Inlay

A study in Discover Civil Engineering tests how hospital waste ash + cement can stabilise soil for road construction, reduce toxic waste and improve infrastructure. 🌍 bit.ly/46neVgb

Early career researchers (ECRs) face a fundamental challenge: how do you transform promising research into real-world impact? This case study shows how a Springer Nature collection published in a Discover journal led to WHO citations & worldwide recognition: bit.ly/4hZEyYB #MedSky

A Review published in Discover Agriculture synthesizes current knowledge on the composition, transmission, and functional mechanisms of seed microbiomes of major crops.

A Review in Discover Bacteria examines the mechanisms of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) in the petroleum industry, detailing the roles of various microorganisms, pipeline-specific corrosion conditions, and current mitigation strategies to enhance pipeline safety and longevity. #MedSky

A Review published in Discover Oncology examines glycosphingolipids expression in bladder cancer and explores their contributions to key cancer hallmarks, including invasion and metastasis, immune evasion, and resistance to cell death. bit.ly/4jFyvIU #MedSky #OncoSky

A systematic review in Discover Medicine indicates that horse-assisted therapy may yield modest improvements for conditions like cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder, but the evidence is limited, necessitating more rigorous research to confirm its clinical utility and safety. #MedSky

A Review in Discover Endocrinology and Metabolism evaluates the applications, and limitations of synthetic microbial communities, highlighting their potential to advance microbiome-targeted research and therapeutic development in metabolic disorders. #MedSky #MicrobiomeSky

A paper published in Discover Nano provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse applications and innovations of nanoparticles in the detection of Salmonella. #STS

A study published in Discover Sustainability highlights how women’s participation in energy transitions leads to greater community engagement, increased household energy efficiency, and a shift toward sustainable energy behaviors. 🌍

In a Discover Oncology Behind The Paper blog post, the author discusses new perspectives on the molecular properties and pathways of differentially expressed genes in prostate cancer and potential biomarkers that play a crucial role in its genesis. #MedSky #OncoSky #CanSky

Seed-associated microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, archaea, and viruses, play diverse roles in seed physiology, influencing germination, seedling vigor, and long-term plant resilience. With increasing pressure to reduce synthetic inputs in agriculture, understanding the dynamics of seed microbiomes is critical for developing eco-friendly seed treatments. Recent advances in microbial engineering, bio-priming, and seed coating technologies have created new opportunities for harnessing beneficial microbes to improve germination and crop establishment under both optimal and stressful conditions. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the composition, transmission, and functional mechanisms of seed microbiomes of major crops. It highlights that germination outcomes are shaped by nutrient mobilization, phytohormone regulation, and stress buffering by beneficial microbes, as well as by pathogenic taxa that reduce viability through toxin secretion, decay, and competitive exclusion. Crucially, these effects are stage-specific, genotype-dependent, and mediated by microbe–microbe interactions. Furthermore, we examine the challenges in detection, strain compatibility, and large-scale application, and discuss emerging technologies such as synthetic microbial communities, nano delivery systems, and CRISPR-based strain optimization. We also explore potential biosafety concerns, such as horizontal gene transfer. This review presents a conceptual framework for integrating microbial-based solutions into seed systems, aiming to enhance agricultural sustainability in a changing climate.

Many energy production and exploration facilities in the petroleum industry are susceptible to the microbial attachment and biofilm formation. Microorganis

Cancer does not have a universally agreed-upon description, but it is characterized by the unregulated proliferation of cells, which may result in the infiltration of the cell basement or the spread to other organs in the body.

