Summary: A new study uncovered the organizational rules that determine how neurons in the primary visual cortex process information. By imaging both the cell bodies (soma) and the individual synapses (on dendritic spines) of neurons in mice, the team identified how these cells bring order to thousands of circuit connections to generate electrical signals. [...]
Scientists have uncovered a new mechanism that may help break down highly persistent PFAS pollutants. PFAS have earned the nickname “forever chemicals” for a reason. These industrial compounds are so chemically durable that they can survive in the environment and inside the human body for years or even decades. They have been detected in [...]
A new sulfur-rich antimicrobial polymer shows strong effectiveness against fungal and bacterial pathogens and may offer an affordable solution to antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance is creating growing challenges for both healthcare and food production, increasing the need for affordable new materials that can fight dangerous pathogens. A multidisciplinary team led by Flinders University, working with [...]
Like periodical cicadas, the insects for which it is nicknamed, SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.3.2 is only just beginning to emerge after lying low for an extended period since it first appeared. Although it was first detected in late 2024, the highly mutated virus did not earn the Variant Under Monitoring designation from the World Health Organization [...]
Scientists in Japan say a common supplement may actually help “unclog” certain diseased heart arteries from the inside out. A simple food supplement sold in Japan may have helped reverse a dangerous form of heart disease that often resists standard treatment, according to researchers at Osaka University. The findings, originally published in the European Heart [...]
Korean Scientists develop new nanotechnology material capable of reducing radiation impacts in space missions, hospitals, and power plants. The search for more efficient protection technologies in extreme environments has just gained an important advance. Korean Scientists have developed a radiation shield based on nanotechnology capable of blocking different types of harmful emissions using an ultra-thin, flexible, and extremely lightweight material. [...]
A strange bead-like motion inside cells may be the secret to keeping their DNA—and health—in balance. Mitochondria are often described as the power plants of the cell because they produce the energy cells need to survive. To support this role, they carry their own small set of genetic instructions called mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Inside each cell, [...]
Scientists just uncovered the cellular “blueprint” that could one day let us regrow real teeth. Researchers at Science Tokyo have uncovered two distinct stem cell lineages that play a central role in forming tooth roots and the surrounding alveolar bone. By studying genetically modified mice and tracking how individual cells develop over time, the [...]
A newly identified weakness in “zombie” cells may open the door to more precise cancer treatments by turning their own survival strategy against them. A new class of drugs takes advantage of a recently discovered weakness in “zombie-like” or senescent cells, opening the door to potential treatments for cancer and age-related diseases. Researchers from [...]
Cancer incidence is increasing, especially among younger adults, and current risk factors don’t fully account for the trend. Scientists suggest other underlying causes may be contributing. Cancer patterns in England are shifting in a way that is drawing growing attention from researchers. While cancer has long been more common in older adults, new data [...]
