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New research points to a mechanism that helps plants reprogram their molecular machinery to budget sulfur—a critical nutrient used for both functions.

Michigan State University researchers published a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences detailing how this adaptive allocation strategy allows plants to allocate sulfur without dropping their defenses.

A molecular "dimmer switch"—a protein called CDK8—regulates the use of sulfur in plants' defenses, allowing them to turn production of sulfur-containing defense compounds up or down, rather than strictly on or off.

"To stay healthy and resilient, plants deploy these costly chemical defense strategies," said coauthor Hideki Takahashi, an associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology.

This mechanism enables plants to switch to low-sulfur alternatives when possible and conserve sulfur for uses where it's irreplaceable.

"This finding provides new insight into how plants balance immunity with nutrient availability and highlights a broader principle: Biological systems actively allocate limited resources among competing needs," said Gregg Howe, a University Distinguished Professor in the MSU–DOE Plant Research Laboratory and the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.

Stretching sulfur in short supply

CDK8 helps boost the activity of hormone-triggered genes responsible for plant defenses, helping plants produce a robust arsenal of defenses. In plants grown in sulfur-deficient soils, CDK8 shifted plants' assembly line toward lower-sulfur alternatives. Production of defense compounds containing only one sulfur atom increased nearly eightfold, while production of those containing two or three times as much sulfur was reduced. It's a cost-conscious strategy, the authors explain.

"There is no alternative to staples like amino acids—these irreplaceable biological building blocks require sulfur," Takahashi said.

When sulfur is limited, plants may become malnourished, resulting in slower growth and smaller size. But CDK8 can lessen these impacts by switching to defense strategies that free up sulfur for growth.

A subset of plants modified to have inactive CDK8—effectively disconnecting the dimmer switch—were found to have lower levels of sulfur-based defense compounds and diminished resistance to pests and diseases. This demonstrates not only the role of CDK8 in promoting the production of defense compounds but also that mutants without CDK8 are unable to properly reprogram their defense mechanisms when there's a decrease in available sulfur, Howe explained.

Why are scientists studying sulfur?

How plants allocate sulfur is a time-sensitive question, as stores of plant-available sulfur—and the deposition that has historically replenished reserves—are in steep decline worldwide. In the United States, plant-available sulfur in soil has declined by up to 86% in the past two decades.

These findings provide scientists with clues about how more efficient, "budget-conscious" crops might be designed. Such plants could be engineered to be more resistant to disease and less vulnerable when nutrient levels dip.

The next step, Takahashi suggests, is to study how plants sense the nutrients around them. This is another steppingstone to understanding how plants use environmental cues to make decisions.

Publication details

Qiang Guo et al, CDK8 coordinates jasmonate-induced immunity with sulfur-responsive defense in Arabidopsis, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2609022123

Who's behind this story?

Swati Mestri

Swati Mestri holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering and has worked as a content editor since 2019. She has experience editing research documents across technology, health care, and materials science, and has a particular interest in technology and space. Full profile →

Andrew Zinin

Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →

Citation: Researchers identify 'dimmer switch' for plants' immune system (2026, July 17) retrieved 17 July 2026 from https://phys.org/news/2026-07-dimmer-immune.html

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Luckily, the last one now has an answer: it's the SGI Granite Keyboard (Indigo Style), of course! This fossilised piece of tech is listed on the website of Fabien Sanglard, someone who's taken it upon themselves to go through the original film and describe all the computers and related components in "excruciating detail."

God bless you, that's all I can say. Where else can I find the information that everyone's favourite super nerd, Dennis Nedry, primarily uses two Macs and one SGI Iris Crimson at his control room desk, alongside a Motorola Envoy personal digital assistant?

In fact, Sanglard has even brought some official reference material into the equation. Quoting from the book "The Making of Jurassic Park":

"Everything in the set was real. We couldn't fake any of it, because audiences are so sophisticated now in their knowledge of computers. All told, $875,000 worth of computer hardware loaned by Silicon Graphics, $350,000 worth from Apple and some $500,000 in additional hardware and software went into equipping both the set and off-stage control room."

