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  • Lipid Receptor Checkpoint Found to Drive T-Cell Exhaustion – Inside Precision Medicine

    1. Lipid Receptor Checkpoint Found to Drive T-Cell Exhaustion  Inside Precision Medicine
    2. Lipids rewire T cell exhaustion  nature.com
    3. Newly discovered target may re-energize exhausted immune cells in the fight against cancer  News-Medical
    4. The prostacyclin receptor PTGIR is a NRF2-dependent regulator of CD8  nature.com

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  • Ancient Life Locked Arsenic Away To Survive Environmental Changes

    Ancient Life Locked Arsenic Away To Survive Environmental Changes

    A 3D image obtained by X-ray microtomography of a macroscopic multicellular organism dated to 2.1 billion years ago (Francevillian Basin, Gabon). Scale bar = 1 cm. Credit Arnaud Mazurier and Abderrazak El Albani.

    Earth’s earliest life forms developed ways to survive the harmful effects of arsenic to cope with dramatic changes in their environment, a new study suggests.

    The researchers found the complex life forms, called eukaryotes, stored arsenic inside special compartments within their cells, a strategy that helped neutralise the toxic poison.

    Using advanced X-ray technology, the international team was able to detect and map arsenic within 2.1-billion-year-old fossils from the Francevillian Basin in Gabon.

    The arsenic found in the fossils was not due to later contamination but part of a biological response to environmental stress, according to the team.

    a Lobate fossil with imprint showing dispersed pyrite grains at the radial fabrics (RF) and coagulated pyrite towards the dome (D) (b). c Elongate fossil (E) in a matrix (M) with imprint surrounded by bacterial mat33 showing mainly coagulated pyrite crystals (d). e Tubular fossil (T) having an ovoid diameter filled with coagulated pyrite in a matrix (M) (f). g Pyritized abiotic concretion (C) found in the same location and containing massive pyrite (h). The diameter of the coin in (g) is 3.6 cm. Scanning electron microscope is used in back-scattered electron mode in b, d, f and h. It shows pyrite grains filling the specimens in a vertical transect — Nature Communications.

    This is revealed by distinct patterns formed from the arsenic preservation process in the fossils when compared to structures left by non-living mineral structures; it is further evidence the fossils were once complex living organisms with more advanced cells, they argue.

    Their study, published in Nature Communications, reshapes current understandings of how early life faced environmental challenges, highlighting the critical role adaptation played in the evolution of life.

    “The ability to cope with arsenic was not something eukaryotes developed randomly,” said Dr Ernest Chi Fru, one of the paper’s co-authors and Reader at Cardiff University’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

    “It coincided with a period of significant environmental change, when oxygen levels in the Earth’s atmosphere first rose. This increase in oxygen also led to a rise in arsenate, a particularly toxic form of arsenic which competes with phosphate, a vital nutrient for all life, making Earth’s oceans a dangerous place.”

    a Oxidized As—arsenate or As5+ (red dots) is released into the ocean by the chemical and oxidative weathering of the continental crust. b During life, As enters the cell, and is detoxified first by reduction to As3+ (c) then extruded by cell membrane transporters or sequestered in intracellular compartments (d). e After death and burial, As is released from intracellular bodies into a localized reduced environment rich in iron (purple dots) where sulfate (green dots) is reduced to sulfides (yellow dots). f Pyrite is formed by microbial sulfate reduction with As acting as a catalyzer of pyrite nucleation. g Arsenic is rapidly consumed in low environmental concentrations. h Pyrite growth led to As depletion away from the core — Nature Communications.

    The study builds on the team’s previous work on the 2.1-billion-year-old Francevillian biota, which they argue appeared after a local underwater volcanic event brought a sudden surge of nutrients into a small, enclosed sea.

    This nutrient boost helped these early life forms thrive locally, according to the team led by Université de Poitiers and Cardiff University.

    Dr Chi Fru added: “We looked at the evolution of arsenic in the Francevillian basin’s seawater before and after the fossils. It was actually quite low in arsenic concentration at the time when these primitive eukaryotes evolved, leading us to think they should have lived there quite happily.

    “However, the surprisingly high levels of arsenic stored in their bodies, revealed in our analysis, suggest that they were extremely sensitive to even low levels of arsenic in seawater.”

    These organisms later became extinct when volcanic activity returned to the area, and oxygen levels in the seawater dropped, according to the team.

