lungs

Pope Leo XIV has cast an absentee ballot in Illinois to vote in the US midterm elections, while separately the Vatican confirmed he will undergo surgery to remove a nodule on his lung. The twin developments put the American-born pontiff back in the headlines, drawing attention both to his continued ties to the United States and to concern over his health ahead of the operation.

Microplastics are back in the spotlight as reports highlight the growing evidence of their potential harm to human health. Tiny plastic particles have been found in blood, lungs and other tissues, raising concerns about inflammation, hormone disruption and long-term effects that scientists are still working to understand.

A respiratory therapist in Albany, Georgia is marking Respiratory Care Week by educating the public on warning signs of poor lung health. The outreach aims to help people recognize symptoms such as persistent coughing or shortness of breath early, so they can seek medical care before conditions worsen.

Norwegian Princess Ingrid Alexandra has carried out her first solo appearance at the Royal Palace in Oslo, seen as a sign of her growing role in the royal household. Attention comes as Crown Princess Mette-Marit remains out of official duties until summer while recovering from a lung transplant, and the royal family has ended six weeks of court mourning. German media are closely following the Norwegian royals.

Germany and the EU are launching a project offering millions in loans to space companies. Start-ups in the sector have long struggled to secure financing, since space ventures require lengthy development periods and revenues that are hard to predict. The new credit programme is meant to close that funding gap and support Europe's space industry.

The Los Angeles Times is asking whether residents and visitors are prepared to embrace the upcoming L.A. Olympics wholeheartedly while overlooking the considerable costs involved. The question touches on the balance between civic excitement and financial reality as the city counts down to hosting the Games, with spending on venues, security and infrastructure expected to be substantial.

European health organisations, including the European Lung Foundation, are calling for robust health protection measures to be embedded in the EU's climate resilience framework. They argue that climate change poses direct risks to public health, particularly respiratory health, and want health safeguards made a central part of the bloc's adaptation policies.

Researchers are using whole-genome sequencing to investigate why some patients classified as low-risk still develop bleomycin-induced lung injury, a serious side effect of the chemotherapy drug. The work aims to uncover genetic variants that predispose individuals to pulmonary toxicity, which could help clinicians better identify vulnerable patients before treatment and guide safer use of bleomycin in cancer care.

Oncodaily published an interview with oncologist Khalis Mustafayev discussing the biology of brain metastases in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and new therapeutic strategies for the disease. The piece highlights how understanding metastatic mechanisms is shaping emerging treatment approaches in a cancer with limited options and high rates of brain spread.

A toymaker has successfully opposed a trademark application for the name 'Labubu' within the European Union, blocking the registration. The move comes as Labubu, the popular collectible character created by Kasing Lung and sold by Pop Mart, has become a global commercial phenomenon. The dispute highlights how companies are racing to secure intellectual property rights around the character's brand as its value soars.