New BSC study reveals, for the first time, that the female immune system changes much more than that of men with age

As they age, women have a greater tendency to suffer from autoimmune diseases, while in men, changes are more discreet but related to the risk of suffering from certain blood cancers.

Barcelona Supercomputing Center

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BSC researchers Aida Ripoll-Cladelles (left), Marta Melé (center) and Maria Sopena-Rios (right) in front of MareNostrum 5 supercomputer.

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Credit: Mario Ejarque / BSC-CNS

Barcelona, April 10, 2026 – Statistics show clear differences in the population's immune system according to sex: men are more susceptible to infections and cancers, while women have stronger immune responses, which translate, for example, into better responses to vaccines. Even so, with a more reactive immune system, the probability of the body attacking itself also increases, causing 80% of autoimmune disease development to occur in women.

In this context, understanding the aging of the immune system is key since, with age, the composition of immune cells changes and their protective functions deteriorate, causing a greater susceptibility to diseases. However, understanding how sex influences this profound transformation was not possible until now.

A new study by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) published today in Nature Aging demonstrated, for the first time, that immunological aging follows different dynamics between men and women, identifying the cells and genes responsible for the process, and providing a molecular explanation for the differences that previously were only observed globally in the population.

Thus, the results reveal that women present more pronounced changes in the immune system with age, with an increase in inflammatory immune cells. This finding could help explain why autoimmune diseases are mainly developed by women, especially at advanced ages, as well as the worsening of certain inflammatory pathologies after menopause.

On the other hand, the changes associated with immune system aging observed in men are globally less extensive, but an increase in certain blood cells presenting pre-leukemia alterations was observed, a fact that could explain why some blood cancers are more frequent in older men.

Finding these patterns was possible thanks to the analysis of blood samples from nearly 1,000 people of different ages covering the entire adult life, combined with a technology capable of analyzing each cell individually, called single-cell RNA sequencing. In total, the researchers analyzed the activity of 20,000 genes in more than one million blood cells, which allowed them to identify how the immune system changes over the years and detect clear differences between sexes.

“Until now, most studies analyzed the immune system based on the average of many cells at once, which makes it difficult to capture the progressive effects of aging. With cell-by-cell analysis and a much larger sample, we were able to detect these patterns and compare them robustly between biological sexes,” explained Maria Sopena-Rios, researcher at BSC and first co-author of the study.

To manage, process, and analyze a volume of data of this magnitude, the scientific team required the use of advanced computational methods that had never been applied to such complex data sets, with the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer as a key piece to make possible a study that would not have been viable without high-performance computing infrastructure.

 

Aging with a sex perspective

Although evidence existed that the immune system ages differently according to sex, women have been traditionally underrepresented in studies, the authors comment. This is the first time that large quantities of samples were analyzed with a balance between men and women, a fact that was decisive in obtaining these results.

“Many studies still do not take sex into account in their analyses, or directly only use data from men, so they leave key questions unanswered. Our research was born precisely from this need and combines a scientific outlook with a sex perspective, inclusive data, and great computational power,” highlighted Marta Melé, leader of the Transcriptomics and Functional Genomics group at BSC and director of the study.

With these discoveries, the study establishes the bases for incorporating biological sex as a key variable in precision medicine for aging. The identification of sex-specific aging cells and biomarkers opens the door to the development of preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies better adapted to women and men, contributing to more individualized and equitable healthcare in an increasingly aging population.

“The immune system plays a fundamental role throughout the organism; therefore, the differences we observed have a very important generalized impact on the entire body. Better understanding the aging of the immune system can help us understand processes that go beyond the blood and affect multiple tissues,” noted Aida Ripoll-Cladellas, researcher at BSC and first co-author of the study.

Treating aging as a homogeneous process in the entire population hides key biological differences, and understanding how it varies between women and men, the authors conclude, will be essential to improve immune health and promote healthy aging within everyone's reach.

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Journal

Nature Aging

DOI

10.1038/s43587-026-01099-x 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

Cells

Article Title

Single-cell analysis of the human immune system reveals sex-specific dynamics of immunosenescence

Article Publication Date

10-Apr-2026

 

What does it mean to be well? Landmark research delivers building blocks for good mental health

Adelaide University

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For decades, ‘mental wellbeing’ has been one of the most used, but least agreed upon, terms in mental health. Now, a landmark study led by Adelaide University and Be Well Co has brought alignment to one of mental health’s most fundamental questions – what does it actually mean to be well?

