Neuro Primer: Cerebral Organoids
t may sound like something Dr. Frankenstein himself would be envious of, but scientists can now create miniature “brain” organoids in a dish.… Read more
Nature
Weird Animal Brain: Leaf Sheep Sea Slug
Remember photosynthesis: How plants capture energy from the sun. Chloroplasts (the green parts of leaves) are where the sun’s energy is captured.… Read more
Weird Animal Brain: Woodpecker
Brain damage is a major concern for us humans – car accidents, football, falling backwards. It’s pretty easy to cause a concussion. Woodpeckers, however, pound away daily using much more… Read more
Weird Animal Brain: Fly
Fly lips are called labellum and fly feet are called tarsi. Both the labellum and tarsi contain taste receptors which help the fly find food. Think about that the next… Read more
Weird Animal Brain: Brittle Star
Brittle stars are covered in protective outer plates, but they also have another structure of internal plates. A particular species of brittle star seems to be able to use these… Read more
Weird Animal Brain: Moth
These beautiful little creatures are incredibly skilled at sniffing out mates. The pheromone the females release is called bombykol. Scientists are on the hunt for exactly how this pheromone activates… Read more
Bite-size Science: Epigenetics help protect the aging brain
Epigenetics change which genes are active and which are inactive. Research over the past few years has shown that these changes are important for protecting the brain from neurodegeneration and… Read more
Is there Consciousness in Everything?
Common sense tells us that only living things have an inner life. Rabbits and tigers and mice have feelings, sensations and experiences; tables and rocks and molecules do not. Panpsychists… Read more
Smooth Move: How GABAergic Interneurons Regulate Skilled Motor Behavior
In early 2014, the American free-solo rock climber Alex Honnold climbed 2,500 feet of limestone without ropes. The demanding route called El Sendero Luminoso in El Potrero Chico, Mexico required… Read more
Decoding the Brain’s “Low Fuel” Signal
The human body is an efficient model to explore the popular theory of supply and demand. When you physically exert yourself, your bioenergetic “supply” is down, so you feel hungrier… Read more
Resolving New Memories: Adult Neurogenesis
When I was young, my family lived in an old farmhouse. It was cozy and had a lot of character but, at over 150 years old, it showed its age.… Read more
Chromosome Silencing: Turning Off Genes in Down Syndrome
Close your eyes and try to imagine medical treatment in the future. I envision sophisticated robots wielding lasers that precisely eliminate deadly tumors. I predict that insight from genome wide… Read more