Core Points - The Future Science Prize 2025 was announced on August 6, 2025, in Beijing and Hong Kong, revealing the winners of the "Life Science Award," "Material Science Award," and "Mathematics and Computer Science Award," each with a prize of 1 million USD equivalent in RMB [2]. Group 1: Life Science Award - The winners of the Life Science Award are Qiang Ji, Xing Xu, and Zhong Zhou [3][8][12]. - They were recognized for their discovery of fossil evidence that birds originated from dinosaurs [6][9][11]. - Notably, Qiang Ji and researcher Qiaomei Fu recently published papers in Cell and Science, studying a nearly complete human skull fossil from the Middle Pleistocene found in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, which is dated to be over 146,000 years old. They extracted ancient proteins and DNA from the fossil, confirming it belonged to the extinct Denisovans, providing a definitive link to the appearance of Denisovans [13]. Group 2: Historical Context - Since 2016, the Future Science Prize has awarded 39 winners, gaining wide recognition in the scientific community and among the public [16]. - The Life Science Award has previously honored notable scientists such as Yueming Lu, Yigong Shi, and Yuan Longping, among others [16].

Core Viewpoint - The research indicates that social interaction in mice can suppress breast cancer progression through a specific neural circuit, providing a potential theoretical basis for clinical applications of social support in tumor treatment [4][10]. Summary by Sections Research Findings - Social interaction activates neural circuits that inhibit breast cancer progression [8] - ACC Glu neurons are crucial for the anti-tumor effects of social interaction [8] - The ACC Glu → BLA Glu circuit mediates the anti-tumor benefits of social interaction [8] - Artificial activation of the social interaction circuit can enhance anti-tumor immune responses [8] Implications - The study suggests that social interaction may influence tumor progression by modulating sympathetic nerve activity and norepinephrine release, potentially reshaping anti-tumor immunity [6][10].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the significant advancements in magnetic soft robotics, particularly focusing on a new method for real-time in-situ magnetization reprogramming that enhances the versatility and functionality of these robots [3][4][10]. Group 1: Research Development - The research team developed a real-time in-situ magnetization reprogramming method that allows for the rearrangement and reorganization of magnetic units, leading to diverse magnetization distributions [7]. - This method enables magnetic soft robots to achieve unprecedented diversity in deformation modes and reduces the complexity of magnetic field generation systems, paving new pathways for magnetic drive technology [4][10]. Group 2: Applications and Flexibility - The method has been explored for applications in various dimensional structures, from one-dimensional (1D) tubes to three-dimensional (3D) frameworks, showcasing a wide range of configurations and deformations [10]. - It demonstrates flexibility in multiple scenarios, such as navigating around objects without unintended contact, reprogramming cilia arrays, and controlling multiple instruments either collaboratively or independently under the same magnetic field [10].

Core Viewpoint - The study reveals that newly evolved human de novo genes, crucial for brain development and cognitive function, may also promote cancer, leading to the development of mRNA cancer vaccines that effectively stimulate anti-tumor immune responses and significantly inhibit tumor growth [3][9]. Group 1: Research Findings - The research identified 37 de novo genes with clear evolutionary trajectories unique to humans and their close primate relatives [5][7]. - These de novo genes exhibit increased expression in tumors, with 57.1% of their deletions suppressing tumor cell proliferation, indicating their oncogenic roles [5][7]. - The study highlights two specific de novo genes, ELFN1-AS1 and TYMSOS, which are expressed during early human development but reactivated in tumors, suggesting their potential as therapeutic targets [5][6]. Group 2: Vaccine Development - The research team developed an mRNA vaccine targeting ELFN1-AS1 and TYMSOS, which activates anti-tumor immune responses in humanized mouse models, demonstrating significant tumor growth inhibition [6][9]. - The new antigens derived from these genes can induce specific immune responses in patient-derived immune cells, showcasing promising clinical translation potential [6][9].

