On Earth, archaeology reconstructs the past by studying ancient artifacts and remains. In space, scientists use a similar approach called galactic archaeology to piece together the history of stars and galaxies.

Astronomers know that the Sun formed about 4.6 billion years ago at a location more than 10,000 light years closer to the Milky Way’s center than where it sits today. Evidence from stellar chemical compositions supports this idea, yet the explanation has long puzzled researchers. Observations of our galaxy show a massive bar-like structure in the central region that produces what scientists call a “corotation barrier.” This gravitational effect makes it difficult for stars to travel far outward from the galactic center.

Studying Solar Twins With Gaia

To investigate how the Sun might have reached its current orbit, a research team led by Assistant Professors Daisuke Taniguchi from Tokyo Metropolitan University and Takuji Tsujimoto from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan carried out a large study of solar “twins.” These stars share nearly the same temperature, surface gravity, and chemical composition as our Sun.

The researchers relied on the Gaia satellite mission, which has collected detailed measurements for about two billion stars and other celestial objects. Using this enormous dataset, they assembled a catalog containing 6,594 solar twins. This sample is roughly 30 times larger than those used in earlier surveys.

Age Distribution Reveals a Shared Migration

With this expanded dataset, the team was able to determine the ages of these stars with unprecedented accuracy. They also corrected for selection bias that favors brighter stars that are easier for telescopes to detect.

When the researchers examined the ages of the solar twins, they found a clear concentration of stars between 4 and 6 billion years old. The Sun falls within this same age range. Many of these stars also appear to occupy similar distances from the galactic center. Together, these clues suggest that the Sun’s present location is not simply coincidental. Instead, it likely arrived here as part of a much larger outward movement of stars.

Clues to the Formation of the Milky Way’s Central Bar

The findings provide new information about the Milky Way’s structure and history. Under normal circumstances, the corotation barrier produced by the galaxy’s central bar would prevent such a large number of stars from moving away from the inner region. However, the situation could have been different if the bar structure was still forming during that period.

The ages of the solar twins not only point to when this large migration may have happened, but also suggest the time span during which the galactic bar developed.

Why the Sun’s Journey Matters for Life

The inner parts of the Milky Way are far more hostile than its outer regions. Conditions near the galactic center include stronger radiation and more frequent interactions between stars. According to the researchers, the Sun’s movement away from this crowded environment may have helped place our solar system in a calmer part of the galaxy.

This quieter region provided conditions that allowed life on Earth to eventually emerge and evolve.

This work made use of data products from the European Space Agency (ESA) space mission Gaia and the Two Micron All Sky Survey. It was supported by the Tokyo Center For Excellence Project, Tokyo Metropolitan University, JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers 23KJ2149 and 23H00132, the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under SPACE-H2020 Grant Agreement Number 101004214 (EXPLORE project).

Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is a major health concern. In Australia it ranks as the second leading cause of cancer death and the fourth most frequently diagnosed cancer.

Many colorectal cancers begin as polyps, which are growths that develop on the inner lining of the bowel. These growths are usually benign and cause no immediate harm. However, two specific types of polyps, — adenomas and serrated polyps — have the potential to develop into cancer over time.

Colonoscopy Study Reveals Fivefold Increase in Risk

To better understand this risk, researchers reviewed more than 8,400 colonoscopy records. The analysis showed that people who had both adenomas and serrated polyps faced a much higher likelihood of developing advanced precancerous changes. In fact, the risk was up to five times greater compared with people who had only one type of polyp.

“Polyps are common and usually harmless, but when both types appear together — what we call synchronous lesions — the risk of serious bowel disease or cancer rises sharply,” says Dr. Molla Wassie, lead author and researcher at the FHMRI Bowel Health Service.

The researchers also found that this combination may be more widespread than previously believed. Nearly half of patients who had serrated polyps were also found to have adenomas.

Separate Cancer Pathways May Occur at the Same Time

“This is one of the largest studies of its kind,” says Dr. Wassie.

“Our findings support growing international evidence that these two types of polyps may represent separate cancer pathways that can be active at the same time — making early detection and regular monitoring even more important.”

The study also suggests that serrated polyps may develop into cancer more quickly than adenomas. This highlights the importance of screening strategies and follow up colonoscopy schedules that reflect differences between polyp types.

Why Regular Colonoscopy Screening Matters

“Polyps become more common as we age, but the key is catching and removing them early,” says Dr. Wassie.

“If you’ve had both types of polyps, it’s especially important to stay on top of your colonoscopy schedule.”

People over age 45 or those with a family history of bowel disease are encouraged to speak with their GP or visit the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program to learn about available screening options.

The Southern Cooperative Program for the Prevention of Colorectal Cancer program (SCOOP) was first funded by the National Demonstration Hospitals Program Phase 3. Dr. Wassie is supported by a NHMRC Investigator Grant (#2009050).

Researchers led by UVA School of Medicine scientist Jie Sun, PhD, discovered that severe respiratory infections can alter immune cells in the lungs in ways that support tumor growth months or even years later. Based on these findings, the scientists recommend that doctors closely watch patients who recover from severe COVID, flu, or pneumonia so lung cancer can be detected early, when treatment is most effective.

“A bad case of COVID or flu can leave the lungs in a long-lasting ‘inflamed’ state that makes it easier for cancer to take hold later,” said Sun, co-director of UVA’s Carter Center and a member of UVA’s Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health. “The encouraging news is that vaccination largely prevents those harmful changes for cancer growth in the lung.”

