James Gallagher

Penile filler procedures, most commonly using temporary hyaluronic acid, are becoming more popular among men seeking greater girth or improved confidence. Clinics charge up to £3,500 and claim results lasting six to nine months, but the procedures are largely unregulated and can cause soreness, unevenness, infection, vascular damage and skin necrosis. Urological surgeons say evidence from 36 studies involving 3,750 men is insufficient to establish long-term safety and recommend that the industry be regulated, including through a national registry. Some patients report satisfaction, while others have suffered severe complications requiring hospital treatment.

Researchers in the United States used the AI models Evo1 and Evo2 to design complete bacteriophage genomes from scratch. Of 302 promising designs tested in the laboratory, 16 successfully infected and killed E. coli bacteria. The achievement could support new treatments for antibiotic-resistant infections, but experts warn that the same technology could eventually be misused to create harmful pathogens. The researchers limited their work to bacteriophages, excluded viruses capable of infecting complex organisms, and conducted the experiments in a secure laboratory. Further advances would be required for AI to design genuinely living organisms.

US researchers used AI models trained on genetic sequences to design complete bacteriophage genomes, producing 16 functional viruses capable of killing E. coli in laboratory tests. The achievement could support phage therapies against antibiotic-resistant infections and expand AI-assisted drug and genome design. Scientists also warn that the same capabilities could eventually be misused to create harmful viruses, making biosafety and biosecurity safeguards increasingly urgent. The researchers limited their work to bacteria-infecting phages and used a secure laboratory, while noting that designing more complex living organisms remains much more difficult.

US researchers used generative AI models trained on genetic sequences to design complete genomes for bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria. Of 302 synthesized designs, 16 successfully replicated and killed E. coli in laboratory tests, suggesting potential applications in phage therapy against antibiotic-resistant infections. Scientists describe the achievement as a major milestone in synthetic biology, while biosecurity experts warn that the same capabilities could eventually be misused to create harmful viruses. The researchers limited their work to bacteriophages, excluded viruses affecting complex organisms from training data, and conducted the experiments in a secure laboratory.

UK scientists have successfully tested a tetanus-diphtheria vaccine that can be stored as a dry powder at room temperature for a year before being mixed and administered. The approach, developed by Stablepharma with support from the NIHR, uses trehalose, a sugar inspired by resurrection plants, to protect vaccine components from heat and cold. In a 60-person trial, the formulation produced immune responses equivalent to the conventional vaccine and was safe and well tolerated. The technology could reduce wastage caused by failures in the vaccine cold chain, particularly in remote, poor or conflict-affected areas, where refrigeration and reliable electricity are limited. A 160-person final-stage trial is planned, while researchers continue assessing performance under fluctuating temperatures and in larger, more diverse populations. mRNA vaccines cannot currently use the method, but other vaccines and some refrigerated medicines may benefit.

A study of nearly 65,000 UK Biobank participants found that people who were toddlers during the United Kingdom’s postwar sugar rationing had a 23% lower risk of dementia and were diagnosed about two and a half years later on average. Researchers associated the findings with lower sugar exposure during the first two years of life, after rationing ended in September 1953 and average consumption rose sharply. Experts cautioned that the study was observational, did not measure individuals’ actual sugar intake, and involved people born in the 1940s and 1950s, so it cannot prove that reduced sugar directly prevents dementia or apply straightforwardly to children today. A balanced, healthy diet remains the recommended approach for supporting long-term brain health.

A study of nearly 65,000 UK Biobank participants suggests that people exposed to sugar restrictions during the first two years of life had a 23% lower risk of dementia and were diagnosed around two and a half years later. Researchers used the end of postwar British sugar rationing as a natural experiment, but the study did not measure individuals’ actual sugar intake and cannot establish that reduced sugar directly prevents dementia. Experts say the findings are promising but limited by historical differences in infant feeding and other potential factors, while emphasizing that a healthy, balanced diet supports brain health.

A study of nearly 65,000 UK Biobank participants found that people who were toddlers during postwar UK sugar rationing had a 23% lower risk of dementia and were diagnosed around two and a half years later than those born after rationing ended. Researchers suggest that lower sugar intake during the first two years of life may have lasting brain-health benefits, but experts stress that the observational design cannot prove causation, actual childhood sugar consumption was not measured, and the findings from people born in the 1940s and 1950s may not apply directly to children today. A balanced diet remains the best-supported advice for brain health.

A study of nearly 65,000 UK Biobank participants found that people who were toddlers during UK sugar rationing had a 23% lower risk of dementia and were diagnosed about two-and-a-half years later than those born after rationing ended. Researchers suggest that lower sugar intake during the first two years of life may have lasting benefits, but the observational study cannot establish causation because actual childhood sugar consumption was unknown and many other factors may explain the result. Experts say the findings are intriguing but limited, while endorsing a healthy, balanced diet for brain health.