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RIKEN Research Fall Issue
Fall is here, and with it comes the latest issue of RIKEN Research. This issue covers tactile learning during sleep, supercomputers and simulations, solar cells, fly olfaction, tumor vaccines, and more
Locating social memories in the brain
Scientists have identified where social memories are stored in the brains of mice. Mice are forgotten because memories cannot be retrieved.
Big news in iPS cell transplants
iPS cell-derived retinal cells have been successfully transplanted from one monkey to another without need of immunosuppressant drugs.
In Japan, women in science seek allies, resources in push for gender equality
neuroamanda talks about gender equality for female scientists is Japan.
Measuring altitude — with clocks?
Measuring altitude using atomic clocks seems like a crazy idea, but it’s already being done at RIKEN in Japan
The sound of molecules: NMR-inspired music
Science & art: how NMR works and how NMR spectra have been used to compose music based on molecular structures.
Eve Marder: freeing knowledge, crashing neurons
None of us would get on a plane that had its parts changed in mid-air, says Eve Marder, who has spent her career probing a very specific cluster of crustacean nerve cells. Yet we are all walking around undergoing a constant turnover of cellular parts, and so are the lobsters and crabs Marder studies.
RIKEN Research Summer issue
A quick post to let you know that the Summer issue of RIKEN Research Magazine came out towards the end of June. This issue covers brain evolution, regenerating skin, super-clear synapses, and much much more! Enjoy!
ESOF and the gimungous telescope
Highlights from the recent EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) conference held in Manchester (actually, pre-ESOF). Science was everywhere, even out by the sheep
Call for science-inspired art
A rant about right-brain/left-brain pseudoscience and a call for science-inspired art. Scientists can be artists (and artists can be scientists)!
Why “nihonium”?
Kosuke Morita and Kouji Morimoto talked to reporters on Thursday morning about how they came up with name “nihonium” for element 113.
Nerd Nite comes to Tokyo
Jens checks out Nerd Nite in Tokyo — swords and physics and brains oh my!
RIKEN Research Spring issue is here
Just a quick post to let you know that the Spring issue of RIKEN Research Magazine came out towards the end of March. This issue covers issues including the discovery of element 113, earth-friendly pesticides, and the secrets of a rice-killing fungal toxin. Enjoy!
Organ regeneration in the lab
Interview with Takashi Tsuji, team leader of the Laboratory for Organ Regeneration at the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology
Of mice and NREM: In this brain circuit, memories depend on sleep
The parts of the brain responsible for creating a memory must be re-activated during a specific part of the sleep cycle for mice to remember.
What’s that smell? The advantage of sniffing
Rhythmic sniffing boosts phase-coded neuronal signals in the mouse olfactory bulb that allow odors to be identified.
Quantum dots light up cancer with a little help
Researchers have found a small connecting protein that can help make quantum dot-based probes for biomedical imaging.
Most precise measurement ever of proton magnetic moment
Using a sophisticated setup, scientists have made the most precise measurement to date of the proton magnetic moment.
Proton and antiproton still seem identical
Using a novel two-particle measurement method, scientists have measured the magnetic moment of the antiproton at a precision 350 times higher than any previous measurement.
Microcolumns: elementary neuronal units that carpet the (mouse) brain
A hexagonal lattice organizes major cell types in the cerebral cortex, with similar cells synchronizing their activity in microcolumns.
Jupiter’s volcano-powered auroral lights
A collaborative effort used data from NASA’s Juno spacecraft to explain the transient auroras found on Jupiter.
Hepatoma (liver cancer) blocked by a sugar look-a-like
A sugar (fucose) analog can prevent liver cancer (hepatoma) from invading healthy liver cells.
Random movements help color-detecting cells form the proper pattern
Scientists have used a mathematical model to explain why zebrafish cone cells in the eye are arranged in a specific pattern in all individuals.
Visualizing chick-brain morphogenesis
A new statistical-based method provides insight into the morphogenesis of developing organs.
Jun
5
Gene linked to intellectual ability affects memory replay in mice
Scientists have discovered a gene in mice that allows memory replay at rest, a process necessary for forming long-lasting memories in mice.
May
30
Quick, call Spiderman: scientists discover how spider silk is formed
A group of scientists led by researchers have discovered a key mechanism through which spider silk is formed.
May
16
Mutation protects against Alzheimer’s disease in mice
Scientists discover a deletion mutation that reduces amyloid-beta plaque formation in Alzheimer’s disease model mice.
May
15
Plant peptide spells relief from salty stress
Newly discovered plant peptide hormone can be used to protect plants from excessive environmental salt.
May
14
Putting E. coli to work for us
Specially engineered bacteria can produce an industrially significant chemical from renewable sources in a much gentler process than the one currently used by industry.
Apr
9
Why being sick can create anxiety
Researchers have linked changes in mouse immune-cell metabolism to anxiety-related behavior and alterations in brain chemistry.