NNSA FACES SIGNIFICANT STAFF LOSSES IMPACTING NATIONAL SECURITY
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has faced significant staff losses due to buyouts and firings under the Trump administration. More than 130 employees, including key scientists, engineers, and safety experts, left the agency, which is already chronically understaffed. The NNSA oversees the nation’s nuclear arsenal and is involved in modernizing it through a $20-billion annual effort. The agency had been working to increase staff but has now experienced a setback, losing critical personnel in high-risk, top-secret areas, such as weapons modernization and nuclear material transport. The agencyโs mission to monitor nuclear safety and manage 60,000 contractors could be compromised, leading to concerns about fraud and misuse of taxpayer money. Despite claims from the Energy Department that non-critical positions were impacted, the loss of skilled workers in niche roles, such as those with top-secret security clearances, is seen as detrimental to national security efforts. (New York Times)
AUSTRALIAN MAN FIRST TO LIVE WITH TITANIUM ARTIFICIAL HEART
An Australian man in his forties became the first person to leave the hospital with a titanium artificial heart, known as BiVACOR, which serves as a temporary solution for those awaiting a donor heart. This device, which has only one moving part, functions as a continuous pump, offering fewer mechanical issues compared to other heart devices. The man lived with the BiVACOR for over three months before receiving a donor heart. While the device was previously tested in U.S. trials, the Australian patient is the first to live with it outside a hospital for such a period. Experts view the device as highly innovative but note that further research is needed, especially regarding its long-term functionality and cost. The FDA has approved expanded trials for the device, which could eventually serve as an alternative for people who are not eligible for a transplant due to age or health conditions. (Nature)
TEXAS MEASLES OUTBREAK SURGES AS CASES EXCEED 2024 TOTAL
The measles outbreak in Texas has surged by 36 cases, pushing the U.S. total for 2025 past the number of cases reported in all of 2024. As of the latest update, Texas has 259 cases, with 257 patients unvaccinated or with unknown vaccination status. Among the cases, 201 are children, and there has been one death in an unvaccinated child. Most cases are concentrated in Gaines County, home to a large Mennonite community with low vaccination rates. In New Mexico, the outbreak has grown to 35 cases, mostly in Lea County, which borders Texas. Nationwide, 301 measles cases have been reported across 15 jurisdictions, with 50 hospitalizations and two deaths. Health officials urge vaccination, noting that two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective. The outbreaks are expected to continue due to the highly contagious nature of measles. (CIDRAP)
ASTRAZENECA’S ENEBOPARATIDE TRIAL SHOWS PROMISING RESULTS FOR HYPOPARATHYROIDISM
AstraZeneca’s phase 3 trial of eneboparatide, a treatment for hypoparathyroidism, has met its primary endpoint, showing improved calcium levels and independence from vitamin D and calcium supplementation. The trial, involving 202 adults, compared eneboparatide with a placebo, and two-thirds of patients received the drug, a parathyroid hormone receptor 1 agonist. While AstraZeneca reported that the treatment was well tolerated, it provided limited details on the full data, which will be analyzed at 52 weeks in an ongoing long-term extension. The competitive landscape remains uncertain, as Ascendis Pharmaโs Yorvipath is already FDA-approved for hypoparathyroidism. Ascendis’ CEO believes eneboparatide may not surpass Yorvipath, particularly due to its limited action on PTH-1, while Ascendis’ drug also targets PTH-2 and phosphate. AstraZeneca has positioned eneboparatide as a potential best-in-class therapy, with its goal to address calcium levels, urinary calcium excretion, and bone density. (Fierce Biotech)
SPANISH DISCOVERY REVEALS FOSSILIZED REMAINS OF UNKNOWN EARLY HUMAN SPECIES
Researchers in Spain have uncovered fossilized facial fragments from an unknown early human species, marking the oldest human fossils found in Western Europe. The remains, including an upper jawbone and a partial cheekbone, were discovered in 2022 in the Sima del Elefante cave in northern Spain, part of the Sierra de Atapuerca archaeological site. The fossils, estimated to be 1.1 to 1.4 million years old, were found alongside stone tools and animal bones, indicating effective resource use by the early humans. Initially thought to belong to Homo antecessor, further analysis showed that the facial features, such as a flat nasal structure, were more primitive, suggesting a connection to Homo erectus. The individual, nicknamed “Pink,” could represent a new species, providing valuable insights into early human evolution. The discovery potentially bridges the gap between Homo georgicus and Homo antecessor, shedding light on anatomical changes over time. (Smithsonian Magazine)