Now try this one on for size. The hurricane graphic seemingly operating in real-time on one of the computer screens was in fact created by Earthwatch, a piece of software developed for TV meteorologists. This trivia tidbit was revealed by an email from Gregory Gosson, who states:

"It was fantastic-looking stuff for the day, but the render times were very slow. The meteorologists would start the render sequence and then go to lunch. It could play the resulting animations in real-time, but could not render in real-time."

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Next you'll be telling me the dinosaurs weren't real either.

Sanglard's dedication to the bit is impressive, as is the realisation that so much of the tech on screen appears to be authentic. I assumed at least one of the under-desk PCs was a spray-painted cardboard box, but apparently not.

One last fact before you go? The main control room screen has five machines underneath it, each with thousands of blinking red LEDs on the front. As Sanglard points out, given the massive loans of expensive computing hardware, these are quite possibly five genuine Thinking Machines CM-5 computers [PDF], priced at the time at $46,000 per unit.

Pretty rawr-some, no? Sorry, I had to. Please don't fire me, Dave [you're lucky, if it wasn't late on a Friday and I didn't mind dealing with the paperwork... -Ed.]

Andy built his first gaming PC at the tender age of 12, when IDE cables were a thing and high resolution wasn't. 26 years later (yes he's getting old), he now spends his days writing about and reviewing graphics cards, CPUs, keyboards, mice, gaming headsets and much, much more. You name it, if it's PC gaming hardware he'll write words about it, with opinions and everything. %!s()

Kane Parsons' The Backrooms film was a huge success, which wasn't surprising given his history with self-made backrooms projects released on YouTube. But even so, it was fantastic to see a story which was born on the internet and celebrated by so many indie games get its moment in the limelight. Unfortunately, A24 is taking a hammer to all that good grace.

First reported by Reddit user GnarlyNet, A24 has apparently been going around and requesting takedowns of backrooms-inspired artwork, in this case a wallpaper pattern. A24 did release a special edition wallpaper for fans to buy which matched that inside the backrooms to celebrate the film release, but the problem is that much of the artwork being taken down is inspired by the original backrooms image that appeared on the internet years ago, before the film.

"It is a recreation of the pattern from the well-known 2019 image who started the whole backrooms lore," GnarlyNet explains. "I find it disappointing to see a company attempt to claim such a broad connection to a concept that has been developed, shared, and loved by an online community for years. I would have hoped that A24 would celebrate that creative history rather than take action against independent artists who were, just like them, inspired by it.

"I respect the rights attached to any specific film adaptation, but those rights should not be treated as ownership of the entire Backrooms concept, its broader visual language, or the community lore surrounding it. I am sharing this because I think it raises an important question about what happens when large companies adapt community-created internet culture."

Apparently, the specific complaint was submitted "on behalf of 'A24 Films LLC'" but GnarlyNet cannot "independently confirm who submitted the complaint" beyond what information Redbubble provided them.

Regardless of the reason why the artwork has been taken down, John Backrooms himself, Kane Parsons has stepped in and confirmed that he will be looking into the matter: "I'm looking into this. Should not be happening." He said in reply to the initial Reddit post.

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I very much hope this is an unfortunate misunderstanding. The backrooms has always been a community-led project which has massively benefited from all the numerous and varied contributions from fans. It would be a shame for a big company to step in and tread all over that tradition.

Elie is a news writer with an unhealthy love of horror games—even though their greatest fear is being chased. When they're not screaming or hiding, there's a good chance you'll find them testing their metal in metroidvanias or just admiring their Pokemon TCG collection. Elie has previously worked at TechRadar Gaming as a staff writer and studied at JOMEC in International Journalism and Documentaries – spending their free time filming short docs about Smash Bros. or any indie game that crossed their path. %!s()

Parents can usually manage these devices through a companion app, allowing them to approve contacts, monitor locations, set screen time limits, select available apps, and, in some cases, receive alerts regarding cyberbullying, explicit content, or online predators.