    They say their disappearance suggests the ability of complex life to protect itself from toxic substances like arsenic, by safely storing it inside cells, may have evolved more than once in Earth’s history.

    “All living things have ways to protect themselves from arsenic, which is toxic to life,” Dr Chi Fru said.

    “In the ocean, tiny plankton near the surface — the same ones that make about half the oxygen in the air we breathe — are always working to get rid of arsenic from their bodies. They can’t avoid it because arsenic is naturally in the water, and their cells can’t easily tell the difference between arsenate and phosphate, a nutrient they actually need. This was true even in ancient times, just like it is today.

    “We know these ancient organisms went extinct, so the way modern life handles arsenic didn’t come directly from them.”

    The paper, ‘A battle against arsenic toxicity by Earth’s earliest complex life forms’, is published in Nature Communications. (open access)

    Astrobiology

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  • Tinder Users Must Start Logging In With Their Faces

    Tinder Users Must Start Logging In With Their Faces

    California Tinder users will find a new feature when they open up the dating app on July 7: A mandatory Face Check on their phones will be required before they can log into their profiles. 

    The Face Check step will begin with a new request to record a video of your face, a more casual version of setting up Apple’s Face ID login. Tinder will then run checks comparing your face data to your current profile pics and automatically create a small face badge for your profile. We know just how it works, because Tinder has already launched the feature in Canada and Colombia.

    The technology, powered by FaceTec, will keep biometric data of the user’s face in encrypted form but discard the scanning video for privacy. Tinder will be able to use the face data to detect duplicate accounts, in an effort to cut down on fake profiles and identity theft.  

    Tinder’s facial recognition rollout is also made to prevent catfishing, or people pretending to be someone else on Tinder to scam or blackmail them. But that also points to a deeper problem on the rise in dating apps — a growing number of bots, many controlled by AI, are designed to glean personal information or fool users into scammy subscriptions, among other problems. 

    Tinder app shots showing photo verification test photos.

    Don’t confuse the more in-depth Face Check with the earlier Tinder photo verification feature.

    Tinder

    Tinder’s working against these bots on several fronts, including this Face Check push as well as ID Check, which requires a government-issued ID and other types of photo verification. 

    There’s no word yet on when Face Check will move beyond California. 

    The dating app also recently released a feature in June to enable double-dating with your friends, which Tinder reports is especially popular with Gen Z users. If you’re worried about the latest hazards on Tinder, we have guide to safety practices. 

    A representative for Tinder did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 


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  • The Best Color-Changing pH Lip Balms and Lip Oils, Tested by Editors

    The Best Color-Changing pH Lip Balms and Lip Oils, Tested by Editors

    If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, WWD may receive an affiliate commission.

    In this article

    Top Color-changing Lip Products of 2025

    There’s a particular kind of magic in watching a sheer lip product morph into your perfect pink — especially when it happens in real time, on your own smile. That might be why color-changing lip oils, balms, and glosses have surged in popularity in the last year, crowding both social media feeds and Sephora’s new releases landing page.

    Take, for instance, the viral moment when Sabrina Carpenter swiped on Prada’s Moisturizing Lip Balm in Astral Pink in a TikTok video last June that’s since been viewed over 50 million times. The tinted lip balm‘s cameo caused it to sell out in short order, creating a new level of demand for a cosmetic category that isn’t exactly new (beauty historians will recall brands like Tangee releasing 1.0 versions of pH lip balms nearly a century ago).

    Much of the modern-day appeal lies in the transformation itself. Color-changing lip glosses, balms, and lip oils are inherently satisfying to watch — especially on platforms like TikTok, where visual payoff is everything. But beyond the aesthetic thrill, these products promise a more personalized experience.

    At their core, color-changing lip products rely on pH-reactive technology: In basic terms, these formulas contain ingredients that adjust their hue based on the natural acidity of your skin. The result? A just-for-you tint that’s designed to be bespoke to you — at least in theory. In practice, most pH lip balms and oils tend to skew toward the shade of a cool-toned pink lipstick. The differentiator, then, becomes texture, shine, and overall feel.

    We tested over a dozen of the most talked-about options to find the best pH lip balm formulas on the market. Whether you’re after a high-shine gloss that changes color with your pH, a juicy lip oil that delivers sheer color and serious moisture, or something in between, these three picks stood out for their finish, wear, and just-right flush.

