thetranscendedman
@atranscendedman.bsky.social
Transparent to the transcendent.
Wrote a book on Long Covid. - https://jondouglas.dev/longhaul/
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. - Sagan
Wrote a book on Long Covid. - https://jondouglas.dev/longhaul/
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. - Sagan
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Donate to Patients Deserve Faster Answers - Help Build TrialPilot, organized by Jon Douglas
Hi, I’m Jon Douglas (@atranscendedman ).
I’ve lived with long … Jon Douglas needs your support for Patients Deserve Faster Answers - Help Build TrialPilot
gofund.me
For five years I've lived with long COVID and watched people push for answers without the tools they deserved.
So I'm building TrialPilot, a way to take part in real studies from home.
Any support or sharing would be deeply appreciated. ❤️
gofund.me/3f6830e8f
So I'm building TrialPilot, a way to take part in real studies from home.
Any support or sharing would be deeply appreciated. ❤️
gofund.me/3f6830e8f
NIH in Bethesda, in mice, found that brain dural sinuses are not passive drains but dynamic vessels that constrict, dilate, and open endothelial borders to regulate pressure and support immune surveillance, helping block viral invasion.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Highly dynamic dural sinuses support meningeal immunity - Nature
Microscopic imaging and biochemical studies show that sinuses in mouse and human form a highly dynamic surface that regulates fluid movement and immune cell surveillance via RAMP1-dependent regul...
www.nature.com
February 18, 2026 at 6:37 PM
NIH in Bethesda, in mice, found that brain dural sinuses are not passive drains but dynamic vessels that constrict, dilate, and open endothelial borders to regulate pressure and support immune surveillance, helping block viral invasion.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Researchers in mice and humans found that skull veins are active guardians.
These venous sinuses pulse, open tiny pores, and shift to let immune cells patrol, helping protect the brain from infection and dangerous pressure buildup.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
These venous sinuses pulse, open tiny pores, and shift to let immune cells patrol, helping protect the brain from infection and dangerous pressure buildup.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How ‘skull drains’ keep the brain safe from damage and pathogens
Veins in the skull can rearrange their borders to accommodate patrolling immune cells, a strange behaviour called ruffling.
www.nature.com
February 18, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Researchers in mice and humans found that skull veins are active guardians.
These venous sinuses pulse, open tiny pores, and shift to let immune cells patrol, helping protect the brain from infection and dangerous pressure buildup.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
These venous sinuses pulse, open tiny pores, and shift to let immune cells patrol, helping protect the brain from infection and dangerous pressure buildup.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Researchers report in mice that deleting the calcium channel Orai1 in microglia kept these brain immune cells anti inflammatory, lowered hippocampal inflammation, and prevented inflammation driven loss of motivation and reward seeking behavior.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Microglial reactivity and neuroinflammation-driven changes in motivational behaviors are regulated by Orai1 calcium channels
The Ca2+ channel Orai1 in microglia links systemic inflammation to depressive-like behaviors in mice.
www.science.org
February 18, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Researchers report in mice that deleting the calcium channel Orai1 in microglia kept these brain immune cells anti inflammatory, lowered hippocampal inflammation, and prevented inflammation driven loss of motivation and reward seeking behavior.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
For three decades, Australia has quietly run small early drug trials faster and at lower cost, without making patients less safe.
Meanwhile, the U.S. makes those same early steps slower and heavier.
www.clinicaltrialsabundance.blog/p/the-30-yea...
Meanwhile, the U.S. makes those same early steps slower and heavier.
www.clinicaltrialsabundance.blog/p/the-30-yea...
The 30-Year Success Story the US FDA Ignored
The Australian framework for early-stage trials has been around for 30 years and shows speed and safety do not have to come at each other's expense
www.clinicaltrialsabundance.blog
February 18, 2026 at 6:04 PM
For three decades, Australia has quietly run small early drug trials faster and at lower cost, without making patients less safe.
Meanwhile, the U.S. makes those same early steps slower and heavier.
www.clinicaltrialsabundance.blog/p/the-30-yea...
Meanwhile, the U.S. makes those same early steps slower and heavier.
www.clinicaltrialsabundance.blog/p/the-30-yea...
Scientists review how immune cells drive Alzheimer disease, revealing that microglia, brain borders and even peripheral T cells shape damage and repair.
