This year in science has been filled with innovation, perseverance, and ground-breaking advancements, despite the growing challenges faced by our planet. At Technology Networks, we’ve delighted in bringing you breaking science news throughout 2022. As the year ends, it’s time to reflect on the stories that you enjoyed the most. Here’s our roundup of this year’s most popular headlines, including new findings on how we humans age, the impact of diet on the microbiome, and a revelation on the cause of multiple sclerosis (MS). Clinicians used continuous electroencephalography (EEG) to analyze the seizure activity of a patient and prescribe the appropriate treatment. When the patient suffered a heart attack mid-recording and passed away, the scientists were able to record activity in a dying brain for the first time in history. The study of this patient published suggests that the brain might remain active during – and even after – death. It might be programmed to coordinate the entire process.MS is a demyelinating neurodegenerative disease that, for many years, has been considered an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology. A large study using data collected over two decades of studying military personnel suggests that MS is a complication of infection by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a herpesvirus that causes the childhood disease infectious mononucleosis. In the study of 10 million people, 800 of 801 MS cases in the sample group occurred in individuals who had previously tested positive for EBV. The research, by Harvard Medical School, was published in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials conwere ducted in 2020 and did not explore whether the vaccines have any side effects on the menstrual cycle. This is not rare – clinical research has been called out for a lack of inclusivity and consideration of wider populations. In 2021, reports of menstrual cycle change post-COVID-19 vaccination emerged across formal and informal channels, such as social media. A large-scale survey found that 42.1% of menstruating individuals had experienced a heavier menstrual flow after vaccination. In contrast, 43.6% of respondents reported that they did not experience any changes to their menstrual flow. The data was published microbiome is a community of microbes, including bacteria, viruses, and phages that live in a specific habitat. Microbiomes are found all over and inside our bodies. How the gut microbiome affects our metabolism of food and interacts with other body systems is of particular interest to researchers. A team working in mouse microbiome models explored how 10 different diets affect the secretion of a type of antibody, called IgA, by mucosal cells in the gut. The researchers found that a high-protein diet stimulated extra IgA secretion via a microbiome-mediated mech mechanism in Western countries, and the population is rapidly aging. Making sure that people can live longer and in good health is a key focus of biomedical research. A research team studying mice found that disabling a system in the brain called the cystine/glutamate antiporter system xc− can eliminate memory loss during the aging process. The xc− system exports a molecule called glutamate out of cells in exchange for cystine. It is thought to be a regulator of both neurotransmission and neuroinflammation. However, excessive glutamate release from cells is thought to be neurotoxic. Mice genetically modified to have no xc-system lived longer and showed signs of retained memory function. Artificial sweeteners have become an incredibly popular way to reduce calorie intake and protect against tooth decay for millions of people. Sweeteners can now be found in a staggering number of foodstuffs, from beverages, and desserts to ready meals. But a study of more than 100,000 French adults suggests that these sweeteners may be associated with heightened cancer risk. In the majority female cohort, increased sweetener intake was associated with small increased risks of ovarian, breast, and obesity-related cancers. The design of the study means that the causality cannot be established, but the researchers have called for the abundance of artificial sweeteners to be re-examined by global health agencies.