    Sign up for WWD Shop’s newsletter to get the scoop on the best in beauty and style with in-depth reviews of exciting new releases and buyer’s guides to find the products you need to try ASAP.

    Prada Moisturizing Lip Balm in 001 Astral Pink

    Two WWD Shop editors swear by Prada’s lip color collection — we rate the products as luxury beauty accessories that are well worth the investment for their packaging, shade range, and lip-softening formulation.

    This Prada pH lip balm is one of the subtler color-changing products you can find on the market, in a good way. Rather than overpowering your pout in a fuchsia color, it acts as more of a filter on the lips that blurs fine lines and adds a touch of oomph to your natural lip color.

    Price upon publish date of this article: $50

    Tirtir color changing lip balm

    TirTir Water Mellow Lip Balm in 01 Icy Blue

    A low-stakes entry point to the color-changing lip balm category, TirTir’s Water Mellow Lip Balm is the best affordable pH lip treatment we tested. Where some color-changing balms take a few seconds to fully transform on your lips, this one creates a custom tint immediately upon application — one that errs on the punchy-pink side, if you opt for our favorite Icy Blue shade (shown). Our testers found that the product requires a few swipes for even application, but otherwise, you’d never know that it’s priced under $20.

    Price upon publish date of this article: $15

    WWD Shop writer tests TirTir's color-changing lip balm

    WWD/ Claire Sullivan

    Tarte color changing lip balm

    Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip pH Powered Plumping Shift Lip Balm

    For max shine and staying power, go with Tarte’s color-changing lip treatment. The product gives the juicy finish of a great gloss while subtly plumping your lips — and the custom color you’ll get is more pigmented than similar ones we tried. Our testers found that the tint could last for a full three hours without needing a touch-up; after that, an additional swipe is helpful to facilitate even fading.

    Price upon publish date of this article: $27

    WWD Shop writer Claire Sullivan test Tarte's color-changing lip balm



    More pH Lip Balms & Lip Oils to Try

    Milk Makeup color changing lip balm

    Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint in Phreeze

    Our editors love the watercolor effect of Milk Makeup’s Cooling Water Jelly Tints — rather than color that you need to carefully apply, you can be generous with the product’s application and blend it with a makeup sponge or clean fingertips for a flawless flush of color. The color-changing Phreeze shade starts out as a coral peach then fades to a cool-toned pink in a few seconds. Slough your smile with a lip scrub before using it for best results.

    Price upon publish date of this article: $24

    Winky Lux color changing lip balm

    Winky Lux Flower Balm

    Another affordable pick for those who want to test out a pH lip balm without a huge commitment, Winky Lux’s Flower Balm is a favorite, available in three translucent shades that shift pink upon application. We found it to be best for a touch of color, but don’t expect anything transformative in terms of hydration or shine.

    Price upon publish date of this article: $17

    Haus Labs color changing lip balm

    Haus Labs Phd Hybrid Lip Oil

    While we found pH lip balms to be easiest to apply, Haus Labs makes the best color changing lip oil for those who prefer a syrupy, silky texture without a lick of stickiness. The product is one of few in its category that actually nourishes the lips, too, courtesy of its softening prickly pear oil.

    Price upon publish date of this article: $26



    Why Trust WWD

    Since 1910, WWD — often referred to as “the fashion bible” — has been the leading industry voice of authority for senior executives in the global women’s and men’s fashion, retail and beauty communities, while also informing the consumer media that cover the market. Today, WWD’s breaking news and trend coverage continues to be a trustworthy resource for both fashion insiders and consumers alike. Our shopping editors continue to uphold WWD’s editorial standards and values with quality, expert-backed product selections. Learn more about us here.



    Meet the Author

    Claire Sullivan is a contributing commerce editor for WWD and Footwear News, where she writes and edits beauty, fashion, and lifestyle stories. She has over eight years of experience as a writer and editor for national media outlets including Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. She’s tested hundreds of products during her time as an editor, so she’s well-versed in selecting the products that make a meaningful difference in your skin and hair. Sullivan contributed to product testing and reporting to write this article on the best color-changing lip balms and oils.


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  • 3 Things You Should Know About Targeting NRG1 and Rare Drivers in Pancreatic Cancer

    3 Things You Should Know About Targeting NRG1 and Rare Drivers in Pancreatic Cancer

    RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2025
    EXPIRATION DATE: June 1, 2026

    LEARNING OBJECTIVES

    Upon successful completion of this activity, you should be better prepared to:

    • Evaluate the role of mutations in NRG1 and other genetic alterations in diagnosis and management.

