FDA to Review Moderna's mRNA Flu Vaccine; Inhaled Multi-Pathogen Vaccine Study; Alzheimer’s Risk Linked to PM2.5; Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal; Spinosaurus Mirabilis Discovery

Overview

In this episode of Science Quickly, the focus spans vaccine regulation, new vaccine concepts, environmental health impacts on neurodegeneration, and updates from space exploration and paleontology. Host Kendra Pierre Lewis frames how regulatory decisions, innovative research, health data, and planetary science intersect in contemporary science discourse.

Vaccine News: Moderna and FDA Review

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreed to review Moderna's new mRNA flu vaccine following an earlier rejection, a move that underscores the complex regulatory landscape facing innovative vaccines. The agency had originally deemed the plan for phase 3 trials acceptable, but its stance shifted after Vinay Prasad, a top FDA official, overruled reviewers, according to Stat. Moderna stated the FDA had declared the study not adequate and well controlled. The company’s chief executive Stefan Bansell described the FDA as unpredictable, warning that continued unpredictability could threaten U.S. leadership in innovative medicines.

"The trial design they used is essentially the trial design that every single flu vaccine has used." - Angela Jamsen

Inhaled Vaccine Study: A Multi-Illness Approach

A Stanford-led study published in Science describes an inhaled vaccine designed to stimulate both the adaptive immune system and the innate immune system in the lungs. This approach moves away from strictly antigen-specific designs that mimic a pathogen, instead aiming to trigger rapid, broad immune signaling. In mice, three doses given a week apart significantly improved outcomes when exposed to COVID-19 and other coronaviruses, with vaccines providing protection against bacterial respiratory infections as well as reduced sensitivity to respiratory allergies after inoculation. While promising, the researchers note that the work was conducted in mice and the protection lasted about three months, marking an important but early step toward human application.

Air Pollution and Alzheimer’s Risk

A nationwide analysis of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older (roughly 28 million people) connected long-term PM2.5 exposure to higher Alzheimer’s disease risk, independent of hypertension, stroke, or depression. The Emory University team concluded that prolonged fine particulate air pollution has direct effects on the brain that contribute to dementia risk beyond other comorbidities.

"we found that long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution was associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease, largely through direct effects on the brain, rather than through common chronic conditions such as hypertension, stroke, or depression." - Emory University team

Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal Update

SIA senior space and physics editor Lee Billings provides an update on Artemis II’s wet dress rehearsal, explaining that the pad testing involves loading hydrogen fuel into the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The previous rehearsal experienced hydrogen leaks, which caused delays. This time, there were no hydrogen leaks, described as remarkable. Billings outlines the mission timing constraints driven by celestial mechanics and notes that the crew will travel in a free return trajectory around the Moon, potentially more than 4,500 miles beyond the far side, making them the farthest traveling astronauts. The mission marks a set of 'firsts' and a stepping stone toward crewed lunar missions planned for the mid- to late-2020s.

"There have been no hydrogen leaks, which is shocking." - Lee Billings

Dinosaur News: Spinosaurus Mirabilis

A Science paper reports the discovery of Spinosaurus mirabilis, a spinosaurid whose fossils were found inland, between 300 and 600 miles from the coast. Historically, spinosaur fossils have been coastal, supporting theories of semi-aquatic or aquatic adaptations. The inland location, combined with a distinctive scimitar-shaped bony crest, suggests a more varied habitat for this lineage. The research team emphasizes the forested riverine context of the fossil sites, challenging the notion that spinosaurids were exclusively coastal dwellers. The find, uncovered in 2019 and confirmed with a larger team in 2022, adds a new chapter to our understanding of dinosaur ecology and evolution.

Closing

Tune in next time as the show continues to connect advances in health, space, and paleontology with broader scientific themes and real-world implications.