Microglia: The protectors of the brain
by Muhammet M. Ozturkfigures by Wei Wu For decades, scientists have been intrigued by how the brain controls the body. This curiosity led them to discover neurons, the brain’s messenger cells. Neurons, which receive, transmit, and process information, are arguably the most famous cells in our brain. The attention they get might suggest that the brain is only made up of neurons. However, about half … Continue reading Microglia: The protectors of the brain
Finding Life in Space: Why are we so special?
by Wei Lifigures by Catherine Ding The universe is massive, with an estimated 70 quintillion planets—that is 70 followed by an additional 18 zeros. In the Milky Way alone, where we reside, there are billions of planets. With these huge numbers, Earth seems very insignificant in the grand scheme of things. This raises the question: are we truly alone in this vast space of the … Continue reading Finding Life in Space: Why are we so special?
Grand Evolutionary Transitions: The eruption of multicellularity
by Piyush Nandafigures by Corena Loeb Around 600 million years ago, single-celled life transitioned to multicellular life forms, begetting a paradigm shift in the definition of life on earth. This was an event so remarkable in earth’s timeline that it would set the stage for the evolution of complex organisms, from sponges to the human body we each reside in. These complex life forms eventually … Continue reading Grand Evolutionary Transitions: The eruption of multicellularity
Reversing Climate Change with Geoengineering
by Sanjana Kulkarnifigures by Jovana Andrejevic The average global temperature is increasing faster now than at any time in the last 2 million years. This has fueled record-breaking droughts, heat waves, and wildfires, and has intensified weather patterns, causing more extreme and damaging hurricanes and rainfall. Human activity is driving this change, primarily through the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases, which … Continue reading Reversing Climate Change with Geoengineering
Changing Course: Climate Change Leads Songbirds to Reverse Migration Routes
Songbird migration paths are shifting due to global changes in temperature. Continue reading Changing Course: Climate Change Leads Songbirds to Reverse Migration Routes
Spiders Use Microscopic Hairs on their Feet to Climb Surfaces
Research from Germany suggests that spiders have many small fibers pointing in different directions, which allows them to stick to and move along steep surfaces. Continue reading Spiders Use Microscopic Hairs on their Feet to Climb Surfaces
Embryonic Cells Help Lizards Regenerate Tails
Scientists harness embryonic cells to enhance adult lizard tail regeneration. Continue reading Embryonic Cells Help Lizards Regenerate Tails
Mining DNA for Disease Prediction: The polygenic risk score
by Alex Yenkinfigures by Allie Elchert Long before the completion of the Human Genome Project, scientists knew that many common diseases had a genetic component. However, there was debate about the architecture of these genetic effects: were there a few high-effect mutations or thousands of tiny effect mutations spread throughout the genome? Now, in the full swing of the genomics revolution, we can see that … Continue reading Mining DNA for Disease Prediction: The polygenic risk score
Turning Back the Clock to Repair Hearts
Scientists has discovered a way to reverse the aging of heart cells in mice to regenerate and restore heart function after a heart attack. Continue reading Turning Back the Clock to Repair Hearts
The (Very) Little Molecule that could: an HD Image Opens a New Chapter in RNA Science
Advances in fast sequencing have pushed RNA as information carrier into the limelight of molecular biology. Now, Zhaoming Su and colleagues add high-resolution structure into the mix. Continue reading The (Very) Little Molecule that could: an HD Image Opens a New Chapter in RNA Science