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A new population-based study involving 22 million people shows that autoimmune disorders now affect about one in ten individuals. Published in The Lancet , the work points to important socioeconomic, seasonal, and regional differences for several autoimmune disorders and provides new clues on possible causes behind these diseases.

Diabetes is a known risk factor for developing cancer, but could it also predict how cancer patients respond to treatment? In a recent study of thousands of cancer patients*, researchers found that having Type 2 diabetes was strongly linked to worse outcomes among those receiving immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Scientists working with the James Webb Space Telescope say new data potentially shows water vapour around a rocky exoplanet - a first if confirmed. However, the water signature may also be coming from the star itself, so additional observations are needed. Water vapour has been seen on gaseous exoplanets before, but to date no atmosphere has been detected around a rocky exoplanet - defined as those with sizes less than or equal to 1.4x Earth's radius.

Gut bacteria exchange drug-resistant DNA and form infectious biofilms more easily than expected. The discovery shows why it can be so difficult to tackle drug-resistant bacteria, but does provide a possible avenue for tackling the problem. The super-polymer structures the bacteria use to transfer genes could also be exploited for precise drug delivery in future medicine.

Here's a batch of fresh news and announcements from across Imperial. From rowing the Atlantic, to uncovering how parasites move, here is some quick-read news from across the College. Endurance rowing In December 2022, a team including a PhD candidate in the Department of Bioengineering tested their endurance by rowing unsupported across the Atlantic.

A new review of evidence highlights the impact air pollution has on health across the life course, from before birth through to old age. The report was commissioned by the Greater London Auth ority via Imperial Projects and carried out by researchers from Imperial College London's Environmental Research Group.

The cosmos is roaring with activity produced by the fourth state of matter - and now we can listen to it. Contrary to popular belief, space isn't a total vacuum - it's actually full of activity, with 99.999% of the universe's matter found in the form of the mysterious fourth state of matter: plasma.

A new study provides the first empirical evidence for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via people's hands and frequently touched household surfaces. The Imperial College London-led research sheds new light on the spread of COVID-19 in households, where most transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurs, and it is the first to link the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on people's hands and frequently touched household surfaces to the risk of infection among contacts.

Imperial physicists have recreated the famous double-slit experiment, which showed light behaving as particles and a wave, in time rather than space. The experiment relies on materials that can change their optical properties in fractions of a second, which could be used in new technologies or to explore fundamental questions in physics.

Temperature influences how badly pesticides affect bees' behaviour, suggesting uncertain impacts under climate change, according to a new study. The findings indicate that future extreme temperature events under climate change could increase the impact of pesticides on bee populations and their pollination services.

Scientists have gleaned new insights into how psychedelics alter conscious experience via their action on brain activity. In a study at Imperial College London, detailed brain imaging data from 20 healthy volunteers revealed how the potent psychedelic compound, DMT (dimethyltryptamine), alters brain function.

Parasite treatments and preventatives we put on our pets are finding their way into UK waters in concentrations that are toxic to aquatic species. Parasiticides are commonly applied as 'spot-on' treatments on dogs and cats to prevent or kill fleas or ticks, but they contain toxic chemicals that are making it into UK rivers and ponds, particularly in urban areas.

Here's a batch of fresh news and announcements from across Imperial. From improving TB detection with algorithms, to Imperial academics sharing expertise for Singapore's green energy transition, here is some quick-read news from across the College. Improving TB detection with algorithms An international group of experts have developed an evidence-based algorithm that will make detecting TB (tuberculosis) in the lungs of children easier in resource-limited settings.

A high blood caffeine level may reduce the body weight a person carries and their risk of type 2 diabetes, according to research. A new study, published in BMJ Medicine , has looked at the effect of higher blood caffeine levels on body weight and the long-term risks of type 2 diabetes and major cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, and irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation).

A new way to create high-energy ions could speed up their applications in treating cancer and probing the fundamental nature of matter. The new technique, created by researchers at Imperial College London with collaborators in Japan and Germany, will help deliver beams of ions that could treat cancers with high doses of more targeted radiation.

A new study shows that sparrows with more opposite-sex friends contribute more to the gene pool, but 'average' friendliness wins out in the long term. Scientists have assumed for a long time that traits associated with how social an animal is - such as shyness or extraversion - have a genetic basis.

Using solar and battery power can reduce costs and emissions associated with providing power to refugee camps, researchers have found. It's important that work is done to de-risk investing in low-carbon energy infrastructure in humanitarian settings Hamish Beath Researcher, Grantham Institute - Climate Change and the Environment Most refugee camps use diesel generators to power essential services including hospitals, police stations, and lighting.

Contracting a lower respiratory tract infection in early childhood has been linked to a higher risk of dying from respiratory disease as an adult. A study, led by researchers from Imperial College London and published in The Lancet , has found that children who had a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), such as bronchitis or pneumonia, by the age of two were almost twice as likely to die prematurely in adulthood from respiratory diseases.

A genetic test already used routinely in the NHS can guide the use of chemotherapy in people with bowel cancer, new research has shown. Researchers from Imperial College London, the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and the Netherlands Cancer Institute , found that the test can predict whether a bowel cancer patient will benefit from chemotherapy.

An earlier first birth, a higher number of live births, and starting periods at a younger age may be linked to higher risk of cardiovascular problems. A new study, led by Imperial College London researchers, provides evidence for a causal relationship between sex-specific factors and cardiovascular disease in women, and identifies potential ways to mediate this increased risk.