Topics
Understanding non-coding DNA: gene “enhancers”
NETCAGE is a newly developed technique for determining the structure of portions of the non-coding genome called ‘enhancers.’
Implantable blastocyst‐like cysts grown from stem cells
Embryo Organoids?! Blastocyst‐like cysts grown from pluripotent mouse stem cells were similar to natural blastocysts (early embryos).
Toward micro-hearts: tiny pumps driven by self-organizing cardiomyocytes
Self-organizing cardiomyocytes on flexible polydimethylsiloxane sheets form tiny pumps. This is the first step towards building micro-hearts.
Talking science Illustration with Misaki Ouchida
Whether it’s bird anatomy or science cartoons, Masaki Ouchida can do it all. She spoke with us about her career in science illustration, from the US to Japan.
Cyborg microchip valve driven by earthworm muscle
This earthworm muscle-controlled biological microelectromechanical system (bio‐MEMS) could lead the way to next-generation medical implants.
Eating a high fat diet without getting obese?
Scientists discover that without innate immune cells in the intestines, eating a high fat diet does not lead to obesity in mice.
New metalloenzyme system selectively targets cancer cells
Specific targeting of cancer cells and onsite drug synthesis has been achieved using a new artificial metalloenzyme delivery system.
Boosting betaine may be a treatment for schizophrenia
Supplementing model mice with glycine betaine (trimethylglycine), a compound originally derived from beets, can alleviate symptoms of schizophrenia.
Gray matter volume links symptoms in autism
Low gray matter volume in the posterior superior parietal lobule (pSPL) was found to correlate with specific cognitive and perceptual symptoms of autism.
New mechanism allows lower energy requirement for OLED displays
Scientists have found a way to significantly reduce the amount of energy required by organic light emitting diodes (OLED) displays.
CAPON links Alzheimer’s plaques to neurodegeneration
CAPON was found to link Aβ plaques and hippocampal neurodegeneration in mice, explaining how these two hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease are related.
AdR blockers protect the brain from stroke damage
Treatment with adrenergic receptor antagonists (AdR blockers) was able to reduce stroke-related brain damage in mice and improve motor recovery.
Trigger region found for epileptic absence seizures
A mouse model shows that absence seizures are triggered by faulty connections between the cortex and fast-spiking neurons in the striatum.
Opto-OISI: imaging connections in the living brain
A new imaging technique called opto-OISI allows scientists to non-invasively visualize where specific neurons project in the living brain.
Flies smell through a gore-tex system
The newly named gore-tex gene is responsible for the development of nanopores that allow chemicals in the air to be detected (in flies).
Protein pileup affects social behavior through altered brain signaling
When a normal cellular cleanup process is disrupted, social behavior in mice is disrupted and they start behaving in ways that resemble human symptoms of autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.
The joys of computational mass spectrometry
Scientists have developed a new automated computational mass spectrometry system that can search an organism’s entire metabolome for as-yet-unknown metabolites (potential drugs).
Pulses of light can enhance superconductivity
Pulses of light could be used to turn materials into superconductors through an unconventional type of superconductivity.
Scientists create new type of self-healing material
This newly created ethylene-based material has shape memory that allows self-healing!
Brain clock ticks differently in autism
A new brain imaging study shows that autistic severity is linked to how long certain regions of the brain store information.
Supermassive black holes still dark and mysterious
For the first time, scientists have measured the strength of magnetic fields near supermassive black holes and something doesn’t add up.
Evolution of the inner ear: insights from jawless fish
A new story for inner ear evolution based on the developmental patterning found in hagfish, one of two extant jawless vertebrates and a link to the last common ancestor of modern jawed vertebrates.
Tumor detection during breast cancer surgery
Scientists have developed a new way to accurately detect the margins between cancerous and non-cancerous tissue during breast cancer surgery.
Smarter AI: machine learning without negative data
Scientists have developed a new method for machine learning that allows an AI to make better classifications without negative data.
Nerdnite recap: When the brainbow met the boson
Fun times at nerdnite tokyo. Brains, bosons, and math, oh my!
Mutations, CRISPR, and spinocerebellar ataxia
Scientists discover that mutations causing the degenerative movement disorder spinocerebellar ataxia type 29 work by disrupting calcium release of neurons inside the brain.
Gene regulator that allows plant rehydration after drought
New genetic insights into the plant rehydration process: this is why your plants don’t die after you forgot to water them.
Researchers create a functional salivary gland organoid ?
