In the US, the incidence of colorectal cancer increased in people aged 45-49 years in the period 2019-2022, after advancing the screening age from 50 to 45 years, according to a study published in JAMA. The use of mailed faecal tests made it possible to reach people in this age group, without affecting screening rates in people over 50, says another paper published in the same journal.

Ahead of the anticipated conclusion of a United Nations global treaty on plastics, a group of international experts calls for greater attention to health effects when addressing plastic pollution. The work, published in The Lancet, reviews current evidence on how plastics—including microplastics and plastic chemicals—affect health, and announces the launch of a new project to monitor these effects.

At least some of the genes that enable hibernation in certain animals are also found in our DNA, but they are regulated differently. Now, researchers at the University of Utah (United States) have analyzed the human genome and identified specific regions and changes that affect this regulation, which could be useful in the future to take advantage of some of its benefits. According to the researchers, who share their findings in two papers published simultaneously in the journal Science, "there is a possibility that, by understanding these mechanisms, we may find strategies to intervene and help with age-related diseases and improve our own health".

Forests cover approximately 40% of Europe's land area. Between 1990 and 2022, they absorbed around 10% of the continent's emissions from human activity, but this process is slowing down. An international team, including CREAF and CSIC, analyzes this decline and its causes in an article and proposes possible solutions. The work is published in the journal Nature.  

The concrete used by the Roman Empire was used to build aqueducts, bridges and buildings that have lasted for over two thousand years. A study analyses whether returning to this ancient material would help to decarbonise modern cement. According to the authors, reproducing the recipe would require a similar amount of energy and water, with similar CO2 emissions; however, its durability could make it a more sustainable option. It is published in the Cell Press journal iScience.

Respiratory viruses trigger metastatic breast cancer cells to proliferate in lungs in mouse models of breast cancer, a study in Nature indicates. These findings are supported by human observational data. 

The research article A bacterium that can grow by using arsenic instead of phosphorus was one of the big science stories because it discussed the possibility of arsenic-based life. However, it has been the subject of criticism until now. After nearly 15 years of debate and failed attempts by other groups to replicate the findings, Science has now decided to retract the article, despite finding no evidence of fraud or misconduct on the part of the authors, who disagree with the decision.

Certain immunotherapy treatments for cancer work by releasing the brakes on our defences. However, their response varies and is not uniform in all patients. A team in the United States has now published a study in Nature according to which certain autoantibodies present in patients could improve the efficacy of the therapy, which would explain some of this variability and could be used to design future complementary treatments.

Two studies published today in the journal Nature significantly expand the catalogue of known human genetic variations. The resulting data constitute what may be the most complete view of the human genome to date.

Today at 3:00 PM CEST, the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the principal judicial body of the United Nations, will issue its advisory opinion on the obligations of states in relation to climate change and the legal consequences of those obligations. The case stems from a Pacific youth initiative, taken up by the small island nation of Vanuatu, which led a coalition of 132 countries to request an opinion. It is expected to determine whether large, polluting countries should be held accountable for damages caused to small island nations.