D.E.I. IS NOT DEAD

Keck Medicine of USC earns LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader 2026 designation

Keck Medicine of USC hospitals and USC Student Health earn top score in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2026 Healthcare Equality Index

University of Southern California - Health Sciences

Facebook

XLinkedInWeChatBluesky\WhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

Keck Medicine of USC raised the Pride Flag on June 1, 2026, to kick off National LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

view more 

Credit: Ricardo Carrasco III

LOS ANGELES — Keck Medicine of USC hospitals and USC Student Health, part of Keck Medicine, received the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader designation in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2026 Healthcare Equality Index (HEI).  

HEI is the industry standard benchmarking tool for LGBTQ+ inclusion and equity practices in the healthcare field, judging hospitals on five criteria: 

• Non-Discrimination and Staff Training 

• Patient Services and Support 

• Employee Benefits and Policies 

• Patient and Community Engagement 

• Responsible Citizenship  

To receive LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader designation, healthcare facilities must receive the maximum score in each criteria and earn an overall score of 100.  

“Every patient deserves safe and respectful care, and Keck Medicine is proud to serve the diverse needs of the LGBTQ+ community,” said Rod Hanners, CEO of Keck Medicine. “This recognition reflects our commitment to delivering personalized, compassionate medicine and fostering a welcoming, inclusive environment for all.”  

Keck Medicine hospitals include Keck Hospital of USC, USC Norris Cancer Hospital, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital (USC-VHH) and USC Arcadia Hospital (USC-AH). This marks the eighth time that Keck Hospital, USC Norris and USC-VHH have received the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader distinction, and the second time that USC-AH has received the designation since joining Keck Medicine in 2022.  

USC Student Health, which provides comprehensive healthcare to USC students, participated in the survey for the third time and joins a select group of college healthcare providers in receiving the leader designation.  

Commitment to Inclusivity and Equity 

Keck Medicine leads multiple initiatives and programs in support of the LGBTQ+ community, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity and equity.  

• The USC Gender Affirming Care Program offers evidence-based comprehensive healthcare tailored to transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse patients. The program’s dedicated patient navigator assists patients with their personalized needs throughout their healthcare journey.  

• The health system is a sponsor of the Latino Equality Alliance LGBTQ+ Youth College Scholarship Program, which includes a Keck Medicine scholarship to support LGBTQ+ students pursuing healthcare careers. 

• Keck Medicine also sponsors the annual Los Angeles Pride Parade, in partnership with the Keck School of Medicine of USC. 

• The health system collaborates with several local LGBTQ+ nonprofit organizations, including The TransLatin@ Coalition, a trans-led nonprofit organization that advocates for the needs of transgender, gender non-conforming and intersex immigrants; and Bienestar, a community-based social services organization addressing emerging health issues faced by Latinx and LGBTQ+ populations.   

• Since 2015, the Keck Pride employee resource group, has been a pillar in creating a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ patients, families and staff, and is a driving force in many of the health system’s initiatives.  

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign, a civil rights organization working to achieve equity for LGBTQ+ people.  

### 

For more information about Keck Medicine of USC, please visit news.KeckMedicine.org. 

 

This jacket pulls drinking water from thin air

The advance in fabric technology comes alongside a new benchmark for atmospheric water harvesting.

University of Texas at Austin

Facebook

XLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

The fiber that collects water from the air. 

view more 

Credit: The University of Texas at Austin

Photos, videos and additional assets are available for download.

Engineers at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a jacket that harvests drinking water directly from the air. The technology could benefit anyone who spends much time in areas without easy access to drinking water, from hobbyist hikers, campers and runners to agricultural workers, emergency responders and soldiers.

“Water harvesting from air is usually imagined as a stationary device such as a box, a panel or a large sorbent bed,” said Guihua Yu, chair professor of the Cockrell School of Engineering’s Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering and Texas Materials Institute and one of the leaders of the new research in Science Advances. “Here, we wanted to rethink the form of the technology. If the fabric itself can collect water from air, it opens a new direction for personal and portable water access.”

