Saturday Insights: AI Revolutionizes Cancer Survival Predictions; Hubble Uncovers a Wandering Black Hole

This week brought exciting breakthroughs in science. At CERN, physicists announced a fascinating achievement: they turned lead into gold in the Large Hadron Collider. This raises the tantalizing thought that we might be on the verge of real scientific alchemy. Meanwhile, an international team successfully developed a quick method to identify bacteria, and California researchers revealed that tap water could spread E. coli bacteria.

Other highlights include the relationship between large brains, complex immune systems, and longevity; the Hubble Space Telescope capturing a wandering black hole; and a new algorithm that predicts cancer survival using patient photos.

The Link Between Brain Size and Longevity

Ever wondered if having a bigger brain means you’ll live longer? A recent study suggests it might. Researchers analyzed 46 animal species and found that those with larger brains often had more complex immune systems, which may contribute to longer lives. For instance, whales and dolphins, known for their big brains, can live for many decades, while mice typically survive just a year or two.

Interestingly, some small-brained creatures, like bats and mole rats, also have surprisingly long lifespans. Their genomes show a higher number of immune-related genes. Dr. Benjamin Padilla-Morales from the University of Bath explains, “Bigger-brained species have evolved not just for survival but also for immune resilience, allowing them to enjoy longer lives.”

A Unique Black Hole Discovery

The Hubble Space Telescope has made a remarkable finding: a massive black hole, weighing one million solar masses, has been spotted roaming through a galaxy 600 million light-years away. Unlike typical black holes that lurk at the center of galaxies, this one was seen tearing apart a passing star, making it a unique case in astronomical studies.

Ryan Chornock, an adjunct professor at UC Berkeley, highlights the importance of this discovery, stating, “Tidal disruption events like this one can help us identify massive black holes that we may not have noticed otherwise.” This finding pushes our understanding of black holes further and shows that they can exist outside of galactic centers.

AI and Cancer Survival Predictions

In another breakthrough, researchers at Mass General Brigham unveiled a new deep learning tool called FaceAge. This algorithm analyzes photos to predict a person’s biological age and their chances of surviving cancer. Published in *The Lancet Digital Health*, the study revealed that cancer patients often appear five years older than their actual age based on their facial features.

The researchers trained FaceAge using 58,851 photos of healthy individuals and later tested it on 6,196 cancer patients. They found that older predictions correlated with worse survival chances, especially for those who seemed to be in their mid-80s. Interestingly, they involved 10 clinicians in assessing patient photos, and their predictions were no better than random chance without FaceAge’s insights.

These findings highlight the potential of AI in medical settings, making predictions more accurate and possibly aiding doctors in improving patient care.

Exciting times lie ahead in science, as these discoveries reveal new connections between brain size, longevity, cosmic phenomena, and groundbreaking medical technologies. For more insights, check [Phys.org](https://phys.org/news/2025-05-saturday-citations-ai-cancer-survival.html).

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