Therapeutic cancer vaccines are an appealing strategy for treating malignancies. In theory, when a patient is injected with peptide antigens ' protein fragments from mutant proteins only expressed by tumor cells ' T cells learn to recognize and attack cancer cells expressing the corresponding protein. By teaching the patient's own immune system to attack cancer cells, these vaccines ideally would not only eliminate tumors but prevent them from recurring. 'There has been a lot of work to make cancer vaccines more effective,' says Darrell Irvine, a professor in the MIT departments of Biological Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering and a member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT. 'But even in mouse and other models, they typically only provoke a weak immune response. And once those vaccines are tested in a clinical setting, their efficacy evaporates.' New hope may now be on the horizon. A vaccine based on a novel approach developed by Irvine and colleagues at MIT, and refined by researchers at Elicio Therapeutics, an MIT spinout that Irvine founded to translate experiments into treatment, is showing promising results in clinical trials ' including Phase 1 data suggesting the vaccine could serve as a viable option for the treatment of pancreatic and other cancers....
Federal Reserve officials held interest rates steady at their monthly policy meeting on Sept. 20, 2023 ' only the second time they have done so since embarking on a rate-raising campaign a year and a half ago. But it is what they hinted at rather than what they did that caught many economists' attention: Fed officials indicated that they don't expect rates to end 2023 higher than they did in June ' when they last issued their projections. Since the hiking cycle began, observers have worried about whether increased rates could push the U.S. economy into a downturn. Some have even speculated that a recession had already begun. However, the economy has been more resilient than many expected, and now many economists are wondering whether the seemingly impossible soft landing ' that is, a slowdown that avoids crashing the economy ' has become a reality. As a finance professor, I think it's premature to start celebrating. Inflation is still almost double the Federal Reserve's target of 2%, and is expected to come in at around 4% for September. What's more, the economy is still growing quite fast, with consensus forecasts showing gross domestic product will rise by nearly 3% this quarter. Some early data suggests that could be a low estimate....
In the traditional world of hiking boots, practicality is king, with solid ankle support and a nice bit of leather keeping your feet dry and ankles intact as you head for the hills. Things are changing fast, though, with the modern technology found in running shoes being co-opted into walking boots and trail shoes, helping to reduce weight while increasing comfort, speed, and performance. As a result, there are now hundreds of pairs to choose from, including tried-and-tested traditional leather clodhoppers, ultralight trail running sneakers, and a whole host of hybrid designs, like approach shoes for scrambling and pillowy soft designs for epic through-hikes and all-year adventures. Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you'd like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day. Head to any serious hiking spot and you'll see at least one person wearing a pair of Quest 4s. Perennially popular and for good reason, the Salomons boast superb levels of comfort and support without the bulk typically associated with traditional walking boots. If the On-Running Cloudtrax (below) are sneakers, the Salomons feel like ski boots, but that's not a criticism. The extra height and support is most welcome when walking for long distances and when carrying a full pack....
With spring settling in across the U.S. and days lengthening, many people are ready to spend more time outside. But after a walk outdoors, have you ever found seeds clinging to your clothes' Lodged in your socks and shoelaces' Perhaps tangled in your pet's fur' While most of us don't give these hitchhikers much thought, seeds and burrs may be the first signs of invasive plant spread. Certain species of non-native invasive plants produce seeds designed to attach to unsuspecting animals or people. Once affixed, these sticky seeds can be carried long distances before they fall off in new environments. With favorable conditions, they can become established quickly and outcompete native plants. Outdoor recreation has expanded at a record pace across the U.S. in recent years. Overcrowding in outdoor spaces has many harmful effects, from degrading trails to accelerating the introduction and spread of invasive plants. As a recreation ecologist and an avid hiker, I study how people inadvertently spread invasive plants along trails. There are simple things that everyone can do before, during and after going outdoors to avoid picking up plant hitchhikers and help maintain trail systems for others to enjoy....