Severe Respiratory Infections and Long Term Lung Damage

Respiratory illnesses such as influenza and COVID are among the most common sources of lung injury. However, scientists have not fully understood how this type of damage might influence cancer risk years later. To explore this question, Sun and his team studied the effects of severe lung infections in both laboratory mice and human patients.

The findings were striking. Mice that experienced severe lung infections were more likely to develop lung cancer later and were also more likely to die from the disease. When the researchers analyzed patient data, they found a similar pattern. People who had previously been hospitalized with COVID-19 showed a higher rate of lung cancer diagnoses.

The analysis revealed a 1.24-fold increase in lung cancer incidence among patients who had been hospitalized for COVID-19. This elevated risk was seen regardless of whether the individuals smoked or had other medical conditions, which doctors refer to as “comorbidities.”

“These findings have important immediate implications for how we monitor patients after severe respiratory viral infection,” said Jeffrey Sturek, MD, PhD, a UVA physician-scientist who collaborated on the study. “We’ve known for a long time that things like smoking increase the risk for lung cancer. The results from this study suggest that we may need to think about severe respiratory viral infection similarly. For example, in some patients who are at high risk for lung cancer based on smoking history, we recommend close monitoring with routine screening CT scans of the lungs to catch cancer early. In future studies, we may want to consider a similar approach after severe respiratory viral infection.”

Immune Changes That Create a Pro Tumor Environment

Experiments in mice helped the researchers uncover why severe infections may increase cancer risk. The team observed major changes in immune cells known as neutrophils and macrophages, which normally help defend the lungs.

After severe infection, some neutrophils began behaving abnormally and contributed to a persistent inflammatory environment described as “pro-tumor,” meaning it supports cancer growth. The scientists also found significant changes in epithelial cells that line the lungs and the tiny air sacs responsible for breathing.

Vaccination May Protect the Lungs

The study also produced encouraging findings about prevention. Prior vaccination appeared to block many of the lung changes linked to cancer development. Vaccines help the immune system respond more effectively to infections, which reduces how severe the illness becomes.

The researchers observed the increased cancer risk mainly in people who had severe COVID-19. Individuals who experienced only mild infections did not show this elevated risk and actually had a slight decrease in lung cancer incidence.

Even so, the scientists warn that many people who survived severe COVID-19 or other serious respiratory infections could face a higher risk of lung cancer in the future.

“With tens of millions of people globally experiencing long-term pulmonary [COVID-19] sequelae, these findings carry significant implications for clinical care,” the researchers wrote in their scientific paper. “Individuals recovering from severe viral pneumonia, particularly those with smoking history, may benefit from enhanced lung cancer surveillance, and preventing severe infection through vaccination may confer indirect cancer protection benefits.”

Implications for Early Detection and Treatment

Sun and his colleagues hope their work will help doctors better identify patients who may face an increased risk of lung cancer after severe respiratory infections. Earlier detection could allow treatment to begin sooner and improve patient outcomes.

The team also believes their findings could guide the development of new strategies to prevent or treat lung cancer linked to prior lung infections.

“Our goal is to help doctors identify who may be at higher risk of lung cancer after a severe infection, and develop targeted ways to prevent and treat lung cancer after prior pneumonia,” Sun said. “We also believe that vaccines don’t just prevent acute hospitalization after contracting the virus. They may also reduce the long-term fallout of severe infection, including the kind of immune scarring that can increase cancer risk.”

Advancing Biomedical Research at UVA

Improving the understanding and treatment of complex diseases is a central mission of UVA’s Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology. The institute focuses on accelerating innovative research like Sun’s work and helping translate laboratory discoveries into new treatments more quickly.

UVA’s Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research (CIC) was established through the generosity of Beirne B. Carter, and the Beirne Carter Foundation continues to support its research efforts. Scientists at CIC study infections, cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung conditions, the microbiome, and autoimmune disorders to develop new therapies and cures.

The UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of only 57 cancer centers in the United States to receive the National Cancer Center’s “comprehensive” designation, recognizing excellence in patient care and advanced cancer research.

Findings Published in Cell

Sun and his collaborators published their findings in the scientific journal Cell. The research team included Wei Qian, Xiaoqin Wei, Andrew J. Barros, Xiangyu Ye, Haibo Zhang, Qing Yu, Samuel P. Young, Eric V Yeatts, Yury Park, Chaofan Li, Sijie Hao, Gislane Almeida-Santos, Jinyi Tang, Harish Narasimhan, Nicole A Kirk, Valeria Molinary, Ying Li, Li Li, Bimal N. Desai, Peter Chen, Kwon-Sik Park, Anny Xiaobo, Jeffrey M. Sturek, Wei Chen, In Su Cheon and Sun.

Funding for the research came from the National Institutes of Health, grants AI147394, AG069264, AI112844, HL170961, AI176171, AG090337, R01HL179312, F31HL170746, T32AI007496, T32CA009109, R01AI155808 and R01HL162783; a UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center Collaborative Grant, U01CA224293; a UVA Pinn Scholar Award; a UVA Shannon Fellowship; a UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center Lung TRT Pilot Grant; an American Lung Association Catalyst Grant, T32GM139787-01; and a UVA Parsons-Weber-Parsons Fellowship.