Unlocking Longevity: Secrets to Living to 117 Years Old

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Maria Branyas Morera’s longevity to 117 years was attributed to a combination of a healthy diet and some genetic advantages. Research indicated that she had genetic variants that help guard against cardiovascular disease and none that heighten the risk of conditions like Alzheimer’s. Additionally, blood tests showed low inflammation markers and strong immune system health. Lifestyle factors also likely played a role in her long life, as noted by physician and study co-author Manel Esteller, who stated, “Our genes are the cards in a poker game. But how we play them is what really matters.”

Nature | 4 min read

Reference: Cell Reports Medicine paper

The US Department of Defense is continuing to fund the development of mRNA vaccines, despite the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently cutting funding for similar research. This funding supports projects that are creating vaccines against the Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever, a serious tick-borne disease. Infectious disease researcher Amesh Adalja noted that while this continued funding is comforting, the HHS’s decision could jeopardize preparedness for new pathogens.

Nature | 6 min read

A unique species of Japanese dogbane (Vincetoxicum nakaianum) has been observed to mimic the scent of injured ants, enticing flies to pollinate it. Botanist Ko Mochizuki discovered that flies flocked to the dogbane, which produces chemicals similar to those in ants’ pheromone SOS signals — marking the first recorded instance of plants imitating ants.

The Guardian | 4 min read

Reference: Current Biology paper

A New York judge has determined that advanced DNA sequencing techniques can be utilized as evidence in a case against an alleged serial killer. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was employed to analyze minute amounts of DNA from hairs found on victims, identifying unique patterns within their genetic sequences. This ruling paves the way for re-evaluating previously deemed insufficient DNA samples in cold cases using WGS.

Nature | 6 min read

Features & Opinion

Nature applied machine-learning tools to replicate how the US National Institutes of Health canceled grants during President Trump’s time and assessed past grants to understand the extensive repercussions. Analyzing around 48,000 NIH grants active in 2014, the algorithm identified 1,287 grants likely to be canceled — representing the potential loss of significant scientific advancements, including essential findings from the Human Microbiome Project.

Nature Index | 11 min read

In the 1970s, pediatric infectious disease expert Carol Baker first raised the alarm about group B streptococcus (GBS) causing stillbirths and infant deaths. Now, fifty years later, a phase III trial is evaluating a vaccine for pregnant women against GBS. If successful, this vaccine could significantly impact public health, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. But the journey has been complex — it took Baker and her team 20 years to develop a viable vaccine, and many years thereafter for pharmaceutical companies to find the market viable for investment.

Science | 15 min read

When physicist Maneesh Jain started his genomics company ParAllele — blending ‘parallel’ with ‘allele’ to reflect its focus on mutations in the human genome — he discovered that catchy names can sometimes confuse. Many callers mistakenly referred to it as “Paralegal.” Materials scientist Julia Carpenter also faced challenges when naming her tech startup, Apheros, drawn from classical inspiration. She found that despite being a made-up term, it was memorable enough for clients to recall.

Nature | 2 min read & Nature | 4 min read

These articles are part of a six-part series where leaders of science-based companies share how they arrived at names that resonate with customers, colleagues, and investors.

As the weekend approaches, I’m excited not just for the break but because this Saturday marks a mathematically unique date. September 27 is a ‘square date’ — written out numerically as 27,092,025, which is a perfect square (its square root is 5205, for those curious).

For those in other parts of the world who might be thinking, “But that’s not how I write the date,” don’t worry — the arrangement 9,272,025 is also a square number, making it a special ‘global square date.’ Be sure to mark your calendars!

While I prepare for the next global square date (New Year’s Day 2036), feel free to send us your thoughts on this newsletter! Your feedback is always appreciated at briefing@nature.com.

Thank you for reading!

Jacob Smith, Associate Editor, Nature Briefing

With contributions from Flora Graham

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