A laboratory worker at a plague research institute in Siberia died after developing severe pneumonia, prompting Russian authorities to place dozens of people under observation or quarantine. The incident has renewed international attention to pneumonic plague and its potentially rapid progression.

Two major studies involving researchers from Queen Mary University of London, the University of Oxford and the University of Bristol found that robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement did not reduce the overall early risk of repeat surgery compared with conventional approaches.

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has recognized researchers for pioneering work involving optogenetics, a technology that has transformed scientists' ability to study neural circuits and brain function.

A large multicentre clinical study reported that daily use of a standardized Ashwagandha root extract for 24 weeks was generally well tolerated, including no observed liver or kidney injury during the study period.

Research highlighted this week suggests that prolonged fasting produces substantial changes throughout the body, with some of the most notable biological changes appearing after approximately three days without food.

Recent fitness research suggests that even relatively small amounts of strength training may provide meaningful benefits, particularly for maintaining muscle function and independence as people grow older.