Scientists

Concentrations of desert dust rose steadily across much of Europe between 2012 and 2021, according to a study published today in the journal Nature. This was despite the fact that particulate matter pollution from emissions had fallen as a result of regulations. The trend could be linked to changes in atmospheric circulation and desertification in North Africa. Some of the largest increases were recorded in southern Europe and the Mediterranean region, where levels are more than double those in the north of the continent. The authors warn that dust pollution could have an increasing impact on air quality and public health.

A study involving a small group of people, published in the European Heart Journal, has measured the levels of plastic in the blood supplying the heart in 61 patients with myocardial infarction, chronic ischaemic heart disease or normal coronary arteries. According to the data, microplastics and nanoplastics were detected in 84 per cent of patients who had suffered a heart attack, compared with 40 per cent of patients with chronic ischaemic heart disease and 32 per cent of those with normal coronary arteries. Those exposed to higher levels of air pollution and smokers were more likely to have microplastics in their blood.

A team led by a Spanish researcher has identified, near the centre of the Milky Way, a type of sugar composed of four carbon atoms, known as erythrulose, which on Earth is found in raspberries and self-tanning products. This would suggest that complex and biologically relevant molecules can form in space. Ribose and glucose had previously been discovered in samples from meteorites and asteroids, but until now no sugar had been directly detected in the interstellar medium. The finding is published in Nature Astronomy.

A new study reveals that the proportion of adults with dementia has risen significantly in Mexico, Peru and Puerto Rico over the last two decades, rising from one in ten older adults to almost one in six; a trend that runs counter to that seen in the US and other wealthy countries. Rates remained stable in Cuba and the Dominican Republic. The authors urge investment in prevention, dementia screening and care infrastructure. The study is published in JAMA Neurology.

The wildfire in Los Gallardos (Almería), which broke out on Thursday evening, has so far claimed 13 lives. Initial investigations suggest that a fallen power line may have been the cause of the fire. The blaze has burnt more than 3,000 hectares and has left 1,400 people displaced.

An international team analyzed data from 262 clinical trials involving 100,000 people, which evaluated a total of 19 currently available obesity drugs, including GLP-1 analogs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide. Overall, the results indicate that, despite substantial weight loss, most of the drugs do not significantly improve quality of life, and few show cardiovascular benefits after one year of treatment. Furthermore, those that achieved greater weight loss were often associated with more side effects. The study is published in The BMJ.