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  • Nicotine Slows Aging in Mice via Metabolic Pathways

    Nicotine Slows Aging in Mice via Metabolic Pathways


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    As global populations age, preserving mobility and metabolic resilience has become a central challenge for healthy aging. Aging is a systemic process marked by energy imbalance and organ‑specific metabolic decline, with motor deterioration emerging as a key component of frailty.


    Nicotine—the principal bioactive compound in tobacco—presents a paradox: smoking accelerates metabolic and cardiovascular disease, yet epidemiological studies suggest lower risks of certain neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease among smokers. Whether nicotine itself can influence aging trajectories has remained unclear.

    Recently, a research team led by Prof. LIU Xin‑An and Prof. CHEN Zuxin at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with collaborators, for the first time, systematically demonstrated that lifelong oral nicotine administration reprograms aging-related systemic metabolism via the sphingolipid–energy metabolic axis and attenuates age-associated motor decline in mice.

    The study was published in Advanced Science on July 28.

    In this study, researchers conducted a 22‑month longitudinal experiment to examine the effects of life‑long oral nicotine exposure in mice. Animals consumed moderate or high doses of highly purified nicotine in drinking water, mimicking plasma concentrations in moderate to heavy human smokers but without combustion byproducts. Researchers combined high‑precision 3D behavioral tracking, multi‑organ metabolomics, gut microbiota sequencing, and cell‑based assays to map nicotine’s systemic effects on aging.

    The researchers discovered that nicotine reprograms aging‑associated metabolism in a dose‑dependent manner, particularly through glycolipid and sphingolipid pathways. These changes enhanced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide availability, limited ceramide accumulation, and improved energy homeostasis—molecular adaptations that correlated with delayed motor decline.

    Longitudinal gut microbiota analysis revealed preserved microbial diversity and the enrichment of sphingolipid‑related metabolites linked to sarcopenia prevention. By integrating behavioral and metabolic profiles, the researchers developed a “Behavior‑Metabolome Age” score, confirming that nicotine‑treated mice displayed a biologically younger phenotype.

    This work provides the first systemic mapping of nicotine‑driven metabolic remodeling during natural aging and identifies a gut–sphingolipid–energy axis underlying motor function resilience. The study delivers three key advances: a life‑long, dose‑dependent assessment of nicotine’s systemic impact; integration of AI-based 3D behavioral and multi‑omics data to quantify biological aging; and mechanistic insight into sphingolipid‑mediated neuromuscular protection.

    The authors note that while oral nicotine in this controlled paradigm avoids combustion‑related toxicants and may pose lower systemic risks than conventional tobacco products, its long‑term safety and complex biological effects warrant careful evaluation. Further, the findings offer a mechanistic framework for evaluating long‑term nicotine exposure and inspire the future development of “non‑addictive cholinergic metabolic modulators” aimed at sustaining mobility and metabolic health in aging populations.

    Building on years of expertise in metabolism, neurobiology, and inhalable materials, the research team will continue systematic, forward‑looking research to uncover the scientific basis and potential value of nicotine and novel aerosolized compounds in aging intervention and metabolic health.

    Reference: Jia S, Jing X, Wang R, et al. Nicotine reprograms aging-related metabolism and protects against motor decline in mice. Adv Sci. 2025. doi: 10.1002/advs.202415311

    This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source. Our press release publishing policy can be accessed here.

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  • Breetzke, Stubbs star as South Africa post 277 in 2nd Australia ODI – France 24

    1. Breetzke, Stubbs star as South Africa post 277 in 2nd Australia ODI  France 24
    2. Ngidi takes five, Breetzke, Stubbs shine as South Africa claim series 2-0  ESPNcricinfo
    3. As it happened: Proteas romp to unassailable 2-0 series lead  Cricket.com.au
    4. Ngidi’s five gives SA fifth consecutive ODI series win vs Australia  Cricbuzz.com
    5. Maharaj reacts to reclaiming top spot in ODI Bowler Rankings  ICC

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  • Bionomics of the primary arbovirus vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in southeastern Benin | Tropical Medicine and Health

    Bionomics of the primary arbovirus vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in southeastern Benin | Tropical Medicine and Health

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  • Brent Hinds, former Mastodon lead guitarist, dies in motorcycle crash – The Irish Times

    Brent Hinds, former Mastodon lead guitarist, dies in motorcycle crash – The Irish Times

    Brent Hinds, the former lead guitarist of the acclaimed heavy metal group Mastodon, was killed in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday night.

