PLOS One

3 min read Original article ↗

03/16/2026

EveryOne

Editorial Spotlight: Manuel Herrador-Muñoz

Interview with Dr. Manuel Herrador Muñoz, an expert in AI, sustainability, and smart cities connecting projects across Europe and Asia. He shares how AI can support greener cities, why research integrity matters, and how open science practices help innovation and global collaboration.

Editorial Spotlight: Manuel Herrador-Muñoz

Image credit: PLOS by PLOS, CC BY 4.0

02/27/2026

EveryOne

Rare Disease Day 2026: Diverse community, common challenges

In a feature for Rare Disease Day, editors and clinicians share insights on the challenges of rare diseases affecting 300M people worldwide. The piece highlights long diagnostic delays, limited treatments, and the need for collaboration, AI innovation, and open-access research to improve care and equity.

Rare Disease Day 2026: Diverse community, common challenges

Image credit: freepik

02/11/2026

EveryOne

Experiences of Women in Science in 2026

Celebrating International Women and Girls in Science Day, this blog shares insights from PLOS One Section Editors and Professor Claire Brockett on barriers women face in science, the importance of role models and inclusion, and how mentorship, allyship, and equitable practices can help build a more diverse future in research.

Experiences of Women in Science in 2026

Image credit: freepik

03/19/2026

Plant science

Aeroponic cultivation of lettuce

Anand Sahil and colleagues present a study of lettuce cultivars grown aeroponically. This method suspends roots in air, promoting growth while using less water. The authors found leaf morphology and chlorophyll content to be the most important characteristics for strong lettuce growth.

Aeroponic cultivation of lettuce

Image credit: fig 2 by Sahil et al., CC BY 4.0

03/24/2026

AI

Postgraduate views on AI in Research

Research by Alenezi and colleagues shows healthcare students recognize AI challenges such as data privacy, ethical responsibility, algorithmic bias, and academic integrity, and approach AI as informed users rather than embracing or rejecting it.

Postgraduate views on AI in Research

Image credit: ai-ethics-ai-bias-reduction by viarami, Pixabay

03/25/2026

Cancer

Insights from cancer patient journey mapping

Day and colleagues use focus group–mediated patient journey mapping, centering on breast and cervical cancer patients. They highlight its potential to show where systems fall short and opportunities to strengthen a patient-responsive health system.

Insights from cancer patient journey mapping

Image credit: fig 1 byHarries et al., CC BY 4.0