Scientists have succeeded in growing three-dimensional salivary gland tissue that produced saliva like normal glands when implanted into mice.
Getting a grip on slow but unique shark evolution
Scientists have decoded the genomes of two species of shark, bringing the grand total of sequenced shark genomes to three.
Ig Nobel awards: Silly experiments that strike gold
Amanda writes about the Ig Nobel awards after founder Marc Abrahams visited nerdnite Tokyo. Science at its best!
A self-powered heart monitor taped to the skin
A group of scientists have developed a human-friendly, ultra-flexible organic sensor powered by sunlight, which acts as a self-powered heart monitor.
Protostars that exhibit large diversity in organic compounds
A survey of a molecular cloud has found that the organic chemical makeup of protostars varies considerably.
Scientists solve epigenetic barriers to cloning
Scientists show that two epigenetic factors improve the success rate of cloning via somatic cell nuclear transfer.
Transgenic plants 🌱🌿on acid survive without water
Scientists designed transgenic plants that survive drought-like conditions by bumping up acetic acid production only when water is scarce.
Two genes that regulate how much we dream
An international research team led by RIKEN BDR has identified a pair of genes that regulate how much REM (dream) and non-REM sleep an animal experiences.
Flies use fecal deposits as pheromones
Bioluminescence imaging of fly brains reveals neurons sensitive to fly poo laced with pheromones (you can see the fecal “landmark” in the dotted circle). Need we say more?
Hippocampal memory isn’t all about place cells
Scientists have found evidence that hippocampal memories of experience are not stored in place cells.
Summer fun: how plants beat the heat
Scientists have discovered a gene that allows plants to cope with extreme heat by changing the composition of chloroplast membranes.
Freedom from fear ?♀️
Researchers discover a dopaminergic circuit in the brain that allows fear associations to disappear when there isn’t anything to be afraid of anymore.
Godzilla-sized zooplankton for better aquafarming
Scientists have created extra large zooplankton to help feed the fish in aquafarms. The new plankton were created using an ion beam to generate mutations.
Electric rays to help us map the ocean floor
Electric rays and sting rays could map the ocean floor through their natural behavior, helping us find resources and collect data on other ocean life.
Bacterial drug resistance studied by robotic E. coli evolution
Experimentally evolving E. coli under pressure from a large number of antibiotics was able to identify constraints underlying evolved drug resistance.
New artificial skin helps avoid animal testing
A new artificial skin that reproduces proper tension can be used to research skin function and disease while reducing the need to experiment on animals.
Social novelty in the brain: haven’t I seen you someplace before?
Social novelty and contextual novelty are segregated in the SuM region of the hypothalamus and in projections to the hippocampus, allowing memories of meeting new people to be formed separately from memories of new places.
FABP4: A preschool-aged biomarker for autism
Reduced FABP4 was found in preschool-aged children with autism spectrum disorder, making it a potential new biomarker for the condition.
Microbial infections are a parasitic plant’s dream
Parasitic plants use quinones produced by their host to attack. Now we know that crops produce quinones as an immune response against microbial infection. How can we protect crops from both kinds of attack?
Gut bacteria double team worsens symptoms of multiple sclerosis
Joint activity of two gut bacteria leads to excessive MOG-specific T-cell activity and demyelination of neurons in the spinal cord of a mouse model of multiple sclerosis.
Something smells fishy: categorizing odors in the brain
Calcium imaging and mathematical model explain how categories and mixtures of odors are represented in the fly brain and consistent across individual flies.
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Decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 series — installment #2: RIKEN CBS Unit Leader Rei Akaishi talks about government decision-making during the pandemic.
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Confronting a string of epidemics including COVID-19
COVID-19 series — installment #1: RIKEN Executive Director Shigeo Koyasu talks about epidemics and what a good response looks like.
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Next stop: clinical hair regeneration
A new recipe for continuous cyclical hair regeneration in mice. This means that the hair will continue to fall out and regrow like normal hair.
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Godzilla-sized zooplankton for better aquafarming
Scientists have created extra large zooplankton to help feed the fish in aquafarms. The new plankton were created using an ion beam to generate mutations.
10
Electric rays to help us map the ocean floor
Electric rays and sting rays could map the ocean floor through their natural behavior, helping us find resources and collect data on other ocean life.
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Bacterial drug resistance studied by robotic E. coli evolution
Experimentally evolving E. coli under pressure from a large number of antibiotics was able to identify constraints underlying evolved drug resistance.