Targeting this neuroimmune network may unlock new treatments beyond amyloid.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Targeting this neuroimmune network may unlock new treatments beyond amyloid.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Therapeutic targeting of neuroimmune mechanisms in neurodegeneration - Nature Reviews Drug Discovery
Neuroimmune interactions shape neurodegenerative disease progression. This Review examines how microglia integrate signals from central and peripheral immune cells, outlines emerging therapeutic targe...
www.nature.com
February 18, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Scientists review how immune cells drive Alzheimer disease, revealing that microglia, brain borders and even peripheral T cells shape damage and repair.
Targeting this neuroimmune network may unlock new treatments beyond amyloid.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Targeting this neuroimmune network may unlock new treatments beyond amyloid.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
She can dive 30 feet underwater, but some days she cannot stand long enough to shower.
Long Covid took her career and independence.
At 34, she is back with her parents, sleeping many hours just to function.
Still, she keeps going.
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Long Covid took her career and independence.
At 34, she is back with her parents, sleeping many hours just to function.
Still, she keeps going.
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Long Covid is still here. I know – my life came to a stop because of it
With more than 200 possible symptoms, long Covid isn’t easy to treat and diagnose. Rolled-back federal funding has led longhaulers to ask: is this all in my head?
www.theguardian.com
February 18, 2026 at 3:44 PM
She can dive 30 feet underwater, but some days she cannot stand long enough to shower.
Long Covid took her career and independence.
At 34, she is back with her parents, sleeping many hours just to function.
Still, she keeps going.
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Long Covid took her career and independence.
At 34, she is back with her parents, sleeping many hours just to function.
Still, she keeps going.
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Portugal, 3,034 healthcare workers, scientists found a better way to align COVID-19 antibody tests across labs.
Antibodies spiked after vaccination, waned over 12 months to 659.32 UA per mL, then jumped to 25,919.89 UA per mL after booster.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Antibodies spiked after vaccination, waned over 12 months to 659.32 UA per mL, then jumped to 25,919.89 UA per mL after booster.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Harmonization of IgG antibody values against the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Harmonization of IgG antibody values against the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein
www.nature.com
February 18, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Portugal, 3,034 healthcare workers, scientists found a better way to align COVID-19 antibody tests across labs.
Antibodies spiked after vaccination, waned over 12 months to 659.32 UA per mL, then jumped to 25,919.89 UA per mL after booster.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Antibodies spiked after vaccination, waned over 12 months to 659.32 UA per mL, then jumped to 25,919.89 UA per mL after booster.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Many neurologic diseases keep worsening even after the trigger is controlled
In MS and Alzheimer disease, damage can drive self sustaining inflammation and neurodegeneration, a process called progression independent of the triggering event
www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/...
In MS and Alzheimer disease, damage can drive self sustaining inflammation and neurodegeneration, a process called progression independent of the triggering event
www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/...
Progression Independent of the Triggering Event in Neurologic Diseases | Neurology Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation
www.neurology.org
February 18, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Many neurologic diseases keep worsening even after the trigger is controlled
In MS and Alzheimer disease, damage can drive self sustaining inflammation and neurodegeneration, a process called progression independent of the triggering event
www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/...
In MS and Alzheimer disease, damage can drive self sustaining inflammation and neurodegeneration, a process called progression independent of the triggering event
www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/...
1,212 healthy adults, scientists found age, sex, ancestry, and genes shape which viral pieces our antibodies target.
With age, flu antibodies shift from fast changing regions to more conserved ones, revealing how immunity evolves over time.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
With age, flu antibodies shift from fast changing regions to more conserved ones, revealing how immunity evolves over time.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Demographic and genetic factors shape the epitope specificity of the human antibody repertoire against viruses - Nature Immunology
Patin and colleagues present a mineable Resource database for identifying demographic and genetic factors that impact antiviral antibody repertoires in humans.
www.nature.com
February 18, 2026 at 1:33 PM
1,212 healthy adults, scientists found age, sex, ancestry, and genes shape which viral pieces our antibodies target.
With age, flu antibodies shift from fast changing regions to more conserved ones, revealing how immunity evolves over time.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
With age, flu antibodies shift from fast changing regions to more conserved ones, revealing how immunity evolves over time.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Gladstone Institutes report that AI helped scientists pinpoint new drug targets in days instead of years.
