Lead Story
Chile becomes first country in South America validated for eliminating dog-transmitted rabies
The World Health Organization announced on September 14, 2026, that it had validated Chile as having eliminated dog-transmitted rabies as a public health problem, making it the first country in South America to reach the milestone. The recognition caps more than 50 years without a human rabies case linked to dog bites, built on decades of mass dog vaccination and surveillance programs. It is Chile's second neglected-tropical-disease elimination of the year: earlier in 2026 the country was also validated by WHO for eliminating leprosy, becoming the first in the Americas to do so, underscoring a broader regional push toward eradicating diseases that have long been controllable but persistent.
Read more →Lead Story
Chile becomes first country in South America validated for eliminating dog-transmitted rabies
The World Health Organization announced on September 14, 2026, that it had validated Chile as having eliminated dog-transmitted rabies as a public health problem, making it the first country in South America to reach the milestone. The recognition caps more than 50 years without a human rabies case linked to dog bites, built on decades of mass dog vaccination and surveillance programs. It is Chile's second neglected-tropical-disease elimination of the year: earlier in 2026 the country was also validated by WHO for eliminating leprosy, becoming the first in the Americas to do so, underscoring a broader regional push toward eradicating diseases that have long been controllable but persistent.
NASA's Roman Space Telescope now carries enough fuel for at least 22 years, more than double its planned lifespan
NASA reported this week that the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's first mid-course correction burn was so precise -- using only about 40 pounds of hydrazine against a 441-pound budget -- that combined with other savings the mission now has enough propellant for at least 22 years of science operations, more than double its original 10-year design life. Because the observatory launched lighter than its weight limit allowed, engineers were able to fill its tanks to capacity with 290 gallons of hydrazine across 24 thrusters, and officials at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center said the upcoming second correction and orbital insertion are also expected to come in under budget, potentially extending the mission's life even further. Roman is expected to survey the sky far beyond its planned decade, dramatically increasing the scientific return per dollar spent on the telescope.
Read more →NASA's Roman Space Telescope now carries enough fuel for at least 22 years, more than double its planned lifespan
NASA reported this week that the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's first mid-course correction burn was so precise -- using only about 40 pounds of hydrazine against a 441-pound budget -- that combined with other savings the mission now has enough propellant for at least 22 years of science operations, more than double its original 10-year design life. Because the observatory launched lighter than its weight limit allowed, engineers were able to fill its tanks to capacity with 290 gallons of hydrazine across 24 thrusters, and officials at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center said the upcoming second correction and orbital insertion are also expected to come in under budget, potentially extending the mission's life even further. Roman is expected to survey the sky far beyond its planned decade, dramatically increasing the scientific return per dollar spent on the telescope.
Scientists discover 'DARE cells' that survive programmed death to rapidly rebuild damaged tissue
Researchers at Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science reported this week the discovery of a population of cells, dubbed DARE cells, that begin the process of programmed cell death, survive it, and then multiply rapidly to help rebuild severely damaged tissue -- replenishing nearly half of the injury within 48 hours in experiments on fruit fly larvae. The cells work by activating an initiator caspase, an enzyme that normally signals a cell to self-destruct, while a molecular motor protein tethers it to the cell membrane rather than letting it trigger death, and their descendants become notably more resistant to future damage. Published in Nature Communications, the findings solve a long-standing puzzle about how tissue regenerates after extensive injury and open a potential new avenue for improving wound healing and regenerative medicine.
Read more →Scientists discover 'DARE cells' that survive programmed death to rapidly rebuild damaged tissue
Researchers at Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science reported this week the discovery of a population of cells, dubbed DARE cells, that begin the process of programmed cell death, survive it, and then multiply rapidly to help rebuild severely damaged tissue -- replenishing nearly half of the injury within 48 hours in experiments on fruit fly larvae. The cells work by activating an initiator caspase, an enzyme that normally signals a cell to self-destruct, while a molecular motor protein tethers it to the cell membrane rather than letting it trigger death, and their descendants become notably more resistant to future damage. Published in Nature Communications, the findings solve a long-standing puzzle about how tissue regenerates after extensive injury and open a potential new avenue for improving wound healing and regenerative medicine.
Restoring a single brain protein reverses signs of aging in older mice
Researchers led by Lige Leng found that levels of the protein Menin decline sharply with age in the hypothalamus, a deep brain region that governs metabolism and hormone balance, and that this drop drives inflammation, memory problems, weaker bones and thinning skin. In a study reported September 18, 2026, engineering younger mice to produce less Menin caused them to develop those same aging-related changes early and shortened their lifespans -- but restoring Menin in already-old mice reversed several of the effects within just thirty days, and the amino acid D-serine separately improved their cognition. The results point to Menin and D-serine as promising new targets for future therapies aimed at healthy aging in humans, though researchers caution the work so far has only been demonstrated in mice.
Read more →Restoring a single brain protein reverses signs of aging in older mice
Researchers led by Lige Leng found that levels of the protein Menin decline sharply with age in the hypothalamus, a deep brain region that governs metabolism and hormone balance, and that this drop drives inflammation, memory problems, weaker bones and thinning skin. In a study reported September 18, 2026, engineering younger mice to produce less Menin caused them to develop those same aging-related changes early and shortened their lifespans -- but restoring Menin in already-old mice reversed several of the effects within just thirty days, and the amino acid D-serine separately improved their cognition. The results point to Menin and D-serine as promising new targets for future therapies aimed at healthy aging in humans, though researchers caution the work so far has only been demonstrated in mice.
China's solar power capacity overtakes coal for the first time
China's National Energy Administration reported that the country's installed solar power capacity reached 1.286 billion kilowatts by the end of July 2026, edging past coal-fired capacity of 1.285 billion kilowatts and making solar the largest single source of power-generating capacity in China for the first time, a milestone reported September 1, 2026. Solar now accounts for 31.5% of China's total installed generation capacity, with solar electricity output up 15.5% year-on-year in the first seven months of the year. While coal plants still generate more actual electricity because they run more consistently than intermittent solar, the crossover in installed capacity marks a symbolic turning point for the world's largest carbon emitter and a sign of how fast its renewable buildout has accelerated.
Read more →China's solar power capacity overtakes coal for the first time
China's National Energy Administration reported that the country's installed solar power capacity reached 1.286 billion kilowatts by the end of July 2026, edging past coal-fired capacity of 1.285 billion kilowatts and making solar the largest single source of power-generating capacity in China for the first time, a milestone reported September 1, 2026. Solar now accounts for 31.5% of China's total installed generation capacity, with solar electricity output up 15.5% year-on-year in the first seven months of the year. While coal plants still generate more actual electricity because they run more consistently than intermittent solar, the crossover in installed capacity marks a symbolic turning point for the world's largest carbon emitter and a sign of how fast its renewable buildout has accelerated.