News at a glance: A win for obesity drugs, a new infectious disease institute head, and Mexican fireflies under threat

CONSERVATION Researchers raise alarm over threat to Mexican fireflies Scientists from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) last week delivered a letter to the Mexican government requesting it regulate tourism centered on the threatened firefly species Photinus palaciosi . Endemic to Mexico’s Tlaxcala forests, P. palaciosi is one of the few species that glow in synchrony, offering an annual spectacle that attracts thousands of visitors during summer mating season. The letter describes how littering, artificial light, and noise interfere with the insects’ courtship and egg-laying behaviors. In an accompanying public statement, IUCN’s Firefly Specialist Group asks visitors and the tourism industry to avoid putting accommodations near breeding sites and to minimize artificial lighting, and calls for further research into the insects’ needs and distribution. BIOMEDICINE Obesity drug reduces heart risks The weight-loss drug semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, decreased risk of cardiovascular problems by 20% in a highly anticipated clinical trial , its maker, Novo Nordisk, announced in a press release this week. The 5-year, randomized study included more than 17,500 people ages 45 and older who were overweight or obese and had cardiovascular disease. Participants were given weekly injections of either a placebo or semaglutide, which activates the receptor f...
Source: Science of Aging Knowledge Environment - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research