    • Discuss current guidelines and treatment recommendations for the management of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

    • Analyze clinical trial data to inform the selection of emerging therapeutic agents for advanced pancreatic cancer.

    • Apply strategies to optimize molecular testing algorithms using diverse testing modalities in advanced pancreatic cancer.

    Accreditation/Credit Designation

    Physicians’ Education Resource®, LLC, is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    Physicians’ Education Resource®, LLC, designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

    Acknowledgment of commercial support

    This activity is supported by an educational grant from Partner Therapeutics, Inc.

    Off-label disclosure/disclaimer

    This activity may or may not discuss investigational, unapproved, or off-label use of drugs. Learners are advised to consult prescribing information for any products discussed. The information provided in this activity is for accredited continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent clinical judgment of a health care professional relative to diagnostic, treatment, or management options for a specific patient’s medical condition. The opinions expressed in the content are solely those of the individual faculty members and do not reflect those of PER® or any company that provided commercial support for this activity.

    Instructions for participation/how to receive credit

    1. Read this activity in its entirety.

    2. Go to https://www.gotoper.com/annual-oncology-meeting-25-nrg1-postref to access and complete the posttest.

    3. Answer the evaluation questions.

    4. Request credit using the drop-down menu.

    YOU MAY IMMEDIATELY DOWNLOAD YOUR CERTIFICATE.

    To date, 32 genes have been identified as frequently mutated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).1 However, less than 10% of patients are eligible for an FDA-approved targeted therapy, highlighting the need for the development of novel therapeutics.2 Here are 3 things you should know about molecular testing and personalized strategies in pancreatic cancer.

    1 RNA testing is critical to identify actionable gene fusions in PDAC.

    NCCN guidelines recommend tumor molecular profiling in cases of metastatic PDAC.3 RNA-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) is preferred to DNA-based NGS for detecting fusions in genes like ALK, NRG1, NTRK, ROS1, FGFR2, and RET. These fusions are enriched in the 5% to 10% of patients with KRAS wild-type PDAC, a molecular profile more often found in patients younger than 50 years.4 NGS using tumor tissue is preferred to blood-based assays, according to NCCN guidelines.3 Liquid biopsy can be performed concurrently with tissue testing or used when adequate tissue is unavailable.

    RNA-based NGS can detect structural variants of gene fusions, which may inform the potential efficacy of targeted therapies.5 Since RNA sequencing encompasses only exons after splicing, this technique can overcome the technical challenges of excessive sequencing or misaligned reads when DNA-based NGS is used on genes with long or repetitive introns (Figure 1).6 In a heterogeneous tumor in which the gene fusion is present only in some cells, RNA-based NGS can detect the alteration if it is highly expressed.

    FIGURE 1.RNA-based NGS May Overcome Limitations of DNA-Based Testing6

    2 The first NRG1-targeted therapy is approved for advanced or metastatic PDAC.

    NRG1 fusions are found in approximately 1% of solid tumors, most commonly in patients with mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung and KRAS wild-type PDAC.7 These altered proteins consist of the EGF-like domain of NRG1 attached to the transmembrane domain of various fusion partners. This construct enables constitutive binding and activation of the HER3 receptor, activating RAS and the MAPK and PI3K signaling pathways.

    Zenocutuzumab is a HER2×HER3 bispecific antibody that inhibits NRG1 binding.8 In the phase 1/2 eNRGy trial (NCT02912949), zenocutuzumab demonstrated an overall response rate (ORR) of 30% (95% CI, 23%-37%) in 158 patients of all tumor types with NRG1 fusions.9 The response rate in 33 patients with PDAC was 42.4% (95% CI, 25.5%-60.8%), including 1 complete response and 13 partial responses (Figure 2).10 The median progression-free survival in the overall population was 6.8 months (95% CI, 5.5-9.1 months).9 The most common treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were diarrhea (18%), fatigue (12%), and nausea (11%). Infusion-related reactions occurred in 14% of patients. Based on results from the eNRGy study, zenocutuzumab received accelerated approval from the FDA as a second-line systemic therapy to treat advanced, unresectable, or metastatic PDAC harboring an NRG1 gene fusion.11

    FIGURE 2. Response to an NRG1 Inhibitor in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma10

    3 Ongoing investigations are evaluating numerous other emerging targets of interest.

    In addition to NRG1 fusions, 38.5% of KRAS wild-type PDAC tumors harbor other genetic alterations, including FGFR2 or FGFR3 fusions, ERBB2 (HER2) amplification, BRAF mutations, and RET fusions.4 Erdafitinib demonstrated an ORR of 30% (95% CI, 24%-36%) in patients of different tumor types harboring FGFR alterations in the single-arm, phase 2 RAGNAR trial (NCT04083976).12 The ORR was 56% in patients with PDAC.