    Police said Hinds (51) died after his Harley-Davidson collided with a BMW SUV whose driver did not yield while making a turn. The crash occurred at about 11.35pm.

    The Fulton county medical examiner’s office later confirmed his death.

    Hinds co-founded Mastodon in 2000 alongside bassist Troy Sanders, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer Brann Dailor, and went on to gain recognition for his role in the Atlanta-based band.

    In a statement posted to Instagram, Mastodon said they were in a “state of unfathomable sadness and grief”.

    “We are heartbroken, shocked, and still trying to process the loss of this creative force with whom we’ve shared so many triumphs, milestones, and the creation of music that has touched the hearts of so many,” the band wrote. “Our hearts are with Brent’s family, friends, and fans. At this time, we please ask that you respect everyone’s privacy during this difficult time.”

    Earlier this year, Billboard reported that Mastodon and Hinds had “mutually decided to part ways”. But earlier this month, Hinds disputed that account, saying he was forced out and referring to his ex-bandmates as “horrible humans”.

    Mastodon released their debut album, Remission, in 2002. Their hardcore sound that combined prog-rock, alternative and grunge among other styles quickly caught the attention of heavy metal fans, and their follow-up record, Leviathan, elevated the group to the metal music mainstream.

    Despite the group’s heavy metal influences, Hinds told the Guardian back in 2009 that he felt the band were more classic rock than metal. “That’s the direction I’ve always wanted us to take,” he said. “I never wanted us to be this screaming, lumbering, lotsa-drum-solos band, I always wanted us to be this heavy, psychedelic thing.”

    Hinds also had a small foray into television when he, along with his former band members, made a brief appearance on the popular HBO series Game of Thrones as “wildings” in the show’s fifth season. – Guardian

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  • Ozone recovery could trigger 40% more global warming than predicted

    Ozone recovery could trigger 40% more global warming than predicted

    The world will warm more than expected due to future changes in ozone, which protects Earth from harmful sun rays but also traps heat as it is a greenhouse gas.

    While banning ozone-destroying gases such as CFCs has helped the ozone layer to recover, when combined with increased air pollution the impact of ozone could warm the planet 40% more than originally thought.

    A new study led by the University of Reading found that from 2015 to 2050, ozone is expected to cause 0.27 watts per square meter (Wm⁻²) of extra warming. This figure — which measures how much extra energy gets trapped per square metre of Earth’s surface — would make ozone the second largest contributor to future warming by 2050 after carbon dioxide (1.75 Wm⁻² of extra warming).

    Professor Bill Collins, lead author from the University of Reading, said: “Countries are doing the right thing by continuing to ban chemicals called CFCs and HCFCs that damage the ozone layer above Earth. However, while this helps repair the protective ozone layer, we have found that this recovery in ozone will warm the planet more than we originally thought.

    “Air pollution from vehicles, factories and power plants also creates ozone near the ground, causing health problems and warming the planet.”

    Simulating the atmosphere

    The research, published on August 21 in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, used computer models to simulate how the atmosphere will change by the middle of the century. The models followed a scenario with low implementation of air pollution controls, but with CFCs and HCFCs being phased out as mandated by the Montreal Protocol (1987).

    The findings show that stopping CFC and HCFC production — done mainly to protect the ozone layer — provides less climate benefit than previously calculated. CFCs and HCFCs are greenhouse gases that warm the planet. Countries banned them to save the ozone layer, expecting this would also help fight climate change. But as the ozone layer heals, it creates more warming that cancels out most of the climate benefits from removing CFCs and HCFCs.

    Countries that reduce air pollution will limit some ozone formation near the ground. However, the ozone layer will continue repairing itself for decades regardless of air quality policies, creating unavoidable warming.

    Protecting the ozone layer remains crucial for human health and preventing skin cancer. The ozone layer shields Earth from dangerous ultraviolet radiation that can harm people, animals and plants. However, the research suggests climate policies need updating to account for ozone’s larger warming effect.

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  • Ericsson and partners launch Sweden-focused Sferical AI – Ericsson

    1. Ericsson and partners launch Sweden-focused Sferical AI  Ericsson
    2. Sweden’s Wallenberg groups launch joint AI company  CNA
    3. AstraZeneca, Ericsson, Saab, SEB, and Wallenberg Investments launch the company Sferical AI  MarketScreener
    4. Sweden’s Wallenberg companies to launch joint AI company  TradingView

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  • Nvidia pulls plug on China-only H20 GPU

    Nvidia pulls plug on China-only H20 GPU

    Nvidia backs away as Chinese market turns sour

    Nvidia appears to be winding down its H20 GPU line for China, as the economic and political winds continue to blow straight in its face.

