Autonomous University of Madrid

On the internet, professional women are represented as younger—and therefore less experienced—than their male counterparts, even though this age difference does not correspond to actual data in the US, according to an article published in Nature. This study of gender and age stereotypes is based on an analysis of 1.4 million images on five platforms (Google, Wikipedia, IMDb, Flickr and YouTube), as well as nine large language models, such as ChatGPT, trained with texts from Reddit, Google News, Wikipedia and Twitter. 

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis, who demonstrated both the quantum tunnelling effect and quantised energy levels in a system small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. These advances have served to develop the next generation of quantum technology, including quantum cryptography, quantum computers and quantum sensors.

The use of creatine among athletes is not new, although its consumption has become popular on social media. We answer questions about this compound with the help of experts in nutrition, sports and dietetics.

The Planetary Health Diet promotes environmentally sustainable consumption, based, among other things, on increasing vegetable intake and reducing dairy and red meat consumption. Previous studies had found an association with better human health, although there were some conflicting results. Now, a study combining two cohorts of more than 150,000 people and a meta-analysis of 37 studies involving more than three million volunteers reinforces this association, finding that greater adherence to the diet is associated with lower all-cause mortality. The results are published in the journal Science Advances.

An international team has analysed gender representation in more than 1,000 clinical trials on cardiovascular disease between 2017 and 2023, involving more than one million people. Although female participation has increased, especially in areas such as obesity and heart failure, women continue to be underrepresented overall compared to men. The results, presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress held in Madrid from 29 August to 1 September, are published in JAMA Network Open.

The research article A bacterium that can grow by using arsenic instead of phosphorus was one of the big science stories because it discussed the possibility of arsenic-based life. However, it has been the subject of criticism until now. After nearly 15 years of debate and failed attempts by other groups to replicate the findings, Science has now decided to retract the article, despite finding no evidence of fraud or misconduct on the part of the authors, who disagree with the decision.

Researchers have modified a bacterium to colonise the gut microbiota and treat kidney stones. They genetically engineered Phocaeicola vulgatus to make it able to break down oxalate molecules, a cause of recurrent kidney stones, and consume a specific nutrient called porphyrin. In mice and in preclinical trials in healthy people, this reduces oxalate levels, the authors report in the journal Science.

A team from Sweden has analysed post mortem brain samples from people aged between 0 and 78 using various techniques and found that, although it varies between individuals, new neurons continue to form in the hippocampus with no apparent age limit. Although previous studies had reached similar conclusions, controversy remains about these results. According to the authors, the new work ‘provides an important piece of the puzzle in understanding how the human brain works and changes throughout life.’ The results are published in the journal Science.

From 2014 to 2023, one in six people in the world suffered from loneliness, according to a World Health Organisation report, which outlines the causes of this phenomenon and its multiple impacts: on physical and mental health and mortality, as well as on work and the economy. The report estimates that loneliness is linked to more than 871,000 deaths per year and highlights a higher incidence among young people and in low- and middle-income countries.

A US study analysing data from nearly 700,000 people concluded that those with a history of herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) infections were at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The study, published in BMJ Open, also showed that patients with this virus who used anti-herpes treatments were less likely to develop the disease.