In addition to these modified devices, some companies offer a more minimalist approach, creating devices that focus solely on calling and texting.

There are also home phones designed specifically for children, like Tin Can and the recently launched Pinwheel Home.

Here’s a look at the major players shaping the kid-phone market.

The Bark Phone

The Bark Phone is probably one of the most popular kid-specific smartphones on the market. 

A big standout feature is that parents can gradually unlock web browsing, apps, and other features as their child matures. The phone also includes GPS tracking and screen-time management.

Current pricing for the standard model is $240, plus a required wireless plan beginning at $29/month. Higher-tier plans add internet access and unlimited texting.

Gabb

Gabb is a well-known name in the kid-friendly phone category. Unlike Bark, however, Gabb focuses less on monitoring content and more on eliminating online risks altogether.

Its phones don’t include social media, a browser, or an app store. Instead, children get calling, texting, and a carefully curated selection of preloaded apps, including a camera, calendar, and calculator. The company also touts its “worry-free” music streaming library with millions of songs. 

Additionally, parents can view location and manage certain device settings, while optional services such as “Gabb Guard” help block spam calls and unwanted texts.

Current phone pricing starts around $159.99, with cellular service starting around $24.99 per month.

Pinwheel

With Pinwheel, parents approve every app, control contacts, schedule screen time, create custom routines, and monitor location history. 

One standout feature is the ability to create different “modes” throughout the day. For example, limiting the phone to calling and navigation during school hours before unlocking additional features after homework.

Pinwheel phones start around $119, while the Caregiver Portal subscription begins at $14.99 per month without cell service. (Cellular service can be purchased separately through participating carriers.)

The company recently launched two landline phones for $68 and $79. It also offers a smartwatch at $160.

Teracube Thrive

Launched in 2022, Teracube offers a tailored version of Android known as Thrive OS. This enables parents to approve every app download, filter web browsing, set app-specific and overall screen-time limits, monitor location, and create customized routines for school or bedtime. However, because it has more traditional smartphone features, it’s often recommended for older children.

Thrive currently sells for $99, with plans starting at $35 per month.

Ooma MyPhone

Unlike the other products in this roundup, Ooma MyPhone isn’t a mobile phone at all. This kid-focused home phone is designed as a modern replacement for the traditional household landline.

The service allows calls only between approved contacts through its Trusted Circle feature, offers scheduled Quiet Hours, provides address-based 911 service, sends emergency alerts when 911 is dialed, and lets parents review call logs through an online portal. There are no apps, internet browsing, texting, or social media.

The phone costs $99.99, while service starts at $7.99 per month.

Tin Can

For $100, Tin Can resembles a landline phone with a distinctive tin can design, which is the inspiration behind its name.

This device does not require a traditional phone jack, but connects via Wi-Fi. Only approved contacts can make calls, effectively preventing spam or unauthorized communications. Parents can easily manage contacts through a user-friendly companion app.

Tin Can offers a free plan for calling other Tin Can users, as well as a $9.99 per month plan that allows calls to all approved contacts.

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It attacks the body immediately, spiking asthma cases with increased ambulance runs within hours, swamps emergency rooms in a day or so with people suffering from heart attacks and other cardiovascular and lung issues, as well as mental health issues, doctors and scientists told The Associated Press.

Smoke also harms pregnant women, increasing the risk of premature births and low-weight babies who could have breathing problems the rest of their lives, doctors and studies say. And then there are long-term risks connecting prolonged smoke and other air pollution exposure to some cancers and dementia.

After huge global fires in 2018 and 2019, the medical and science communities started looking at the health effects from the smoke with "more and more studies coming out finding that there's all types of impacts that may not have been so obvious before," said Dr. Mary Johnson, a Harvard School of Public Health environmental health scientist.

Smoke causes inflammation by triggering the body's immune system to go into overtime to fight the irritant. Scientists have found it can harm the brain, the skin and men's sperm, with almost no system of the body spared, Johnson said. People over 60 become more prone to stroke in wildfire smoke, she said.

