Feature: Breaking the Cancer-Obesity Link

By Stephen D. Hursting, Ciara H. O’Flanagan and Laura W. Bowers

Obese people are at higher risk for developing cancer, have worse prognoses once diagnosed, and are often resistant to chemotherapy regimens. The question is, Why?

Fat Saps Muscle

By Tracy Vence

The accumulation of fat within skeletal muscle, as happens with obesity, diminishes muscle performance.

Exploring the Inner Universe

By Ashley P. Taylor

A new American Museum of Natural History exhibit introduces visitors to the microbes within their bodies.

Blood Cell Development Reimagined

By Bob Grant

A new study is rewriting 50 years of biological dogma by suggesting that mature blood cells develop much more rapidly from stem cells than previously thought.

Gene Editing Treats Leukemia

By Karen Zusi

One-year-old Layla Richards has remained cancer-free months after receiving an experimental gene editing therapy.

Image of the Day

In this Arabidopsis thaliana root tip, calcium ion concentrations in the mitochondria vary from low (blue) to medium (green) to high (red).

A Complex Disorder

Factors that likely contribute include disruptions to intercellular signaling, increased inflammation, and changes to the gut microbiome.

Advances in RNA Characterization: Moving Beyond Traditional Techniques

The Scientist brings together a panel of experts to discuss emerging technologies to detect RNA and analyze its function.