 

Conducted in partnership with Australian and international academics, and published in Nature Mental Health today, the study is the first to achieve international consensus on what constitutes positive mental health and what does not.

 

Surveying 122 global experts across 11 disciplines, researchers achieved agreement (75%+ consensus) on 19 dimensions, with near‑unanimous agreement (90%+ consensus) on six factors that are essential to positive mental health:

 

1. Meaning and purpose – feeling life is worthwhile and goal‑directed
2. Life satisfaction – overall evaluation that your life is good
3. Self‑acceptance – positive and non‑judgemental view of self
4. Connection – close, caring relationships with others
5. Autonomy – feeling in control of choices and self‑expression
6. Happiness – frequent positive mood and cheerfulness.

 

The definition is designed to inform how mental wellbeing is measured, supported and promoted across healthcare, workplaces and public policy.

 

“By agreeing that positive mental health isn’t a single feeling, but a combination of how we feel, how we function and how we connect with others, the study brings much‑needed clarity to the field,” said Adelaide University researcher Dr Matthew Iasiello.

 

“For too long, mental wellbeing has been defined in different ways across research, healthcare and government, making it almost impossible to compare evidence or design effective policy.

 

“Imagine if there were 150 different ways of measuring blood pressure – the results would be meaningless. That’s why it’s important to agree on what positive mental health is, and what it isn’t.”

 

Factors such as physical health, income, housing, coping strategies and spirituality were determined not to define positive mental health, instead being considered important drivers of it.

 

Importantly, the study confirms that positive mental health is separate from mental illness, meaning people can experience mental wellbeing even while living with a mental health condition.

 

Across 11 disciplines (Economics, Medicine, Nursing, Philosophy, Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, Health Psychology, Positive Psychology, Public Health, Sociology and Theology), researchers confirmed a total of 19 dimensions of mental wellbeing*, including the six dominant factors.

 

“Positive mental health isn’t about feeling good all the time,” Dr Matthew Iasiello said.

 

“It’s about having a combination of emotional wellbeing, psychological functioning, and social connection that helps you live a meaningful, manageable life, even when things might be hard.

“In this way, positive mental health is less about feeling good all the time, and more about having the right combination of factors to cope, live well, and experience life as meaningful.

 

“When people can better recognise which parts of their wellbeing are strong, and which might need support it gives them a clearer sense of where to focus their efforts.”

 

Co-researcher, Adelaide University and Be Well Co’s Dr Joep van Agteren said the research is not only about advancing scientific understanding, but essential to guide mental health policy, programs and measurement tools.

 

“Workplaces, government organisations and community groups often need help to build the conditions that help their people to thrive,” Dr van Agteren said.

 

“Understanding what makes up positive mental wellbeing helps individuals and organisations focus on what can really makes a difference.

 

“Whether it’s government departments creating spaces for connection, or teachers building optimism in kids at school, many of us are already contributing to wellbeing without realising it.

 

“We hope that this taxonomy can further strengthen the efforts of anyone who is trying to do their part in making people feel their best, in Australia and beyond, is worthwhile.”

 

The findings underscore the importance of a shared definition for guiding research, policy and practice going forward.

 

“You can't build what you can't define,” said senior author and Associate Professor Dan Fassnacht, University of the Sunshine Coast.

 

“For the first time, we have a scientifically agreed blueprint for what good mental health actually looks like – and that changes everything.” 

 

Notes for editors:

• *The 19 Dimensions of Positive Mental Health include: Acceptance · Autonomy · Safety · Happiness · Fun · Optimism · Life Satisfaction · Vitality · Belonging · Calmness · Meaning and Purpose · Self-Acceptance · Self-Congruence · Achievement · Development · Connection · Competence · Activities and Functioning · Engagement
• The study team included: Prof Lindsay Oades (University of York Mumbai), Assoc Prof Aaron Jarden (Edith Cowan University), Prof Philip Batterham (Australian National University), Assoc Prof Dan Fassnacht and Dr Kathina Ali (University of the Sunshine Coast), Prof Emeritus Mike Kyrios and Ms Elli Kolovos (Flinders University), Prof Todd Kashdan (George Mason University, USA), Assoc Prof Fallon Goodman (George Washington University, USA), and Assoc Prof Dorota Węziak-Białowolska (Harvard University and Kozminski University, Poland).

