GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Slow Aging in Trials; SIN57 Bacterium Advances in Synthetic Biology; Russia's 8.8 Magnitude Earthquake and Tsunami Warnings

Quick take

The episode reports that semaglutide family drugs used for obesity may slow aging in humans, based on a clinical trial showing reduced biological age measured by epigenetic clocks. It also covers the creation of SIN57, a bacterium with seven codons freed from the genetic code, enabling future viral resistance and new proteins, with commercial implications via Constructive Bio. In geology, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia triggers tsunami warnings that prove the importance of effective hazard systems. Expert perspectives, safety considerations, and ongoing trials for neurodegenerative diseases are discussed, alongside broader implications for aging research and synthetic biology.

Overview

This week New Scientist reports on three major science themes: aging biology linked to GLP-1 receptor agonists, synthetic biology advances with a recoded bacterium, and a powerful earthquake near Russia with tsunami hazard assessment. The discussions combine clinical data, expert interpretations, and potential future applications across health, bioengineering, and geoscience.

GLP-1 drugs and aging

In a randomized trial, semaglutide-based drugs Ozempic and Wegovi show evidence of slowing biological aging as measured by epigenetic clocks in 108 HIV-associated lipohypertrophy patients, with significant aging reductions in heart and brain tissues. The average participant age was 49. The lead researchers caution that results should be extended to broader populations, and larger trials are underway to test effects on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The work reinforces the idea that weight loss and metabolic health can influence cellular aging by reducing visceral fat and inflammation, two known drivers of aging biology. Experts highlight that while these results are exciting, they are not an excuse for self-prescribing and stress the need for more diverse trials. Brand names discussed include Ozempic and Wegovi, both semaglutide mimics, with other GLP-1 drugs mentioned as context.

SIN57 and codon recoding in bacteria

The episode covers the creation of SIN57, an E. coli strain whose genome has been recoded to free up seven codons, freeing the genetic code from redundancy for future use. This recoding could enable resistance to viral infections in bacteria and allow the incorporation of non-natural amino acids into proteins, expanding the toolkit for biotechnology. The work builds on earlier SIN61 recoding and has led to a Cambridge spinout, Constructive Bio, exploring commercial applications. While the final organism grows more slowly than wild-type E. coli, researchers see a path forward for optimizing growth and extending the approach to more ambitious organisms in the future. The discussion contrasts this stepwise, engineered approach with Craig Venter’s minimal-genome efforts, emphasizing different goals in synthetic genomics.

Geology: Russia earthquake and tsunami risk

A magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the east coast of Russia ranks among the largest since 1900. The event occurred on the Kuril Kamchatka subduction zone and generated a tsunami that was managed by effective warning systems. Scientists explain that large earthquakes on subduction zones are difficult to predict, but past seismic records help estimate future hazard. Aftershocks and partial strain release are discussed as part of the seismic cycle, with a reminder that warning networks are essential for coastal communities.

Outlook

The episode underscores how aging biology, synthetic biology, and geoscience each pose both opportunities and challenges. Ongoing trials for neurodegenerative diseases will determine whether GLP-1 therapies can extend cognitive health, while SIN57 points to a future where engineered genomes enable virus resistance and novel proteins. In geoscience, improved hazard assessment and resilient infrastructure remain crucial as we monitor and respond to large earthquakes and tsunamis.