Mathematical model predicts self-organized learning in real neurons


The free energy principle predicted how real neural connections changed as neurons “learned” in a dish.

Hepatoma (liver cancer) blocked by a sugar look-a-like


A sugar (fucose) analog can prevent liver cancer (hepatoma) from invading healthy liver cells.

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.

Centennial RIKEN Research


???This Spring we’ve put together a special centennial issue of RIKEN Research ???

Longevity in supercentenarians linked to cytotoxic T-cells


Blood analysis in supercentenarians showed that they have many more cytotoxic CD4 T-cells than people with average life spans.

Chromosome copying errors pinpointed in developing embryos


The DNA duplication process changes during embryogenesis and chromosome copying errors increase during the transition.

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Self-assembly of spider silk

This gut microbe might protect against diabetes and reduce insulin resistance

NEW: One-way hydrogel guides motion of tiny worms!

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Dopamine reduces beta-amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s disease


Increasing dopamine in the brains of AD model mice led to increased neprilysin, which broke down amyloid-beta plaques and improved memory.

A new imaging biomarker for the aging brain


Enlarged ventricles is a sign of an aging brain. New research shows that this phenomenon can be predicted by lagging brain circulation that is detected by MRI.

Cubes of brain tissue allow drug discovery without animals


Modeling the blood-brain-barrier with brains-in-a-cube allows drug testing without the need for animals.

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.

Recipe for hydrogen: sprinkle manganese oxide with iridium atoms, add water


A few iridium atoms also go a long way. When sprinkled on manganese oxide, hydrogen is produced with 95% less iridium!

From evolutionary morphology to Godzilla


I recently spoke with RIKEN scientist Shigeru Kuratani about evolutionary morphology, sci-fi monsters, the genius of Alien, and more.

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.

Super-thin wearable electronics just got more flexible


A method for making super-flexible and ultra-thin wearable electronics uses water-vapor plasma to create gold-gold bonds.

New treatment assembles cancer drug inside the body


Cancer drugs assembled inside the body on cancer cells should reduce harmful side effects to other tissue.

Why (mouse) mothers take risks to protect their infants


The calcitonin receptor and its ligand amylin act in the brain to motivate mouse mothers to protect their pups, even in risky/dangerous situations.