in water systems and enable the spread of deadly infections.
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Washing machine filter captures microfibers as small as 20 micrometers in size
A single laundry load containing synthetic clothing can release thousands of plastic microfibers from nylon, acrylic and polyester materials. Lab testing of an SA-made washing machine filter at Flinders University shows it can be a useful new way to help protect waterways from polyester and other synthetic microparticles.
Flinders researchers are also developing a novel approach to enhance nanoplastic capture on cellulose filters using a plasma polymer coating.
Microplastics are plastic particles less than 5 mm wide, and they break down further to nanoparticles.
Scientists just found the best places to look for ancient life on Mars
Mars once had sprawling river systems that rivaled major watersheds on Earth, and scientists have now identified the biggest ones for the first time. Researchers mapped 16 massive drainage basins where water likely flowed long enough to support life. Even though these areas cover just 5% of ancient Martian terrain, they account for a huge share of erosion and sediment movement. That makes them some of the most promising places to search for ancient life.
Antibody Therapy Eradicates Traces of Multiple Myeloma in Preliminary Trial
Treatment with an immune and cancer cell-targeting antibody therapy eradicates residual traces of the blood cell cancer multiple myeloma, according to interim results from a clinical trial conducted by researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
None of the 18 patients who completed up to six cycles of treatment with the antibody linvoseltamab had detectable disease on highly sensitive tests. This preliminary success suggests linvoseltamab, a bispecific antibody, could allow patients to avoid bone marrow transplants, which involve intense, high-potency chemotherapy. It also points to the long-term possibility of improving patients’ odds against this disease.
Lead researcher Dickran Kazandjian, M.D., a Sylvester physician and professor in the Myeloma Division at the Miller School, presented updated results today at the American Society of Hematology meeting in Orlando. Dr. Kazandjian conducted the research in collaboration with C. Ola Landgren, M.D., Ph.D., director of Sylvester Myeloma Institute.
“These patients received modern and effective, up-front treatment that eliminated 90% of their tumor,” said Dr. Kazandjian. “Usually, patients like these would receive high-dose chemotherapy and transplant. Instead, we give them a treatment with the drug linvoseltamab.”
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers are investigating ways to eradicate residual traces of multiple myeloma.
Stanford AI Experts Predict What Will Happen in 2026
After years of fast expansion and billion-dollar bets, 2026 may mark the moment artificial intelligence confronts its actual utility. In their predictions for the next year, Stanford faculty across computer science, medicine, law, and economics converge on a striking theme: The era of AI evangelism is giving way to an era of AI evaluation. Whether it’s standardized benchmarks for legal reasoning, real-time dashboards tracking labor displacement, or clinical frameworks for vetting the flood of medical AI startups, the coming year demands rigor over hype. The question is no longer “Can AI do this?” but “How well, at what cost, and for whom?”
Learn more about what Stanford HAI faculty expect in the new year.