CORNELL STUDY RAISES CONCERNS OVER H5N1 IN RAW MILK CHEESES
A recent Cornell University study has raised concerns about the safety of raw milk cheeses in light of H5N1 avian flu contamination. The study, funded by the FDA and New York State, tested raw-milk cheeses made from milk spiked with the virus and found that the virus persisted through the cheese-making process and up to 60 days of aging at certain pH levels, particularly at pH levels of 6.6 and 5.8. Only the most acidic pH level (5.0) inactivated the virus. While the FDA has tested over 100 raw-milk cheese samples, none have tested positive for H5N1 so far. The findings raise concerns about the potential risk of infection from consuming raw milk products, as the virus can survive for weeks under refrigeration. Additionally, the New York City Health Department is investigating H5N1 infections in two cats, and the USDA reported more poultry H5N1 cases in Oklahoma and Philadelphia. (CIDRAP)
TOKYO TEAM DEVELOPS ROBOTIC HAND WITH LAB-GROWN HUMAN MUSCLES
Researchers from Tokyo University have made significant progress in biohybrid robots by developing a human-like robotic hand actuated by lab-grown human muscles. The team overcame challenges related to keeping the muscles alive and functional by creating “MuMuTAs” (multiple muscle tissue actuators). These MuMuTAs, grown as thin muscle sheets and rolled into tubes, maintained oxygen diffusion and generated contractile force when stimulated by electrical signals. The robotic hand, with five fingers driven by these MuMuTAs, could perform tasks like making gestures or manipulating objects. However, the muscles showed signs of fatigue after 10 minutes of use, and the hand requires a liquid medium to function. The team is working on solutions, such as adding elastic materials or antagonistic MuMuTAs, to improve movement and extending the hand’s viability outside the liquid medium. Additionally, they suggest that biohybrid muscles, like natural muscles, might benefit from exercise to enhance endurance and strength. (Ars Technica)
NASA ASTRONAUTS TO RETURN FROM ISS MARCH 18 AFTER EXTENDED MISSION
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, will return to Earth on March 18 after an extended mission on the International Space Station (ISS). They will depart aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule “Freedom,” with a splashdown off the Florida coast later that evening. The return has been delayed due to issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which initially transported Wilmore and Williams to the ISS. The planned mission was meant to last around 10 days but was prolonged after thruster problems with Starliner. The crew was integrated into ISS’s Expedition 72 mission. The return process will be streamed live by NASA, beginning on March 17, with various scheduled events including undocking and deorbit burn, although weather and other factors may affect timing. The missionโs extended duration has attracted attention, including comments from President Trump and SpaceXโs Elon Musk about the delay. (space.com)
ASTRONOMERS TRACE ORIGIN OF MYSTERIOUS RADIO PULSES TO BINARY STAR SYSTEM
Astronomers have discovered the origin of mysterious long radio pulses detected over the past decade from the Milky Way. The pulses, which resemble a cosmic heartbeat, were traced to a binary star system, ILTJ1101, consisting of a white dwarf and a red dwarf star. These two stars are orbiting each other so closely that their magnetic fields interact, emitting long period radio transients (LPTs). Unlike fast radio bursts (FRBs), which are brief and energetic, LPTs last several seconds and have lower energy. The research team, led by Dr. Iris de Ruiter, used advanced telescopes to observe the system, finding that the red dwarfโs movement matched the two-hour pulse cycle. The team theorizes that either the white dwarfโs magnetic field or the interaction between the two stars’ magnetic fields is responsible for the pulses. This discovery adds to the understanding of radio emissions in the universe, with further observations expected to uncover more about these unique objects. (CNN)
Thanks for reading. Let’s be careful out there.
WORDS: The Biology Guy.
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