Bread. Freedom. Dignity.

Renew the biological age.

FYI: (1) News Items will be sending you a separate “Political News Items” email later this morning. There’s a lot of news, so I decided to do two “Items” today. (2) The arrival time of the Weekend Edition of News Items may be delayed, for no particular reason. Just one of those things.

1. Big story of the day.

Researchers have reversed aging in human skin cells by 30 years, according to a new study. Scientists say they have developed a method to time jump human skin cells by three decades - longer than previous reprogramming methods, rewinding the aging clock without the cells losing their function. Researchers describe being able to partly restore the function of older cells, as well as renew the biological age. According to the study, in experiments that simulated a skin wound, the partially rejuvenated cells showed signs of behaving more like youthful cells. Experts suggest that, while in their early stages, the findings could eventually revolutionize regenerative medicine, especially if it can be replicated in other cell types. Professor Wolf Reik, a group leader in the Epigenetics research program who has recently moved to lead the Altos Labs Cambridge Institute, said: "This work has very exciting implications. "Eventually, we may be able to identify genes that rejuvenate without reprogramming, and specifically target those to reduce the effects of aging. Research paper is here. Sarah Knapton’s report is here. (Source: elifesciences.org, bloomberg.com)

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2. The scientific search to explain the structure of the universe has been given new impetus by the discovery that the particle responsible for one of four fundamental forces is heavier than existing theory would permit. Physicists working at the Fermilab laboratory near Chicago analyzed debris from millions of high-energy particle accelerator collisions, before concluding that the unexpectedly large mass of the subatomic W boson was inconsistent with the Standard Model that underpins physics. The model provides an internally consistent but incomplete description of all the forces and particles in the cosmos. Physicists know the theory that dates back to the 1970s must be extended because it can describe three fundamental forces — strong, weak and electromagnetic — but not the fourth, which is gravity. It also cannot explain the mysterious dark matter and dark energy that astronomers’ observations have shown dominate the universe. Quanta magazine’s story on this is very good. (Source: ft.com, quantamagaziner.org)

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3. Buried in forest litter or sprouting from trees, fungi might give the impression of being silent and relatively self-contained organisms, but a new study suggests they may be champignon communicators. Mathematical analysis of the electrical signals fungi seemingly send to one another has identified patterns that bear a striking structural similarity to human speech. Previous research has suggested that fungi conduct electrical impulses through long, underground filamentous structures called hyphae – similar to how nerve cells transmit information in humans. (Source: theguardian.com)