"Wildfire smoke is the toxic product of combustion of whatever burned," which could include houses and cars, said Dr. Courtney Howard, an emergency room physician, chair of the Global Climate and Health Alliance and president-elect of the Canadian Medical Association.

"So really it's a big giant toxic soup of particles and gases."

Scientists have counted at least 1,000 toxins in wildfire smoke, according to Colorado State University environmental toxicologist Luke Montrose.

"If I gave you a list, you would recognize some of these as being very bad, oftentimes associated with the burning of diesel fuel or cigarette smoke, things like formaldehyde or volatile organic compounds," Montrose said. "So just the smoke itself can be bad."

Rising global temperatures from climate change means more fires

So far this year, more than 5,740 square miles (more than 14,860 square kilometers) of the United States has burned from wildfires, which is 31% more than the average of the previous 10 years on this date, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The amount of U.S. land burned each year in the 2020s—averaged out over a decade—is now more than twice what it was 30 years ago.

Europe saw a record high amount of land burned in 2025, Canada has had several record or near-record fire years in the 2020s and the Arctic recently has had unprecedented levels of burning.

"Wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense because of climate change, and when a fire happens, you have smoke," said Colleen Reid, a University of Colorado geographic health professor.

Most of the biggest particles in wildfire smoke fall close to where a blaze is burning, while the smallest particles—the ones that scientists say do the most damage—travel the farthest. In a typical wildfire, the nasty particles that harm human health are about the size of one micron, Reid said.

Inside the body, particles attack

First those particles have to get by your body's protection, mainly nose hairs and mucus, then they get into your lungs and from there the bloodstream.

Montrose said the particles can be coated in lots of chemicals and have large surface areas. That triggers the body's defense system to "send signals to other cells that say, 'We have a problem. We need to mount an immune response to this.' And that's where you get your acute effect or your effect within minutes, hours or even that day." It's mostly happening in the hearts and lungs, he said.

And many people die.

On average 24,100 people died each year in the Lower 48 states between 2006 and 2020 due to long-term exposure to tiny particles from wildfire smoke, according to a study this year in the journal Science Advances. A Stanford study projects that U.S. wildfire smoke deaths will increase with climate change and by midcentury hit an annual cost of $244 billion in terms of the economic value the government puts on each life.

On a global scale, wildfire smoke particles cause 677,745 deaths annually, with almost 39% of them children under age 5, according to a 2021 study that combined observations, studies on how the body responds to the particles and computer models to calculate the toll.

The biggest nonlethal effects have to do with the way people breathe, especially those with asthma.

"We did a study here in 2014 after we had about two-and-a-half months of smoke off and on, because we're in the subarctic so we're warming at triple the global rate, so in a way we're kind of canaries in the coal mine of the health impacts of climate change," Howard said on a clear day from Yellowknife, Canada. "We found a full doubling of emergency department visits for asthma and about 50% increase in pneumonia."

"Even in individuals that don't have asthma, the air can be so irritating that you could have difficulty with your respiratory system regardless," Johnson said, "whether it's coughing, whether it's chest tightness, whether it's sore throat, headache."

There are ways to minimize the risks

Studies have linked smoke to people having more trouble with decision making and other cognitive issues. People come to the emergency room depressed, Howard said. That's why it's important to find a place with clean air—including designated shelters or libraries—to get a break from the smoke and possibly exercise, she said.

Experts suggest people wear high-quality masks when outdoors, even though they don't provide perfect protection. Inside, check windows and doors for seals, invest in a good ventilation system and check air filters, they say.

"Staying away from the smoke is No. 1 if you can," Johnson said.

Who's behind this story?

Andrew Zinin

Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →

© 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Citation: Wildfire smoke kills tens of thousands of people a year. Here's how it attacks the body (2026, July 17) retrieved 17 July 2026 from https://phys.org/news/2026-07-wildfire-tens-thousands-people-year.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. %!s()