The textile incorporated into the jacket collects moisture and funnels it to detachable harvesting units. Those units are placed in a foldable collector piece and heated to produce the water.

The jacket produced between 400 and 900 milliliters of drinkable water per day, about 14 to 30 ounces, depending on humidity levels.

Compared with conventional water-harvesting materials, the textile showed a three- to 10-fold improvement at scale. By focusing on the fibers rather than building another bulky device, the researchers overcame a common problem in the field.

“The important advance here is that the team did not simply make another material that absorbs water,” said Keith Johnston, co-author and chair professor of the Cockrell School of Engineering’s McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering. “They designed a pathway for water to move quickly, from vapor in the air, to liquid on the fiber surface, and then into the textile. That transport design is what allows the material to work not just in a small lab test, but in a wearable system.”

The researchers are eyeing applications beyond clothing, including backpacks, tents, emergency shelters and other outdoor gear, allowing items people carry every day to help collect water from the air. Soon, they will look at applying the technology to outdoor activities, remote field operations, disaster response, and water access in arid or infrastructure-limited regions.

The textile work comes as a separate device from the same research team pulled a record amount of drinking water from the air in the hot, arid climate of the Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico and the more humid environment of Austin, demonstrating the real-world potential to use atmospheric moisture to address drinking water shortages.

In tests, the researchers captured 1.3 liters of clean water per day in both arid and semi-humid areas. That equates to 4.3 liters of water per kilogram of moisture-capturing materials per day, more than any other research group has achieved.

“This is a big stride toward practical atmospheric water harvesting,” said Weixin Guan, one of the lead authors of a new paper published in Nature Water. “This goal has been incubated over years of work, from molecular design to real-world operation, and it is especially meaningful to see those pieces finally come together in a field-ready system.”

At the center of the device is a specially engineered hydrogel fabric made from biomass-derived materials. The fabric absorbs moisture from the air, then releases it when heated by sunlight, so the water can be condensed and collected.

The regions where the device should perform best overlap with many of the world’s most water-stressed areas, including parts of North Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. That makes this technology especially promising as a decentralized water solution for remote communities, emergency response and other settings where conventional water systems are difficult to build or maintain.

The device is part of the team’s broader AirGel invention, which won the top prize in the graduate category of the 2025 National Collegiate Inventors Competition.

 

The detachable harvesting units in the jacket are placed in a foldable collector piece and heated to produce the water.

Credit

The University of Texas at Austin

---

Journal

Science Advances

DOI

10.1126/sciadv.aed9949 

Article Title

Scalable hierarchical textile fibers toward personalized wearable atmospheric water harvesting

Article Publication Date

10-Jun-2026

 

It takes two to tango: How to perform coordinated pair dances in cranes?

Researchers revealed that the sequence and timing of behaviors play a crucial role in the pair dances of wild red-crowned cranes.

The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI

Facebook

WeChat
WhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

A new study found the sequence and timing of behaviors play a crucial role in the pair dances of the red-crowned cranes.

view more 

Credit: Kohei Takeda

　

Animal pairs engage in mutual signals by simultaneously performing a diverse repertoire of behaviors. A famous example is the sophisticated dance (mutual displays) performed by bird pairs. In general, previous studies have analyzed individuals separately, thus studies elucidating the complex interactions between two individuals, such as pair dances, have been extremely limited. The emerging property of pair dances cannot be revealed without analyzing the behaviors of both individuals together.

　This study focused on the pair dance of wild red-crowned cranes. The pair dance is performed by breeding pairs and lasts up to three minutes. Until now, very little was known about the details of the bidirectional communication during their pair dance.

　We observed 21 pairs of wild red-crowned cranes in Kushiro, Hokkaido. The sequence and duration of behavioral elements for both males and females were recorded, and the interplay of dance behavioral elements were analyzed using multiple statistical methods.