By mapping how proteins interact inside cells, the system can spot promising treatments faster and speed the path toward life saving therapies.
gladstone.org/news/how-ai-...
By mapping how proteins interact inside cells, the system can spot promising treatments faster and speed the path toward life saving therapies.
gladstone.org/news/how-ai-...
How AI Is Accelerating Life-Saving Discovery
Gladstone scientists are developing new AI tools that promise to revolutionize how science is done and lead to new treatments for the most devastating diseases.
gladstone.org
February 18, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Gladstone Institutes report that AI helped scientists pinpoint new drug targets in days instead of years.
By mapping how proteins interact inside cells, the system can spot promising treatments faster and speed the path toward life saving therapies.
gladstone.org/news/how-ai-...
By mapping how proteins interact inside cells, the system can spot promising treatments faster and speed the path toward life saving therapies.
gladstone.org/news/how-ai-...
Researchers report that the epilepsy drug levetiracetam lowers amyloid beta in Alzheimer’s models by changing how a key brain protein is processed at synapses
By targeting SV2A, it shifts the protein away from the toxic pathway and helps protect synapses
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
By targeting SV2A, it shifts the protein away from the toxic pathway and helps protect synapses
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Levetiracetam prevents Aβ production through SV2a-dependent modulation of APP processing in Alzheimer’s disease models
Levetiracetam prevents Aβ production by reducing synaptic vesicle cycling and restoring APP nonamyloidogenic processing.
www.science.org
February 18, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Researchers report that the epilepsy drug levetiracetam lowers amyloid beta in Alzheimer’s models by changing how a key brain protein is processed at synapses
By targeting SV2A, it shifts the protein away from the toxic pathway and helps protect synapses
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
By targeting SV2A, it shifts the protein away from the toxic pathway and helps protect synapses
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Alexandria University Hospital, 66 patients with moderate to severe COVID 19 found cyclosporine shortened recovery by nearly 1 day and lowered IL-6, CRP, ferritin, and D dimer, with no major safety issues, though overall clinical outcomes were unchanged.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Effectiveness and safety of cyclosporine A in moderate to severe COVID-19: a randomized, open-label trial - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Effectiveness and safety of cyclosporine A in moderate to severe COVID-19: a randomized, open-label trial
www.nature.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Alexandria University Hospital, 66 patients with moderate to severe COVID 19 found cyclosporine shortened recovery by nearly 1 day and lowered IL-6, CRP, ferritin, and D dimer, with no major safety issues, though overall clinical outcomes were unchanged.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Jilin University researchers in mice found that blocking CD25 during SARS CoV 2 vaccination boosted early germinal centers and generated broader, stronger neutralizing antibodies against variants including Omicron by briefly lifting immune suppression.
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
CD25 modulation enhances broadly neutralizing antibody response of SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine - Communications Biology
CD25 modulation with SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine enhances broadly neutralizing antibody responses by rapidly inhibiting Treg cells and promoting early germinal center reactions.
www.nature.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Jilin University researchers in mice found that blocking CD25 during SARS CoV 2 vaccination boosted early germinal centers and generated broader, stronger neutralizing antibodies against variants including Omicron by briefly lifting immune suppression.
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
54 year old Jari Litmanen opens up about years of long Covid that left him unable to play for 4 years.
The former Liverpool and Ajax star says returning in 2024 legends games felt like a new life and he is now almost fully recovered.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
The former Liverpool and Ajax star says returning in 2024 legends games felt like a new life and he is now almost fully recovered.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
Jari Litmanen interview: Battling long Covid, winning over Van Gaal, and his lifelong Liverpool love
The Finn played for some of the world's biggest clubs and is a national hero — so why do some people think he underachieved?
www.nytimes.com
February 17, 2026 at 1:22 PM
54 year old Jari Litmanen opens up about years of long Covid that left him unable to play for 4 years.
The former Liverpool and Ajax star says returning in 2024 legends games felt like a new life and he is now almost fully recovered.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
The former Liverpool and Ajax star says returning in 2024 legends games felt like a new life and he is now almost fully recovered.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
West China Hospital studied lab models and cells and found cholesterol on the viral membrane helps SARS-CoV-2 enter cells.