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Media contact:

Dr Matthew Iasiello, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Adelaide University.
M: +61 431 246 122 E: matthew.iasiello@adelaide.edu.au

Annabel Mansfield, Senior Media Adviser Adelaide University. M: +61 479 182 489
E: Annabel.Mansfield@adelaide.edu.au  

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Journal

Nature Mental Health

DOI

10.1038/s44220-026-00617-5 

Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Towards a Taxonomy of Positive Mental Health: A Delphi Consensus Study

Article Publication Date

10-Apr-2026

 

The UCO discovers an advanced mural painting technique never before seen in Roman Hispania

The mixture of pigments found in a Cartagena domus and analyzedby the IQUEMA and SCAI laboratories reveals the technical expertise of 1st-century craftsmen

University of Córdoba

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José Rafael Ruiz Arrebola and Daniel Cosano Hidalgo, researchers from the Department of Organic Chemistry at the Chemical Institute for Energy and the Environment (IQUEMA) at the University of Córdoba

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Credit: University of Cordoba

Roman painters commissioned at the end of the 1st century to decorate the walls of the Domus of Salvius in present-day Cartagena could hardly have imagined that their technical expertise would still attract attention twenty centuries later. Analysis of wall paintings from one of the house’s rooms—among the best preserved in ancient Carthago Nova—shows that these craftsmen possessed a sophisticated understanding of the materials used to produce pigments, as well as the effects achieved through combining them. In particular, researchers identified an advanced “recipe” that enabled them to reduce costs while ensuring the durability of the paint. This method relied on a mixture of pigments, including one of the most valued minerals of the time: costly cinnabar, often referred to as “red gold.”

This conclusion is the result of a multidisciplinary study conducted by researchers from the Department of Prehistory, Archaeology, Ancient History, Medieval History, and Historiographical Sciences and Techniques at the University of Murcia, together with the Department of Organic Chemistry at the Chemical Institute for Energy and the Environment (IQUEMA) at the University of Córdoba. Through a range of analytical techniques, the remains discovered in the domus have revealed a unique combination of pigments never before documented in Hispania, with only one known parallel in Ephesus, Turkey.

As UCO researchers José Rafael Ruiz Arrebola and Daniel Cosano Hidalgo explain, theyhave published their research in the journal Heritage Science alongside archaeologists Gonzalo Castillo Alcántara, Alicia Fernández Díaz, and José Miguel Noguera Celdrán. The groups' multidisciplinary research is in line with previous work on topics such as the world’s oldest wine and aromas that perfumed the Roman Empire. In this case, analyses carried out in thelaboratories of the IQUEMA and FQM-346 research groups made it possible to determine the composition of the mortars used in the house through X-ray diffraction, as well as to identify pigment residues using Raman spectroscopy; a technique that detects chemical compounds based on how they interact with light. The results support a previously proposed theory: that the Domus of Salvius belonged to a wealthy family capable of affording expensive construction and decorative materials. However, the analysis of the pigments also led the team to propose a complementary hypothesis; one that isnot related to the purchasing power of the domus' inhabitants but rather to the technical skill of the craftsmen.

Techniques for preserving color

Calcium carbonate for the white pigment, charcoal for the black, goethite for the yellow, and glauconite for the green with traces of Egyptian blue; the first synthetic pigment and a status symbol. For the red pigment, a mixture of cinnabar and iron oxide, for which there are also documented precedents. “Iron oxide was a cheap material that was commonly used in workshops to create reddish tones. Cinnabar was more costly and had to be supplied by the client,” explain the researchers, who state that it was common practice to mix these two elements to reduce costs without losing the chromatic intensity of the cinnabar, which thus lasted longer. However, what was truly striking and innovative was not the mixture itself, but the way in which it had been applied to the walls of the Domus of Salvius.