    Combination dabrafenib and trametinib produced an ORR of 38% (95% CI, 22.9%-54.9%) in patients with solid tumors, lymphomas, or multiple myeloma whose tumors harbored a BRAF V600 mutation in the single-arm NCI-MATCH trial subprotocol H (NCT02465060).13 Of the 27 evaluable patients, the 1 patient with PDAC achieved stable disease. Combined use of dabrafenib and trametinib received accelerated approval to treat patients with unresectable or metastatic solid tumors, including PDAC, that harbor BRAF V600E mutations and who have progressed following prior treatment.14

    Selpercatinib yielded an ORR of 43.9% (95% CI, 28.5%-60.3%) in patients with RET fusion-positive non-lung and non-thyroid solid tumors in the phase 1/2 LIBRETTO-001 basket trial (NCT03157128).15 The ORR was 44% in patients with PDAC. Selpercatinib received accelerated approval to treat adults with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors, including PDAC, that harbor a RET gene fusion and who have progressed following prior treatment.16

    The HER2-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (T-DXd) has not provided as much benefit in patients with PDAC. In the phase 2 DESTINY-PanTumor02 trial (NCT04482309) in patients with solid tumors overexpressing HER2 (immunohistochemistry [IHC], 3+ or 2+), the ORR was 37.1% (95% CI, 31.3%-43.2%) across all cohorts, but only 4.0% (95% CI, 0.1%-20.4%) in those with PDAC.17 Further investigation would be required to determine why this disease type is particularly resistant to T-DXd, but this agent is still approved for HER2 IHC 3+ PDAC under the tissue agnostic approval.

    The TP53 Y220C mutation is the target of the first-in-class p53 reactivator PC14586.18 In the phase 1 portion of the phase 1/2 PYNNACLE trial (NCT04585750) at the highest dose of PC14586, the ORR was 46.2%. In 6 patients with PDAC, 4 achieved stable disease, and 1 achieved an unconfirmed partial response.

    Claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2) is an emerging actionable target in many cancers, including PDAC.19 Therapeutics with various mechanisms of action are under investigation to exploit this target. IBI389 is a CLDN18.2×CD3 bispecific antibody evaluated in a phase 1 study (NCT05164458) in 64 previously-treated patients with CLDN18.2-positive PDAC.20 The ORR was 30.4% (95% CI, 13.2%-52.9%), and the disease control rate was 69.6% (95% CI, 47.1%-86.8%). TRAEs of grade 3 or greater were reported in 54.7% of patients. Treatment was discontinued in 4.7% of patients due to TRAEs. Cytokine release syndrome is an AE of particular concern with IBI389, with grade 1 or 2 events occurring in 51.6% of patients.

    Zolbetuximab is an anti-CLDN18.2 monoclonal antibody being tested against several tumor types and will be assessed in combination with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel (GN) vs GN alone as first-line therapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer in a phase 2 study (NCT03816163).21 The primary end point is overall survival.

    Key References

    4. Singhi AD, George B, Greenbowe JR, et al. Real-time targeted genome profile analysis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas identifies genetic alterations that might be targeted with existing drugs or used as biomarkers. Gastroenterol. 2019;156(8):2242-2253.e4. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2019.02.037

    6. Davies KD, Aisner DL. Wake up and smell the fusions: single-modality molecular testing misses drivers. Clin Cancer Res. 2019;25(15):4586-4588. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.Ccr-19-1361

    9. Schram AM, Goto K, Kim DW, et al. Efficacy of zenocutuzumab in NRG1 fusion-positive cancer. N Engl J Med. 2025;392(6):566-576. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2405008

    For FULL References List, visit https://www.gotoper.com/annual-oncology-meeting-25-nrg1-postref

    CME Posttest Questions

    1 A patient is referred to you with a new diagnosis of metastatic
    pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with multiple liver
    metastases. The patient is asymptomatic and has an ECOG perform-
    ance status of 0. Which of the following would be the next best step?

