New study shows that in women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, their breast cells already carry a clear pattern of DNA “damage spots” long before any tumor appears. These weak points tend to sit on important cancer-related genes and look very similar to what is later seen in actual breast cancer. In the future this could help doctors detect cancer much earlier and maybe even stop it before it starts.

A new study shows that year-long home visits with older adults help first-year medical students build stronger communication skills, rethink assumptions about aging, and understand patient care beyond the clinic.

For many medical students, the earliest years of training are heavy on textbooks and light on real patient contact. But a new study suggests that meaningful clinical learning can begin much earlier, not in hospitals, but in people’s homes.

Medical errors remain one of the leading causes of death, yet healthcare systems continue to struggle to reduce them. A new perspective article argues that fear of legal consequences, institutional secrecy, and poor communication prevent healthcare from learning from failure. It calls for a cultural shift toward transparency, responsibility, and psychological safety, framing learning from mistakes as essential to saving lives and restoring trust in medicine.