Episode description

Inspired by squids’ ability to shoot ink, a team of researchers have developed swallowable devices that can deliver tiny jets of drugs directly into the gut lining, circumventing the need for needles. Previous studies have shown that most people prefer to take medication in pill form, rather than as an injection, but many drugs are degraded as they pass through the digestive system. The team’s new swallowable devices overcome this issue, and deliver drugs directly to where they need to be. So far, this approach has shown efficacy in animal models, but more work needs to be done to ensure their safety in humans.

Research Article: Arrick et al.

The largest ‘terror bird’ fossil ever found, and a simple solution to help prevent premature births.

Research Highlight: Huge carnivorous ‘terror bird’ rivalled the giant panda in size

Research Highlight: Reducing pregnancy risk could be as easy as chewing gum

Two papers describe how light-activated catalysts could be used to break down toxic ‘forever chemicals’, hinting at a new way to clean up pollution caused by these persistent compounds. Forever chemicals contain multiple carbon-fluorine bonds that give them useful physical properties, but these bonds are some of the strongest in organic chemistry, making these compounds energetically difficult to break down. The new, light-based methods demonstrate low-energy ways to sever these bonds, a milestone that could make forever chemicals less permanent.

Research Article: Zhang et al.

Research Article: Liu et al.

News and Views: Catalysts degrade forever chemicals with visible light

Analysis of far-side soil highlights the Moon’s turbulent past, and how CRISPR can help make sweeter tomatoes.

Nature: First rocks returned from Moon’s far side reveal ancient volcanic activity

CNN: Findings from the first lunar far side samples raise new questions about the moon’s history

Nature: CRISPR builds a big tomato that’s actually sweet

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