Horse-assisted therapy (HAT) is increasingly used in neurological and developmental disorders despite substantial heterogeneity in intervention protocols, outcome measures, and methodological quality. This growing clinical interest, together with inconsistent evidence regarding efficacy and safety across conditions, highlights the need for a critical synthesis of the current literature. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HAT in multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebral palsy (CP), Down syndrome (DS), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews (SRs) published between January 2017 and October 2024; the protocol was prospectively registered in the Open Science Framework (OSF, https://bit.ly/4vhX2JA ). Reviews including non-randomized studies, non-equine interventions, or mixed animal-assisted therapies were excluded. Two reviewers independently screened records, extracted data, and assessed study quality using RoB-2 (RCTs) and AMSTAR-2 (SRs). Due to heterogeneity in populations, interventions, and outcomes, results were synthesized narratively. No external funding was received. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria (5 RCTs, 3 SRs; 452 children with CP, 103 participants with MS, 34 children with DS, and 240 children with ASD) addressing CP, MS, DS, and ASD. Across studies, HAT was associated with modest improvements in gross motor function and postural control (GMFM, PBS), walking performance (6MWT, T25FW), and selected social and communication outcomes. Evidence for DS was limited. Safety data were scarce: one trial reported no serious adverse events, while another documented adverse events without clear attribution to the intervention. Overall, methodological quality varied, with frequent limitations including small sample sizes, heterogeneous protocols, and limited blinding. In conclusion, HAT may offer domain-specific benefits in selected populations, but current evidence remains insufficient for routine clinical implementation; larger, preregistered, methodologically rigorous RCTs with standardized protocols and systematic safety reporting are needed.

Synthetic gut microbial communities (SynComs) have emerged as powerful platforms for investigating microbiome–host interactions in metabolic diseases. By enabling precise control over microbial composition, SynComs overcome key limitations of traditional models, such as ecological variability, low reproducibility, and limited mechanistic resolution. Most current SynComs focus on bacterial consortia, although interest in fungal and mixed communities is growing. These defined consortia have been successfully applied to reproduce disease-relevant phenotypes; elucidate microbial contributions to obesity, insulin resistance, and hepatic lipid metabolism; and identify specific taxa or strain-level functions with therapeutic potential. Their versatility spans in vitro systems—including batch fermenters and gut-on-chip devices—as well as in vivo models such as germ-free or gnotobiotic mice. Moreover, the integration of multi-omics technologies and computational modeling has enhanced the predictive capacity and functional insight of studies employing SynComs as experimental models. Despite current challenges—such as reduced ecological complexity and translational gaps—ongoing innovations in microbial culturing, host-relevant model systems, and rational SynCom design are expanding their applicability. This review evaluates the construction, applications, and limitations of SynComs, highlighting their potential to advance microbiome-targeted research and therapeutic development in metabolic disorders.

Clean energy transitions are not just about technology. They are also about people, equity, and justice. Women play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable energy solutions, yet sociocultural, financial, and institutional barriers continue to limit their participation in decision-making and access to clean energy. This research combines BERTopic modeling, SDG mapping, and case study analysis to bridge quantitative insights with real-world narratives, offering a comprehensive examination of the gender‒energy nexus. Grounded in energy justice, gender empowerment, and SDG frameworks, the study applies Kabeer’s and Friedmann’s empowerment models to link agency, resources, and achievements with distributional, procedural, and recognitional justice in energy transitions. The study covered 616 publications identified through an extensive Scopus database search, spanning literature from 2015—coinciding with the adoption of SDGs—to 2024, specifically mapped to SDG 5 (gender) and SDG 7 (energy). Addressing the main energy justice dimensions and relevant SDGs, the findings of this systematic review reveal that clean energy adoption reduces unpaid domestic work (SDG 5.4), enhances women’s leadership (SDG 5.5), and strengthens economic opportunities (SDG 7.1, SDG 7.2) but remains constrained by gendered power dynamics, technology adaptation barriers, and financial accessibility issues. The study highlights how women’s participation in energy transitions leads to greater community engagement, increased household energy efficiency, and a shift toward sustainable energy behaviors. However, moderating factors of gender empowerment interventions show that intrahousehold bargaining, a lack of financial incentives, and limited representation in governance structures continue to restrict equitable energy access. Additionally, the findings emphasize that policies designed without a gender lens risk reinforcing existing inequalities rather than alleviating them. By embedding SDG goals in the analysis, this study ensures alignment with global sustainability goals and reinforces the urgency of justice-oriented energy policies. Advocating for inclusive, community-driven approaches, this research underscores the need for intersectional frameworks that integrate energy justice and gender empowerment, ensuring that energy transitions are not only technologically sound but also socially equitable and accessible to all.