    A. Germline testing for inheritable pathogenic mutations

    B. Germline testing and somatic tissue testing

    C. Somatic tissue testing only

    D. Initiate systemic treatment without further testing

    2 Blockade of which of the following molecules is an active
    treatment approach in tumors with NRG1 fusions?

    A. EGFR

    B. HER3

    C. HER4

    D. NRG1

    3 A patient with metastatic PDAC is referred to you after disease
    progression on FOLFIRINOX. No somatic testing was performed at the time of diagnosis. On further investigation, the tumor has no evidence
    of KRAS mutations but has an ATP1B1-NRG1 fusion. Which of the following therapies would you choose at this time?

    A. Gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel

    B. Zenocutuzumab

    C. Zenocutuzumab plus gemcitabine

    D. Clinical trial of an NRG1 antibody

    Claim Your CME Credit at

    https://www.gotoper.com/annual-oncology-meeting-25-nrg1-postref

    CME Provider Contact information

    Physicians’ Education Resource®, LLC
    2 Commerce Drive, Suite 110, Cranbury, NJ 08512
    Toll-Free: 888-949-0045
    Local: 609-378-3701
    Fax: 609-257-0705
    info@gotoper.com

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  • UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk gravely alarmed by steps to withdraw from anti-personnel mine ban convention – ReliefWeb

    1. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk gravely alarmed by steps to withdraw from anti-personnel mine ban convention  ReliefWeb
    2. Which countries are quitting a key landmine treaty and why?  Dawn
    3. Why is Ukraine withdrawing from the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines?  Al Jazeera
    4. Adhering to bans on mines only in peace time will not work: UN rights chief  UN News
    5. “It’s an Art”: He lost his foot to a Russian mine. Now he walks into traps by hand  Euromaidan Press

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  • Thermal Inertia Controls on Titan’s Surface Temperature and Planetary Boundary Layer Structure

    Thermal Inertia Controls on Titan’s Surface Temperature and Planetary Boundary Layer Structure

    On 15 October 1997, NASA’s Cassini orbiter embarked on an epic, seven-year voyage to the Saturnian system. Hitching a ride was ESA’s Huygens probe, destined for Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. The final chapter of the interplanetary trek for Huygens began on 25 December 2004 when it deployed from the orbiter for a 21-day solo cruise toward the haze-shrouded moon. Plunging into Titan’s atmosphere, on 14 January 2005, the probe survived the hazardous 2 hour 27 minute descent to touch down safely on Titan’s frozen surface. Larger image — ESA

    Understanding Titan’s planetary boundary layer (PBL) — the lowest region of the atmosphere influenced by surface conditions — remains challenging due to Titan’s thick atmosphere and limited observations.

    Previous modeling studies have also produced inconsistent estimates of surface temperature, a critical determinant of PBL behavior, often without clear explanations grounded in surface energy balance.

    In this study, we develop a theoretical framework and apply a three-dimensional dry general circulation model (GCM) to investigate how surface thermal inertia influences surface energy balance and temperature variability across diurnal and seasonal timescales. At diurnal timescales, lower thermal inertia surfaces exhibit larger temperature swings and enhanced sensible heat fluxes due to inefficient subsurface heat conduction.

    In contrast, at seasonal timescales, surface temperature variations show weak sensitivity to thermal inertia, as atmospheric damping tends to dominate over subsurface conduction. The PBL depth ranges from a few hundred meters to 1,000 m on diurnal timescales, while seasonal maxima reach 2,000–3,000 m, supporting the interpretation from a previous study that the Huygens probe captured the two PBL structures.

    Simulated seasonal winds at the Huygens landing site successfully reproduce key observed features, including near-surface retrograde winds and meridional wind reversals within the lowest few kilometers, consistent with Titan’s cross-equatorial Hadley circulation.

    Simulations at the planned Dragonfly landing site predict shallower thermal PBLs with broadly similar wind patterns. This work establishes a physically grounded framework for understanding Titan’s surface temperature and boundary layer variability, and offers a unified explanation of Titan’s PBL behavior that provides improved guidance for future missions.

