The surprising ways food packaging is exposing us to microplastics
At this point, most people know that microplastics are everywhere. Scientists have shown that tiny particles, amounting to the weight of a plastic spoon, can be found in our brains; hundreds of fragments of plastic are in each breath we take.
But the exact origins of those tiny pieces of plastic have been unclear. Are they coming from plastics discarded in landfills and decomposing over dozens of years? Or are they spilling out of the plastic water bottles and containers we seal our food in? The answer matters — for individuals hoping to avoid the particles and politicians who may want to restrict the microplastics we eat, drink and breathe.
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- Yahoo
Cue Biopharma Receives FDA Feedback on Pre-IND Briefing Document Reinforcing Company's Intention to Advance IND Submission for CUE-401 to Address Unmet Need in the Treatment of Autoimmune Disease
CUE-401, a first-in-class bispecific molecule designed to induce and expand Tregs in vivo through the co-activity of transforming TGF-β and a modified variant of IL-2 BOSTON, June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cue Biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: CUE), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel class of therapeutic biologics to selectively engage and modulate disease-specific T cells for the treatment of autoimmune disease, today announced it has received Pre-Investigational New Drug (Pre-IND) feedback from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA reviewed the first-in-human trial design, including the Company's plan for dose escalation, proposed populations and safety monitoring plan. On the basis of the FDA feedback, the Company, intends to file an IND pending completion of final IND enabling studies. CUE-401 is the Company's lead autoimmune asset, a first-in-class bispecific fusion protein/molecule designed to induce and expand regulatory T cells (Tregs) in vivo through the co-activity of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and a modified variant of interleukin 2 (IL-2). 'We are highly encouraged by the FDA's positive feedback on our proposed development plan for this important program. We believe CUE-401, with its first-in-class mechanism exploiting the combined activities of TGF-β and IL-2 is a potentially disruptive approach differentiated from other Treg-directed therapies, and has the potential to provide durable, long-lasting immune rebalance and tolerance addressing multiple, significant disease indications,' said Daniel Passeri, chief executive officer of Cue Biopharma. Dr. Dan Baker, chief development officer of Cue Biopharma commented, 'CUE-401's mechanistic design extends beyond nTreg proliferation by transforming effector/autoreactive responses to an anti-inflammatory and/or suppressive response, with the prospects of establishing tolerance. The combination of interleukin 2 (IL-2) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) is considered the 'master switch' for conversion of activated T effector cells into T cells with a regulatory phenotype.' About CUE-401CUE-401 is a preclinical, bispecific fusion protein designed to induce and expand regulatory T cells (Tregs) through the co-activity of modified variants of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) with therapeutic potential across a range of T-cell mediated autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. 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CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Wisconsin Supreme Court sides with environmentalists in fight over PFAS "forever chemicals"
How scientists are working to clean up PFAS How scientists are working to clean up PFAS How scientists are working to clean up PFAS The Wisconsin Supreme Court delivered a victory for environmentalists on Tuesday in the fight over "forever chemicals" known as PFAS, issuing a ruling that advocates said will hold polluters accountable. The liberal-controlled court ruled that state regulators can force landowners to clean up emerging pollutants such as PFAS before they are officially designated as hazardous substances. The 5-2 ruling is a defeat for the state's powerful group representing businesses and manufacturers, which had argued the state couldn't enforce regulations on substances before they were officially designated as hazardous. It is the latest development in a yearslong battle in Wisconsin and nationally involving regulators, environmentalists, politicians and businesses over how to deal with PFAS contamination. Cities large and small across Wisconsin, from Madison to Marinette and La Crosse to Wausau, are grappling with PFAS contamination. PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of chemicals that have been around for decades and have now spread into the nation's air, water and soil. The chemicals helped eggs slide across nonstick frying pans, ensured that firefighting foam suffocates flames and helped clothes withstand the rain and keep people dry. They resist breaking down, however, which means they stay around in the environment and have a hard time breaking down in the body. There is a wide range of health harms now associated with exposure to certain PFAS, including low birth weight, cancer and liver disease. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in a case brought by the state's largest business group, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, which sued the DNR in 2021 on behalf of Leather Rich, a dry cleaning business in Oconomowoc. Leather Rich became aware of PFAS contamination in 2018 and was working on cleaning it up when the DNR posted a message online in 2019 saying it now considered PFAS chemicals a hazardous substance. The agency ordered the dry cleaner to test its groundwater for PFAS but didn't tell the business which compounds it needed to test for or what levels would be considered dangerous. Leather Rich argued the DNR can't force businesses to test and clean up contamination from emerging pollutants like PFAS without first designating them as hazardous substances. That process can take years and requires approval from the Legislature. All that time, polluters could harm the environment and put people's health and safety at risk with no obligation to begin cleanup, the DNR argued. A Waukesha County judge and the state appeals court sided with Leather Rich. The DNR appealed, saying the lower court's ruling would neuter the state's "spills law," which was designed to confront pollution. 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Federal regulators placed the first-ever national standards on PFAS in drinking water last year, but the Trump administration said in May that it planned to weaken those limits. The state has imposed less restrictive limits on PFAS in surface and drinking water, defined as piped water delivered through public systems and noncommunity systems that serve places such as factories, schools and hotels. But it has not implemented PFAS standards for groundwater, the source of drinking water for about two-thirds of Wisconsin residents. The agency stopped efforts to draft them in 2023 after determining that compliance would be too expensive.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Is Florida on the list of states expected to see northern lights on Tuesday night?
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) upgraded its geomagnetic storm watch for June 25 and 26, and as many as 14 states could catch a glimpse of the northern lights overnight on Tuesday into Wednesday. Unfortunately for Floridians, the Sunshine State isn't on the list. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center's latest three-day forecast shows that a hole in the sun's atmosphere will be directed toward Earth, sparking a stream of solar wind toward the pale blue dot. The storm's Kp index is about a five for Tuesday and Wednesday night, indicating that the northern lights will be 'brighter and there will be more auroral activity' for the places that can see them. Parts of the United States encompassing about 14 states will be able to catch a glimpse of aurora borealis: Northern Idaho Iowa Maine Michigan Minnesota Montana New Hampshire New York North Dakota South Dakota Vermont Washington Wisconsin Wyoming Florida and the northern lights aren't exactly well acquainted, but they do cross paths in rare occasions. The northern lights were spotted in Florida twice in 2024: First in May and then again in November, thanks to a pair of powerful solar storms. Though rare, Florida has seen northern lights before 2024. In 1989, the aurora borealis appeared on the First Coast and was visible in a red glow tinged with pale green and white streaks, the Florida Times-Union reported. Northern lights were visible as far as South Florida in 1981, though reports indicate they were much less impressive. Then there was the Carrington Event of 1859 tinting the sky bright red and green, which may have been the most powerful solar flare on record, according to NOAA. Contributors: Cheryl McCloud, Eric Lagatta — USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida not on the list to see northern lights tonight