　Analyses of 99 pair dances revealed that three specific behavioral elements—bill-stab, bow, and arch —characterized the sequence and combinations. This indicated that the pair dance has some rules. Furthermore, the analysis quantifying temporal associations between actions revealed that the behavioral element was sometimes determined by the partner's preceding action, highlighting that timing between pairs is key to the pair dance. These findings clearly demonstrate that the order and timing of behavioral elements play a crucial role in pair communication. In addition, despite the lack of apparent sexual dimorphism in the cranes, several sexual differences were found in the pair dance. Males danced longer than females, and females tended to take the lead in determining the content of the pair dance.

　This study quantitatively revealed the complexity of bidirectional communication in pair dances, demonstrating that pairs dance in response to their partners. This finding not only deepens our understanding of crane pair dances but also highlights the importance of considering mutual interactions between two individuals as a unit. Future work will improve this research framework and apply it broadly to other bidirectional communication beyond pair dances. This is expected to enable a detailed understanding of how each animal engages in complex, mutual signals.

 

The three specific behavioral elements—bill-stab, bow, and arch—characterized the sequence and combinations.

Credit

Kohei Takeda

---

Journal

Animal Behaviour

DOI

10.1016/j.anbehav.2026.123615 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

A novel framework for identifying sequential and temporal structure of mutual displays: An application to crane dances

Article Publication Date

11-Jun-2026

 

One photon, two reactions - new catalyst converts CO₂ and biowaste simultaneously

University of Nottingham

Facebook

XLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

solar driven catalyst material that harnesses the energy of a single photon to reduce carbon dioxide and oxidise organic waste at the same time

view more 

Credit: University of Nottingham

Researchers have developed a solar driven catalyst material that harnesses the energy of a single photon to reduce carbon dioxide and oxidise organic waste at the same time, and produce valuable chemicals in both reactions. 

Scientists at the University of Nottingham have created two catalyst materials which, when coupled together within the same reactor, can simultaneously convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) into a valuable chemical and biomass-derived feedstock into building blocks for sustainable plastics, driven solely by solar light. The research has been published in Communications Materials of the Nature Publishing Group.

A bias-free photoelectrochemical (PEC) reactor consists of two connected compartments, each containing the newly developed catalysts. When sunlight shines on one compartment, each photon drives the oxidation of a biowaste molecule. The electron released during this process is then transferred to the second compartment, where it reduces CO₂ to formate. 

This creates two useful products from the energy of a single photon: a valuable chemical derived from greenhouse gas, widely used in textiles, paints, and pharmaceuticals, and a precursor to next-generation bio-based plastics sourced from biowaste.

Dr Madasamy Thangamuthu, Research Fellow at the School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, who designed the PEC reactor and catalysts, said: “At the heart of the process is a nanostructured photoanode made of carbon nitride and tungsten oxide semiconductors, enhanced with a cobalt oxide layer, which is coupled to a cathode in the second compartment. The process is initiated when a photon of solar light strikes the photoanode, generating an electron that travels to the cathode to reduce CO2, while the remaining hole on the photoanode simultaneously oxidises the 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furoic acid (HMFA) molecule.”

The PEC reactor with the new catalysts achieved remarkably high efficiencies of approximately 93% for CO₂-to-formate conversion and around 95% for biomass oxidation, showcasing efficient utilisation of photon energy. As the transformation is driven solely by solar energy, without the need for additional heat or electrical input, this approach presents exciting opportunities for sustainable chemical manufacturing.

Dr Vincenzo Taresco, Assistant Professor in the School of Chemistry, who specialises in polymeric materials synthesis, said: “Sustainable polymer production is one of the key challenges of our times. While advances in materials chemistry are progressing rapidly, new strategies are needed to drive these reactions efficiently. In this work, the use of solar light enables a clean process, ensuring that a sustainable energy source powers sustainable chemistry.” 

The catalysts developed by the Nottingham group differ from many existing catalyst materials that rely on expensive or scarce materials. Instead, these new catalysts are made from earth- abundant elements, making them more suitable for scalable applications. A life cycle assessment has further confirmed the environmental benefits of this process, emphasising its potential for low-carbon chemical manufacturing. In the future, this catalyst system could be scaled up for industrial use.

