Anthropocene dispute reignites as fresh allegations surface

China is changing its doctoral training rules so that PhD students in clinical medicine can earn their degrees without writing a traditional research thesis, according to Nature. The shift, with more degree programmes expected to follow, reflects a move to separate clinical training from research training and could reshape how China educates doctors and clinician-scientists. It matters because China trains a large share of the world's medical researchers, and any change to degree requirements can affect research output and the skills of future physicians.

A Nature report finds that biotechnology companies are not paying for access to genetic data despite rules meant to ensure benefit-sharing. The gap lets firms use biodiversity-derived information commercially while countries and communities receive little compensation. It matters because fair benefit-sharing is central to global biodiversity goals and funding.

Finland has built a deep geological repository intended to store spent nuclear fuel safely for over 100,000 years. The facility is designed to remain secure long after current civilizations and languages vanish. It matters as a test of whether humanity can isolate hazardous waste across extreme timescales.

A vibrating mattress has been reported to help clear a protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease from the brain, according to New Scientist. The finding could point to a non-invasive, sleep-based way to reduce Alzheimer’s-related protein buildup, but it needs further study.

Nature argues that universities must ensure visiting PhD students receive safety alerts and emergency information. Visiting researchers can fall through communication gaps because they are not fully integrated into local systems. Closing these gaps matters for protecting international and temporary doctoral students during crises.