It makes spike proteins cluster together, boosting docking to host cells. Blocking palmitoylation cut infection.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
It makes spike proteins cluster together, boosting docking to host cells. Blocking palmitoylation cut infection.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Molecular mechanism of cholesterol-dependent membrane fusion in SARS-CoV-2 entry - Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy - Molecular mechanism of cholesterol-dependent membrane fusion in SARS-CoV-2 entry
www.nature.com
February 17, 2026 at 1:19 PM
West China Hospital studied lab models and cells and found cholesterol on the viral membrane helps SARS-CoV-2 enter cells.
It makes spike proteins cluster together, boosting docking to host cells. Blocking palmitoylation cut infection.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
It makes spike proteins cluster together, boosting docking to host cells. Blocking palmitoylation cut infection.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Sorbonne Université researchers in mice found that intranasal SARS-CoV-2 infected the trigeminal ganglion and brainstem, triggering a cytokine storm, neuronal injury, and pain gene activation that may help explain migraine and facial pain in COVID-19.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Intranasal SARS-CoV-2 infection changes the transcriptome of the mouse trigeminal ganglion and brainstem: potential mechanisms underlying headache and trigeminal pain presentation in COVID-19 - Journa...
Journal of Neuroinflammation - Multiple symptoms have been observed in COVID-19 patients, including migraine and facial pain which may result from the sensitization of the trigeminal ganglion (TG)...
link.springer.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Sorbonne Université researchers in mice found that intranasal SARS-CoV-2 infected the trigeminal ganglion and brainstem, triggering a cytokine storm, neuronal injury, and pain gene activation that may help explain migraine and facial pain in COVID-19.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Australia, 275 participants, found a 5 drug COVID 19 therapy with or without famotidine was safe and well tolerated.
Only 1.5% were hospitalized and none needed ICU care.
Famotidine improved fatigue and nasal symptoms by day 14.
journals.lww.com/americanther...
Only 1.5% were hospitalized and none needed ICU care.
Famotidine improved fatigue and nasal symptoms by day 14.
journals.lww.com/americanther...
journals.lww.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:05 AM
Australia, 275 participants, found a 5 drug COVID 19 therapy with or without famotidine was safe and well tolerated.
Only 1.5% were hospitalized and none needed ICU care.
Famotidine improved fatigue and nasal symptoms by day 14.
journals.lww.com/americanther...
Only 1.5% were hospitalized and none needed ICU care.
Famotidine improved fatigue and nasal symptoms by day 14.
journals.lww.com/americanther...
Researchers reviewed evidence on COVID-19 and found opioids can reshape immune responses by acting on TLR4 and P2X7 pathways that drive cytokine storms, potentially worsening or dampening lung inflammation depending on dose and context
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Modulation of immune responses by opioids through toll-like and P2X receptor signaling in COVID-19 - Purinergic Signalling
The pathogenesis of COVID-19 involves complex interactions between viral replication and host immune dysregulation, mediated by toll-like receptors (TLRs) and P2X receptors (P2XRs). These receptors de...
link.springer.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:04 AM
Researchers reviewed evidence on COVID-19 and found opioids can reshape immune responses by acting on TLR4 and P2X7 pathways that drive cytokine storms, potentially worsening or dampening lung inflammation depending on dose and context
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Rome, 1202 participants in 9 studies, researchers found 41 measurable biomarkers linked to pediatric long COVID, from inflammatory cytokines to clotting markers, suggesting symptoms reflect real immune and vascular changes.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Biomarkers of long COVID in children and young adults: a scoping review - European Journal of Pediatrics
Following the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a significant percentage of people are now experiencing long-term symptoms, despite a continuing lack of concrete documentation of physiological and risk profiles th...
link.springer.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Rome, 1202 participants in 9 studies, researchers found 41 measurable biomarkers linked to pediatric long COVID, from inflammatory cytokines to clotting markers, suggesting symptoms reflect real immune and vascular changes.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Invivyd CANOPY trial 788 participants.
A Cox model showed COVID prevention rises with neutralizing antibody titers but plateaus at high levels.
A titer of 1 to 500 predicted about 70% protection in non immunocompromised and 50% in immunocompromised.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
A Cox model showed COVID prevention rises with neutralizing antibody titers but plateaus at high levels.