Dr Jesum Alves Fernandes, Associate Professor in the School of Chemistry, and expert in heterogeneous catalysis, said: “The method of catalyst fabrication is crucial for the future success of this technology. Our unique approach to the on-surface assembly of metal atoms into catalyst particles—specifically tailored in size, shape, and composition—will be essential for extending this work to other chemical processes and further enhancing CO2 utilisation.”

The group has previously reported on the on-surface assembly of catalysts from individual atoms to create highly effective catalysts for hydrogen production and CO2 conversion to methanol. 

The researchers believe that this approach can be further developed to integrate with industrial CO₂ sources and biorefineries, enabling distributed, sustainable chemical production.

Andrei Khlobystov, Professor of Nanomaterials at the School of Chemistry, said: “We are very excited about this breakthrough. Currently, humanity harvests only a tiny fraction of solar energy, most of which is converted into electricity. This discovery, however, opens new opportunities to capture sunlight directly to address two global challenges simultaneously. Using sustainable catalysts to drive both processes brings us closer to achieving UK and global net-zero targets.”

This work, funded by the EPSRC Programme Grant ‘Metal atoms on surfaces and interfaces (MASI) for sustainable future’ www.masi.ac.uk, represents a significant step towards reducing reliance on expensive metals for hydrogen production, thus contributing significantly to the circular and low-carbon economy.

---

Journal

Communications Materials

DOI

10.1038/s43246-026-01189-8 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Article Title

Bias-free photoelectrochemical co-production of formate from CO2 and biomass-derived plastic precursors

Article Publication Date

12-Jun-2026

THE CASE FOR SYNTH BIO TO END ANIMAL TESTING

Rat kidneys grown in mice offer new insights into addressing organ donor shortages

International Society for Stem Cell Research

Facebook

XLinkedInWeChatBluesky
Email

 

image: 

Rat embryonic stem cells (red) generate kidney tissue in Osr1-deficient mouse embryos via interspecies blastocyst complementation. The nephron structure and collecting duct (E-cadherin, green) are predominantly derived from the rat donor cells. The DNA (blue) was used for counterstaining.

view more 

Credit: Shunsuke Yuri and Ayako Isotani, Nara Institute of Science and Technology

Kidney transplantation remains the most effective treatment for end-stage kidney disease, yet a severe shortage of donor organs continues to limit access for millions of patients worldwide. With demand for kidney transplants expected to reach 5 million patients by 2030 and only a fraction of that need currently being met, researchers are exploring innovative approaches to generate transplantable organs.

In a study published today in Stem Cell Reports, Shunsuke Yuri of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Japan and Ayako Isotani of the Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Japan, successfully generated rat-derived kidneys in mice using a technique known as interspecies blastocyst complementation. The researchers created mouse embryos genetically unable to form kidneys, leaving a developmental niche that could be filled by injected embryonic stem cells. When rat embryonic stem cells were introduced into these embryos, they contributed extensively to kidney formation, particularly to nephron progenitor cells and ureteric bud lineages, resulting in the generation of a rat cell-derived kidney.

Although the interspecies embryos did not survive to birth, preventing assessment of kidney function, the study demonstrates the potential of using one species to generate organs from another. The findings represent an important step toward future efforts to grow transplantable human organs in larger animals, such as pigs, with the long-term goal of helping address the global shortage of donor kidneys.

About Stem Cell Reports
Stem Cell Reports is the open access, peer-reviewed journal of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) for communicating basic discoveries in stem cell research, in addition to translational and clinical studies. Stem Cell Reports focuses on original research with conceptual or practical advances that are of broad interest to stem cell biologists and clinicians. Stem Cell Reports is a Cell Press partner journal. Find the journal on X: @StemCellReports.

About ISSCR
Across more than 80 countries, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (@ISSCR) is the preeminent global, cross-disciplinary, science-based organization dedicated to advancing stem cell research and its translation to medicine.

---

Journal

Stem Cell Reports

DOI

10.1016/j.stemcr.2026.102957 

Article Title

Rat cell–derived kidney generation via interspecies blastocyst 2 complementation in an Osr1-KO mouse model

Article Publication Date

11-Jun-2026