Upon analyzing the sample using scanning electron microscopy in the SCAI laboratories, the researchers discovered that the mixture that created the mural’s intense red color had not been applied directly to the wall. Instead, the surface had first been "primed" with a layer of yellow goethite. This was no coincidence. “Cinnabar tends to blacken when exposed to light, moisture, and caustic environments,” explain the study’s authors, who believe that the craftsmen applied the layer of goethite to protect the mixture of lime and iron oxide, possibly allowing it to act as a stabilizer. In this way, they ensured that the costly cinnabar not only went further but also retained its appearance for longer.

The use of this technique indicates a high level of expertise on the part of the craftsmen, who would have studied the materials, the effects resulting from combining them, and the application of various techniques. The researchers suggest the existence of recipe books and workshops where this knowledge was developed and shared, not only in Cartago Nova but also beyond the borders of Hispania. In this way, archaeometric analysis and cooperation between fields of knowledge that are, at first glance, very different, such as chemistry and archaeology, allow us to study the remains of antiquity from new perspectives and learn more about the past, by comparing the information obtained from classical sources, such as Vitruvius or Pliny the Elder, with the archaeological reality.

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Journal

Heritage Science

DOI

10.1038/s40494-025-02198-5 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Archaeometric characterisation of materials and techniques in Roman wall painting: the Domus of Salvius in Cartagena, Spain

ARACHNOLOGY

Tarantulas may use learning and memory to search for food and locate their retreats

University of Turku

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A blind cave-dwelling tarantula observed in Mexico.

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Credit: Rick C. West

Researchers have documented several cases of spatial orientation in tarantulas living both in trees and in underground burrows. Spatial orientation refers to the ability of an animal to understand where it is in three-dimensional space and how to navigate purposefully within its environment. The observations suggest that tarantulas may remember and reuse information to improve their chances of catching prey or to locate their retreats, for example.

A new study by researcher Alireza Zamani from the University of Turku, Finland, and independent researcher Rick C. West reports on spatial orientation in tarantulas in their natural habitats across North and South America. The observations pertain to both tree-dwelling species as well as burrowing species. All the observed tarantula species showed behaviour that may indicate learning.

Some tree-dwelling individuals were observed leaving their retreats every night and travelling to prey-rich locations about one to two meters away, such as areas near artificial lights that attracted flying insects. After hunting, the spiders returned to the same retreats.

The researchers also reported unusual climbing behaviour in species that normally live in burrows. These tarantulas appeared to adapt to foraging in tree canopies rather than on the ground during the dry season.

Together, these observations suggest that tarantulas may remember and reuse information from previous experiences to improve their chances of catching prey. In addition, in lowland floodplain areas, ground-dwelling tarantulas were seen temporarily moving into shrubs or trees during the rainy season, likely to avoid flooding.

The observed behaviours differ from ontogenetic shifts, which are changes in an animal’s habitat, diet, or behaviour that occur at specific stages of development, typically when it grows from a juvenile to an adult. According to this research, a blind cave-dwelling tarantula from Mexico possibly shows such a shift in foraging behaviour: while juveniles appear to stay closer to fixed retreats, adults move more irregularly and seem less dependent on a permanent retreat. This might be because, as they grow, their energetic demands increase and they begin to hunt larger prey.

Behaviour combines internal signals with external cues

Tarantulas were also observed responding to disturbance by returning quickly and directly to their burrows without hesitation or signs of disorientation. What makes this one of the most important observations of the study is the fact that the blind cave-dwelling tarantula behaved similarly to the tarantulas with vision.

The researchers suggest that this behaviour is likely supported by the spiders’ ability to combine internal body signals related to movement, body position, and direction with environmental information, such as light, vibrations, and chemical cues.

“Previous studies have shown that tarantulas can learn to avoid unpleasant stimuli, navigate complex mazes, and remember spatial locations over time. These abilities suggest that their nervous systems support more flexible behaviour than traditionally assumed,” says the lead author of the study, researcher Alireza Zamani from the University of Turku.

However, the researchers note that the cognitive interpretation remains preliminary. Tarantulas are known to rely heavily on sensory information, particularly chemical and silk-based cues, which may also explain how they recognise retreats and choose foraging sites. Further experimental research will be needed to evaluate the relative roles of learning and sensory mechanisms.

