Wednesday, 21 October 2026 Updated 9 min ago
The News Engine
Latest
Science United States

Too much RNA can starve cells of energy, scientists discover

Scientists have uncovered an unexpected danger lurking inside cells: too much RNA can damage the structures responsible for producing energy.

ScienceDaily reports that scientists have uncovered an unexpected danger lurking inside cells: too much RNA can damage the structures responsible for producing energy.

A new study found that excess RNA, including the normally essential messenger RNA (mRNA), can directly disrupt mitochondria without relying on the immune system. The discovery could help explain how viral infections and certain aging-related diseases damage cells.

This science story centres on the United States.

Why it matters

Research developments are often early steps — further studies typically determine how significant they prove to be.

Key details

Location
United States · Americas
Reported by
ScienceDaily
First reported
Key names
RNA
Section
Science

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

Read the full story at ScienceDaily

Spotted an error? Request a correction · How this summary was produced

Related Stories