    The chipmaker has reportedly told component suppliers to stop work on the region-specific GPU, suggesting even Jensen Huang sees little point in flogging a dead silicon horse.

    The H20 was supposed to be a workaround for US export restrictions, offering cut-down AI performance that kept Washington happy while still letting Nvidia tap into China’s monster market.

    That plan went sideways after the Trump administration tightened licensing rules earlier this year, forcing Nvidia to write off $4.5 billion in inventory and chuck an $8 billion revenue opportunity in the bin.

    After a temporary truce allowed shipments to resume in exchange for a 15 per cent sales haircut, it now looks like Nvidia has had enough. According to The Information, the company has asked suppliers to halt production work on the H20.

    Nvidia pulled in 13 per cent of its total sales from China last fiscal year, worth about $17 billion. It once boasted that its annual revenue opportunity in China was north of $50 billion, but that figure now looks like a fever dream.

    Part of the reason is that Beijing isn’t playing nice either. The Chinese politburo, increasingly spooked by talk of tech dependency and backdoor spyware, has started leaning on domestic firms to ditch Nvidia. There’s even talk of outright bans on H20 purchases, with officials pushing for home-grown alternatives no matter how wobbly they are.

    In the meantime, Nvidia is prepping a B30 chip to replace the doomed H20. But whether it can win back the world’s second-largest economy after this mess is anyone’s guess.


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  • PCB Hires One of the Biggest Audit Firms to Shape PSL’s Multi-Billion Rupee Future

    PCB Hires One of the Biggest Audit Firms to Shape PSL’s Multi-Billion Rupee Future

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has turned to one of the world’s leading audit firms to address one of the most pressing matters in Pakistan Super League (PSL) history: the long‑delayed franchise valuation.

    According to Saleem Khaliq, the PCB has formally commissioned Ernst & Young (EY), one of the Big Four accounting firms, to carry out a comprehensive audit of the league’s six franchises—a process that will not only determine renewal fees for existing teams but also set the financial base for two new entrants. The move will shape the PSL’s commercial future for at least the next decade.

    The PCB had already set the wheels in motion for a potential valuation of the PSL’s commercial assets, but progress had been slow until recently.

    The audit work of the PSL is expected to begin next month, with EY reportedly given six weeks by the PCB to complete the process. The final report is due in October, and early indications suggest it may propose at least a 25% hike in franchise fees, which have remained unchanged since the league’s inception in 2015.

    For the audit, EY will collect financial data from both the PCB and the franchises. While teams are not legally bound to disclose their full accounts, withholding information could backfire, as the auditors would then rely on estimates—possibly undervaluing the franchises’ actual contributions.

    There are also lingering concerns over the league’s broader operations. Insiders point out that several key commercial agreements are still pending, and the schedule for the PSL’s 11th edition has yet to be finalized, despite repeated assurances from PCB Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer.

    Still, the valuation exercise is viewed as a necessary reset. Once complete, it will lay the foundation not only for renewing contracts with existing franchises but also for expanding the league—something that could elevate the PSL’s profile in the global cricket market and strengthen its financial base.

    For fans and stakeholders alike, October’s report may prove to be one of the most significant documents in the PCB and PSL’s history.


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  • Remote Message Deletion Now Available in Google Messages

    Remote Message Deletion Now Available in Google Messages

    Google Messages now lets users remove sent messages from other phones when the chat uses RCS. The option appears after a long press. Users will see ‘Delete For Everyone’, which removes the message for every participant in the chat. The previous option only removed the message from the local device.

    Remote message deletion works when both sender and recipient use RCS-compatible apps and networks. The feature will not affect legacy SMS threads or unsupported apps.

    Google rolled out the feature to testers earlier this year, and it is now widening to more users. The change reduces the risk of an accidental message causing harm.

    RCS brings modern messaging features such as typing indicators, high-resolution media group chats, reactions, GIFs, and stickers. RCS also supports richer delivery receipts. The new ‘Delete For Everyone’ feature aligns with other tools that let users correct mistakes after sending messages.

    The implementation of remote message deletion can be based on the RCS Universal Profile or on Google-specific extensions. Future compatibility with other devices, including some that run other operating systems, is probable since it uses the Universal Profile. That would make the feature work across more phones.

    Users should update Google Messages to the latest version and check their chat status to confirm RCS is active. The users can switch chat features on and off, or contact their carrier, when the feature fails. There is also the possibility that some messages to be kept by any receiver after deletion of the messages via forwarding.

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