Core Viewpoint - Cancer metastasis and recurrence remain the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, particularly in the lungs, necessitating new treatment strategies to improve outcomes for patients with lung metastases [2][5]. Group 1: CAR-T and CAR-M Therapies - CAR-T cell therapy has shown significant success in treating hematological malignancies, prompting ongoing trials for its application in solid tumors, despite challenges such as high cytotoxicity and insufficient tumor infiltration [2][3]. - CAR-M therapy is emerging as a promising candidate for cancer treatment due to its superior tumor infiltration and antigen-specific phagocytic capabilities, as well as its role as a specialized antigen-presenting cell [5]. Group 2: Research Findings - The recent study by the team at Sun Yat-sen University developed an inhalable engineered small extracellular vesicle (sEV) that delivers mRNA to generate CAR macrophages (CAR-M) in situ, effectively mitigating lung metastasis and preventing recurrence [3][11]. - Experimental results in mouse models demonstrated that inhaled CAR mRNA @aCD206 sEV accumulates in lung tissue, specifically delivering CAR mRNA to macrophages, thereby promoting the in situ generation of CAR-M cells and effectively inhibiting tumor growth while stimulating long-term memory immunity to prevent recurrence [9][11]. Group 3: Challenges and Innovations - Despite the potential of CAR-M therapy, challenges such as complex manufacturing processes and accumulation in the liver post-intravenous administration limit its broader application [6]. - The engineered sEV delivery platform developed in this research offers a promising new immunotherapy strategy to effectively combat lung metastasis and recurrence by selectively delivering CAR mRNA to macrophages in lung tissue [11].

Core Viewpoint - The development of albumin-recruiting lipid nanoparticles (LNP) enhances the safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines by avoiding liver accumulation, addressing the limitations of traditional PEG-LNP formulations [2][4][7]. Group 1: Research Background - The invention and development of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems have been milestones in the widespread application of mRNA vaccines [2]. - Traditional PEG-LNP formulations have shown certain shortcomings, particularly in mRNA cancer vaccines that require high doses and multiple administrations for effective tumor suppression [2][7]. - Concerns include the strong immunogenicity of mRNA-LNP platforms, which can lead to adverse reactions such as allergic shock and cytokine release syndrome due to repeated injections [2][7]. Group 2: Research Findings - A study published in Nature Materials by researchers from Tsinghua University and the National University of Singapore introduced a new albumin-recruiting lipid nanoparticle system [3][4]. - This new system avoids accumulation in the liver, thereby enhancing the safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines [4][7]. - The research team developed a library of ionizable lipids that can bind to albumin, serving as an alternative to traditional PEG-coupled lipids [7]. - The newly formulated EB-LNP demonstrated high in vivo expression levels and effective transport to lymph nodes via muscle lymphatics, minimizing liver accumulation and addressing the hepatotoxicity associated with traditional LNP formulations [7][8]. Group 3: Vaccine Efficacy - The EB-LNP delivered mRNA vaccines exhibited exceptional anti-tumor and anti-viral efficacy, triggering strong cellular and humoral immune responses, including robust activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and significant production of neutralizing antibodies [8][10]. - Overall, the albumin-recruiting LNP system shows great potential as an effective and low-toxicity delivery platform for developing efficient mRNA vaccines [10].

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the significant health risks associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), linking it to obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and increased mortality rates. It emphasizes the need for dietary guidelines to recommend a reduction in UPF intake due to its adverse health effects [2][3][12]. Group 1: Research Findings - A recent study published in Nature Medicine indicates that consuming UPF can hinder weight loss efforts, even when adhering to national dietary guidelines. In contrast, a diet based on minimally processed foods (MPF) may facilitate weight loss [3][6]. - The study involved 55 adults following UK dietary guidelines, where participants consumed UPF for 8 weeks and MPF for another 8 weeks. Results showed an average weight loss of 0.88 kg during the UPF phase compared to 1.84 kg during the MPF phase [11][12]. - The research found that while both diets led to weight loss, the MPF diet resulted in significant improvements in cardiovascular health indicators, such as total fat, body fat percentage, visceral fat, and triglycerides, which were not observed during the UPF diet [11][12]. Group 2: Implications of Food Processing - The study suggests that the degree of food processing affects weight management and cardiometabolic health, indicating that even healthy dietary guidelines may not mitigate the negative impacts of UPF [12][14]. - The mechanisms behind the weight changes between UPF and MPF diets remain unclear, but factors such as texture, structure, and the presence of additives in UPF may lead to increased calorie intake and delayed satiety [14]. - The research underscores the importance of considering food processing as a unique dimension of dietary quality, suggesting that policies focusing solely on reformulating processed foods to meet nutritional standards may overlook the behavioral and physiological impacts of food processing methods [14][15].