    Sooman Han, Juan M. Lora

    Comments: 25 pages, 11 figures
    Subjects: Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP); Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics (physics.ao-ph)
    Cite as: arXiv:2506.23477 [astro-ph.EP] (or arXiv:2506.23477v1 [astro-ph.EP] for this version)
    https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2506.23477
    Focus to learn more
    Submission history
    From: Sooman Han
    [v1] Mon, 30 Jun 2025 02:46:00 UTC (6,806 KB)
    https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.23477
    Astrobiology,

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  • The NEID Earth Twin Survey. III. Survey Performance After Three Years on Sky

    The NEID Earth Twin Survey. III. Survey Performance After Three Years on Sky

    Time series of relative FWHM measurements for all NETS stars with multiple nights of data collected prior to August 2021. We observe a sharp decrease in FWHM in August 2021 for all Solar-type stars, and we interpret this as a break in the RV time series necessitating the definition of a new NEID RV era prior to this date. A sharp FWHM change is also observed for HD 95735, an M-dwarf, but this change does not follow that of the other stars, suggesting a chromatic dependence. Though the ∆FWHM time series for HD 170657 and HD 201091 stand out from the other Solartype stars, these variations reflect changing stellar activity levels rather than an instrumental effect. — astro-ph.EP

    The NEID Earth Twin Survey (NETS) has been delivering a rich set of precise radial velocity (RV) measurements for 41 bright, nearby main sequence stars.

    Here, we describe the status of the survey after three years on sky and we present the full set of RV measurements and accompanying stellar activity indicators. We discuss intermediate survey diagnostics, including calibration of the known RV zero point offset introduced following the Contreras fire in 2022 and the identification of an undiagnosed and previously unknown zero point offset in 2021.

    An analysis of our data set using RVSearch demonstrates that for these target stars, NEID is independently sensitive to nearly all known planets with periods shorter than the NETS observing baseline. We also highlight a number of newly detected RV signals, which present exciting opportunities for future investigations.

    Arvind F. Gupta, Evan Fitzmaurice, Suvrath Mahadevan, Paul Robertson, Jacob K. Luhn, Jason T. Wright, Sarah E. Logsdon, Daniel M. Krolikowski, Leonardo A. Paredes, Chad F. Bender, Mark R. Giovinazzi, Andrea S. Lin, Cullen H. Blake, Caleb I. Cañas, Eric B. Ford, Samuel P. Halverson, Shubham Kanodia, Michael W. McElwain, Joe P. Ninan, Jayadev Rajagopal, Arpita Roy, Christian Schwab, Guðmundur Stefánsson, Ryan C. Terrien

    Comments: Submitted to the Astronomical Journal. 27 Pages, 12 Figures (including 5 Figure sets which are included in the source files)
    Subjects: Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP); Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)
    Cite as: arXiv:2506.23704 [astro-ph.EP](or arXiv:2506.23704v1 [astro-ph.EP] for this version)
    https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2506.23704
    Focus to learn more
    Submission history
    From: Arvind Gupta
    [v1] Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:27:04 UTC (14,846 KB)
    https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.23704
    Astrobiology,

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  • US FDA approves Regeneron's blood cancer therapy – Reuters

    1. US FDA approves Regeneron’s blood cancer therapy  Reuters
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  • Govt cuts profit rates for National Savings Schemes

    Govt cuts profit rates for National Savings Schemes

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    ISLAMABAD:

    The federal government has further reduced the profit rates on National Savings Schemes.

    According to the Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS), profit rate on Defence Saving Certificates has been decreased by 15 basis points (bps), from 11.91 per cent to 11.76 per cent.

    The profit rate on Special Saving Certificates has been significantly reduced by 30bps, bringing it down from 10.90 per cent to 10.60 per cent.

    For Islamic Saving Account, the profit rate has been reduced by 59bps, setting the current rate at 9.75 per cent.

    The profit on the Shuhada Family Welfare Account has been reduced by 24bps, and the profit on Regular Income Certificates has also been reduced by 20bps.

    Earlier in May, the CDNS had reduced rates of return on several National Savings Schemes, with cuts up to 100bps.

    The Savings Account rate dropped by 100bps to 9.5 per cent from 10.50 per cent, according to Topline Securities.

    Defence Saving Certificates returns fell by 21bps to 11.91 per cent from 12.12 per cent, while Bahbood Savings Certificates declined by 24bps to 13.44 per cent from 13.68 per cent.

    Rates for Pensioners Benefit Account and Shuhda Family Welfare Account were also lowered by 24bps each, now standing at 13.44 per cent.

    Similarly, Regular Income Certificates returns decreased by 18bps to 11.52 per cent from 11.70 per cent.

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