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Feature Stories

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 4-Nov-2025 16:10 ET (4-Nov-2025 21:10 GMT/UTC)

Breathing new life into TB treatment with inhalable nanomedicine

University of the Witwatersrand

A new inhalable nanomedicine developed at the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP) could help outwit one of humanity’s oldest diseases—tuberculosis (TB).

Dr Lindokuhle Ngema, a postdoctoral researcher at WADDP, has engineered a nanosystem capable of delivering all four standard TB drugs directly into the lungs, where the bacteria that cause the disease—Mycobacterium tuberculosis—hide and persist. The formulation aims to bypass the liver and bloodstream, reduce drug loss, and concentrate medication precisely at the site of infection.

“TB is clever—it hides in lung pockets where oral drugs can’t reach. Our system is designed to be smarter and to go exactly where it’s needed,” says Ngema.

TB remains a leading cause of death worldwide, claiming more than 56,000 lives in South Africa alone in 2023. Current treatments require months of daily pills and can cause severe side effects, fuelling poor adherence and the emergence of drug-resistant TB.

By transforming TB therapy into an inhalable treatment, WADDP researchers hope to improve patient adherence, shorten treatment duration, and reduce resistance. The nanosystem’s movement through the lungs will be tracked in collaboration with the Nuclear Medicine Research Institute (NuMeRI), using nuclear imaging to confirm delivery to “hidden” infection sites.

AI and you: A match made in binary code

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

For how much time we spend staring at our phones and computers, it was inevitable that we would become… close. And the resulting human relationships with computer programs are nothing short of complex, complicated, and unprecedented. AI is capable of simulating human conversations by way of chatbots, which has led to an historic twist for therapists.

Long-term partnership with Army Research Lab advances military capabilities and materials science

University of Tennessee at Knoxville

University of Tennessee, Knoxville researchers, the Tennessee Army National Guard, and DEVCOM ARL demonstrated cold spray additive manufacturing and drone technology at the Knoxville Armory. This collaboration enhances military readiness, accelerates part production, and prepares students for impactful careers while advancing metallurgy and materials science to support operational Army units by 2026.

Engineering student's example shows how co-op can lead to job offer

University of Cincinnati

When Brooke Boeding looked for employers willing to hire undergraduate engineering students, she knew she could rely on her co-op adviser. They match students with companies in a program called cooperative education. Students divide the year between classroom instruction and full-time employment with a firm in their chosen field. But co-op advisers also help graduating students kindle their new careers.

Can China lead on climate? UC San Diego professor explains

University of California - San Diego

China has just unveiled a new set of climate targets that will shape the pace of global decarbonization for years to come. As the United States steps back from climate leadership, the world’s attention has turned to China—the largest emitter of greenhouse gases and a growing powerhouse in clean energy technology. To help make sense of what’s at stake, UC San Diego’s Michael Davidson, an associate professor at the School of Global Policy and Strategy and the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the Jacobs School of Engineering, explains what these new goals mean for China, the global climate, and the path forward.

Genomics could help 1 in 4 adults prevent stroke

One in four adults over the age of 25 will have a stroke in a lifetime, according to the Global Stroke Fact Sheet 2025. Awareness remains key for early intervention and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Advances in genomic science are now offering a new lens to identify these risks early—sometimes decades before a stroke occurs.

Rice mechanical engineers turning everyday fabrics into new channel of communication

Rice University

When Rice University doctoral candidate Barclay Jumet first launched a high school business designing, making and selling bow ties — learning to sew on his mother’s college sewing machine — he never imagined that same skill set would one day help him reinvent how people communicate. Today alongside adviser Daniel J. Preston, Jumet is co-founder of Actile Technologies, a startup transforming everyday fabrics into smart, touch-based communication devices.

Annual symposium pushes the UW, and Seattle, to forefront of space diplomacy

University of Washington

The 2025 Space Diplomacy Symposium at the University of Washington will be held on Nov. 7. The annual symposium, which brings together experts from across the world, aims to center diplomacy in civilian, commercial and military space activities.

Putting a bow on holiday stress

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

UNLV therapist Dawn Moore explains how to manage relationships, navigate tricky topics, and shares tips to stay happy as the sun sets on another year.

What 45-per-cent tariffs mean for B.C.’s forest sector

University of British Columbia

Tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber have climbed to 45 per cent, following a recent increase of 10 per cent on lumber and 25 per cent on engineered wood products. UBC faculty of forestry associate professor Harry Nelson says this escalation pushes B.C.’s forestry sector into uncharted territory, threatening not just sawmills but also pulp and secondary manufacturing.

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