Core Viewpoint - The study published by Yale University researchers demonstrates that the metabolic cross-feeding of the dietary antioxidant ergothioneine enhances anaerobic energy metabolism in human gut bacteria [2][3]. Group 1: Key Findings - The research team proved that gut bacteria from different phyla can mutually provide a common dietary antioxidant under anaerobic conditions to generate energy [5]. - Clostridium symbiosum encodes ergothioneine enzymes that convert ergothioneine, an antioxidant derived from mushrooms, into the electron acceptor thiourocanic acid (TUA) [6][10]. - Bacteroides xylanisolvens can reduce TUA, thereby increasing ATP synthesis and bacterial growth [7][10]. Group 2: Implications and Associations - Specific human fecal microbiota selectively produce and consume TUA [8][10]. - There is a significant enrichment of ergothioneine enzyme genes in the fecal metagenomes of colorectal cancer patients, indicating a potential link between gut ergothioneine homeostasis and colorectal cancer [9][10]. - The findings suggest how the cross-feeding of symbiotic antioxidant nutrients enhances microbial energy metabolism, which may help explain differences in disease risk among individuals [10].

Core Viewpoint - The research highlights the evolutionary adaptation mechanisms in skin that support terrestrial locomotion, particularly focusing on the role of the SLURP1 gene in preventing palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK) [2][3]. Group 1: Evolutionary Mechanisms - The transition from aquatic to terrestrial life required vertebrates to overcome significant physiological and biomechanical challenges, with skin structure being crucial for this adaptation [2]. - The study published in Cell reveals a mechano-resistance mechanism in skin that adapts to the mechanical stresses of land locomotion [2][5]. Group 2: SLURP1 Gene and PPK - The SLURP1 gene is specifically expressed in the skin of the palms and soles of four-legged animals, and mutations in this gene in humans lead to PPK, characterized by excessive thickening and cracking of the skin [3][6]. - In SLURP1 knockout mice, reducing mechanical stress on the paw skin completely reverses the PPK phenotype, indicating the gene's critical role in skin health [3][6]. Group 3: Mechanistic Insights - SLURP1 protein is located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane and interacts with the calcium pump SERCA2b, maintaining calcium levels under mechanical stress [3][6]. - By regulating the activity of SERCA2b, SLURP1 prevents the activation of the pPERK-NRF2 signaling pathway, which is associated with PPK, thus maintaining epidermal homeostasis [3][6].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the revolutionary advancements in genome editing technology, particularly focusing on the development of a new programmable chromosome engineering (PCE) system that enables precise manipulation of large DNA segments ranging from kilobases to megabases, which addresses significant challenges in the field of genetic engineering [4][11]. Group 1: Technology Overview - Genome editing technology, exemplified by CRISPR and its derivatives, has made significant strides in precise editing of specific bases and short DNA fragments, but large-scale DNA editing remains a core challenge [3]. - The PCE system developed by the research team allows for efficient and precise manipulation of DNA at the chromosome level, significantly enhancing the capability to edit eukaryotic genomes [4][11]. Group 2: Technical Innovations - The research team addressed three key limitations of the Cre-Lox system, including the inherent symmetry of Lox sites, the difficulty in engineering Cre enzyme activity, and the precision of editing due to residual Lox sites after recombination [6][8]. - Innovations include a high-throughput recombination site modification platform, the development of new Lox variants with reduced recombination activity, and an engineered Cre protein variant that improves recombination efficiency by 3.5 times [6][7]. Group 3: Applications and Implications - The PCE system has successfully achieved various large-scale DNA manipulations, including the integration of an 18.8 kb DNA segment, directional replacement of a 5 kb sequence, and chromosomal inversions and deletions up to 12 Mb [7]. - This technology not only facilitates multi-gene stacking but also opens new pathways for crop trait improvement and genetic disease treatment, potentially transforming breeding strategies and synthetic biology applications [11].