A titer of 1 to 500 predicted about 70% protection in non immunocompromised and 50% in immunocompromised.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
A Statistical Immune Correlates of Protection Model for Predicting Efficacy from Neutralizing Antibody Titers to Establish Immunobridging of Monoclonal Antibodies for Prevention of COVID-19 - Infectio...
Introduction Neutralizing antibody titers are recognized as an acceptable surrogate efficacy endpoint for immunobridging next-generation monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to those with demonstrated clinica...
link.springer.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Invivyd CANOPY trial 788 participants.
A Cox model showed COVID prevention rises with neutralizing antibody titers but plateaus at high levels.
A titer of 1 to 500 predicted about 70% protection in non immunocompromised and 50% in immunocompromised.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
A Cox model showed COVID prevention rises with neutralizing antibody titers but plateaus at high levels.
A titer of 1 to 500 predicted about 70% protection in non immunocompromised and 50% in immunocompromised.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
San Antonio researchers used human brain organoids and found that the APOE4 gene subtly shifts how the developing brain responds to low dose SARS CoV 2, boosting glial cells and altering immature neurons, even without active viral replication.
karger.com/dne/article/...
karger.com/dne/article/...
Modest neurodevelopment impacts of APOE4 in a human brain organoid model of low-grade SARS-CoV-2 infection
Abstract. Introduction: The long-term neurological consequences of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, are an area of growing concern, particularly for prenatally exposed indi...
karger.com
February 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM
San Antonio researchers used human brain organoids and found that the APOE4 gene subtly shifts how the developing brain responds to low dose SARS CoV 2, boosting glial cells and altering immature neurons, even without active viral replication.
karger.com/dne/article/...
karger.com/dne/article/...
Texas Biomedical Research Institute, 5 mice, scientists engineered a mouse adapted SARS-CoV-2 that glows and emits light, allowing real time tracking of infection in wild type mice while causing milder disease than the original strain.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org
February 16, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Texas Biomedical Research Institute, 5 mice, scientists engineered a mouse adapted SARS-CoV-2 that glows and emits light, allowing real time tracking of infection in wild type mice while causing milder disease than the original strain.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
University of Pennsylvania, 465,717 children and adolescents, found that a second COVID infection during omicron doubled the risk of long COVID.
Reinfection raised rates of heart, brain, and immune symptoms, even after mild illness.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reinfection raised rates of heart, brain, and immune symptoms, even after mild illness.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Long COVID associated with SARS-CoV-2 reinfection among children and adolescents in the omicron era (RECOVER-EHR): a retrospective cohort study
Children and adolescents face a significantly higher risk of various PASC outcomes
after reinfection with SARS-CoV-2. These findings add to previous evidence linking
paediatric long COVID to multisyst...
www.thelancet.com
February 16, 2026 at 7:01 PM
University of Pennsylvania, 465,717 children and adolescents, found that a second COVID infection during omicron doubled the risk of long COVID.
Reinfection raised rates of heart, brain, and immune symptoms, even after mild illness.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reinfection raised rates of heart, brain, and immune symptoms, even after mild illness.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Researchers analyzed 22 trials with 1995 adults and found intermittent fasting made little to no difference in weight loss or quality of life compared with regular diet advice, and little to no difference compared with no treatment over 6 to 12 months.
www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10....
www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10....
Intermittent fasting for adults with overweight or obesity - Garegnani, LI - 2026 | Cochrane Library
Select your preferred language for Cochrane reviews and other content. Sections without translation will be in English.
www.cochranelibrary.com
February 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Researchers analyzed 22 trials with 1995 adults and found intermittent fasting made little to no difference in weight loss or quality of life compared with regular diet advice, and little to no difference compared with no treatment over 6 to 12 months.
www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10....
www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10....
Researchers review 211 patients treated with engineered CAR T cells for autoimmune disease and find 62.6% developed mostly mild cytokine release syndrome, while many achieved drug free remission, signaling a shift beyond broad immunosuppression.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Clinical progress of engineered cellular immunotherapies for autoimmunity - Nature Biotechnology
Engineered cellular immunotherapy shows great potential for treating autoimmune diseases. Payne and colleagues review emerging clinical data of the most recently developed technologies.
www.nature.com
February 16, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Researchers review 211 patients treated with engineered CAR T cells for autoimmune disease and find 62.6% developed mostly mild cytokine release syndrome, while many achieved drug free remission, signaling a shift beyond broad immunosuppression.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...