“Overall, studies on spider learning are still relatively recent, especially for tarantulas. Observations from the field, combined with controlled experiments, will be important for understanding how sensory cues, memory, and experience interact to help these spiders navigate and search for prey,” notes Zamani.

The research article was published in the journal Ecology and Evolution.

 

A female Goliath birdeater, a species that normally lives in burrows, foraging in tree canopies.

Credit

Rick C. West

Journal

Ecology and Evolution

DOI

10.1002/ece3.73329 

Article Title

Insights Into Spatial Orientation and Cognition in Tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae) Under Natural Conditions, With Notes on Possible Ontogenetic Niche Shifts

 

Study finds no increased risk of respiratory cancers from asbestos-free talc exposure

International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer

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Paolo Boffetta, Stony Brook Cancer Center and Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University

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Credit: Stony Brook Cancer Center and Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University

(Denver, Colo. April 10, 2026) -- In a systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers found that occupational exposure to talc that is not contaminated with asbestos is not associated with an increase in the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma, or laryngeal cancer.  The findings are published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the official journal of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.  Access the complete study here: https://www.jto.org/article/S1556-0864(26)00163-2/.

Evidence suggests a potential link between occupational talc exposure and increased risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma, when talc is contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen. However, the findings for non-contaminated talc remained inconclusive.

To resolve this issue, researchers led by Paolo Boffetta, Stony Brook Cancer Center and Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, NY, identified 13, 8, and 7 publications reporting on lung cancer, mesothelioma, and laryngeal cancer, respectively. Five studies on lung cancer in talc miners and millers and three studies in other industries were included in the meta-analysis.

The meta-analysis showed:

Lung cancer

Relative risk (RR) of 1.13 (95% CI: 0.97–1.33) among miners and millers

RR of 1.12 (95% CI: 0.79–1.57) among workers in other industries

Mesothelioma

No cases reported among talc miners and millers in the primary analyses

Laryngeal cancer

No association (RR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.58–1.57)

Talc is a naturally occurring mineral that is mined from the earth and then processed into the soft, powdery substance used in products like cosmetics, ceramics, paper, and plastics.  Major talc-producing regions include China, India, Brazil, the United States, France, and Italy.

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men (after prostate cancer) and women (after breast cancer). It accounted in 2022 for an estimated 1,572,000 new cases and 1,233,000 deaths each year among men and 908,000 cases and 587,000 deaths among women.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium which is most frequently diagnosed in the pleura (known as pleural mesothelioma) but also can occur in the abdominopelvic cavity (peritoneal mesothelioma), the heart (pericardial mesothelioma), or the testes (testicular mesothelioma) (1). Mesothelioma was considered a very rare tumor until a large series of cases were reported in the 1960s among workers employed in asbestos mining and manufacturing (2,3).

Laryngeal cancer is one of the most prevalent types of head and neck cancer. According to GLOBOCAN 2022 (4), its Age Standardized Rate (ASR) is only 1.9 per 100,000 and Age-Standardized Mortality Rate (ASMR) is 1 per 100,000 globally.

“In conclusion, current epidemiological evidence does not provide support for an increased risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma, or laryngeal cancer among workers who are primarily exposed to talc that is free from asbestos contamination,” Boffetta and co-authors wrote.

However, according to the study, it is important to continue monitoring occupational groups, enhance the mineralogical characterization of talc deposits, and conduct future studies that include detailed exposure assessments and control for key confounding factors. These steps are essential to better understand any potential low-level risks and to inform strategies for occupational health prevention.

About the IASLC

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization dedicated solely to the study of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Founded in 1974, the association's membership includes more than 11,000 lung cancer specialists across all disciplines in over 100 countries, forming a global network working together to conquer lung and thoracic cancers worldwide. The association publishes the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the primary educational and informational publication for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of all thoracic malignancies. Visit www.iaslc.org for more information.

About the JTO

Journal of Thoracic Oncology (JTO), the official journal of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, is the primary educational and informational publication for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of all thoracic malignancies. JTO emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach and includes original research reviews and opinion pieces. The audience includes epidemiologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons, pulmonologists, radiologists, pathologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and research scientists with a special interest in thoracic oncology.

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Journal

Journal of Thoracic Oncology

Method of Research

Meta-analysis

Subject of Research

People