Comment

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on January 16, 2025 at 10:03am

Nerves for the suckers also exited from the ANC through these septa, systematically connecting to the outer edge of each sucker. This indicates that the nervous system sets up a spatial, or topographical, map of each sucker.

Octopuses can move and change the shape of their suckers independently. The suckers are also packed with sensory receptors that allow the octopus to taste and smell things that they touch—like combining a hand with a tongue and a nose. The researchers think the "suckeroptopy," as they called the map, facilitates this complex sensory-motor ability.

 Neuronal segmentation in cephalopod arms, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55475-5

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on January 16, 2025 at 10:02am

Octopus arms have segmented nervous systems to power extraordinary movements

Octopus arms move with incredible dexterity, bending, twisting, and curling with nearly infinite degrees of freedom. New research revealed that the nervous system circuitry that controls arm movement in octopuses is segmented, giving these extraordinary creatures precise control across all eight arms and hundreds of suckers to explore their environment, grasp objects, and capture prey.

Octopus arms move with incredible dexterity, bending, twisting, and curling with nearly infinite degrees of freedom. Credit: Cassady Olson

---

Using cellular markers and imaging tools to trace the structure and connections from the ANC, the researchers  saw that neuronal cell bodies were packed into columns that formed segments, like a corrugated pipe. These segments are separated by gaps called septa, where nerves and blood vessels exit to nearby muscles. Nerves from multiple segments connect to different regions of muscles, suggesting the segments work together to control movement.

The best way to set up a control system for this very long, flexible arm would be to divide it into segments.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on January 16, 2025 at 9:41am

Archaeologists reveal 8,000-year-old bone powder cooking practice in ancient China

A new study by archaeologists published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, provides insights into some of the earliest forms of humans processing bones into powder for cooking, dating back nearly 8,000 years (6,085 and 6,369 BC).

The finding was made at the Xielaozhuang (XLZ) site in the Henan province of North China. The site belonged to the Peiligang culture (ca. 9,000–7,000 BP), which was one of North China's most significant Neolithic cultures. It was known for being among the earliest producers of fermented beverages, creators of the oldest tonal flutes, basic textile weavers and sewers, and possibly one of the earliest users of the Chinese script.

Using a multidisciplinary approach that combined Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and starch analysis, the researchers were able to analyze the chemical, mineral, and microscopic composition of the crust-residue.

More specifically, the research team found certain compounds and minerals, including hydroxyapatite, magnesium whitlockite, phosphate (PO₄^3-), and carbonate (CO₃^2-) groups, as well as key elements, including carbon, oxygen, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium, all of which are typical components found in bone.

They concluded that bone powder was likely ground up and cooked together with various wild plants, including acorns and Job's tears.

This was particularly interesting because, despite agriculture having been developed in China around 10,000 years ago, the Peiligang culture made limited use of cultivated crops and animals, including foxtail millet, common millet, rice, and pigs. In fact, no domesticated crops were found in the crust-residue at XLZ, and from previous zooarchaeological analyses, it was known that domesticated animals, such as pigs, only made up around 10% of all remains.

The researchers speculate that bone powder processing at XLZ represented an important survival strategy during the transition from hunting-gathering to farming. It has long been hypothesized that various Paleolithic societies used bone grease extraction methods to extract extra fat (grease) and nutrients from otherwise inedible resources.

This research contributes to a growing body of evidence showing how early Neolithic societies developed sophisticated subsistence strategies during the transition from hunter-gatherer to farm-based societies.

 Xingtao Wei et al, Bone Powder and Wild Plants: Subsistence Strategies of Early Neolithic Settlers in North China, International Journal of Osteoarchaeology (2024). DOI: 10.1002/oa.3376

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on January 16, 2025 at 9:22am

Dopamine acts on motivation and reinforcement learning via distinct cellular processes

Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter known to modulate motivation and reinforcement learning. While the role of dopamine in these reward-related processes is well-established, the cellular and neural circuit-level mechanisms underpinning its involvement in these processes is not yet fully understood.

So researchers  carried out a study investigating the cellular processes via which dopamine supports motivation and the reinforcement of specific behaviours.

Their findings, published in Nature Neuroscience, suggest that different aspects of reward-related behaviour are supported by two distinct dopamine receptors, namely D3 and D1.

The previous literature clearly showed that dopamine is important for motivation and reinforcement. 

This is an important topic since deficits in motivation or excessive motivation are cardinal symptoms in many mental disorders. The nucleus accumbens, a brain region where dopamine is thought to exert its effects, is uniquely enriched with a molecule that recognizes dopamine, the D3 receptor.

As an initial step in addressing the role of D3,the researchers developed a new mouse strain that enables cell-type-selective deletion of D3 receptors, including in the nucleus accumbens.

The results show that specifically, D3 receptors were found to regulate motivation, while D1 receptors appeared to regulate reinforcement.

These  findings provide the first evidence that dopamine exerts its actions on motivation and reinforcement through separable cellular processes in neurons that are part of the brain's reward circuitry.

There are important implications because medications that act on D3 receptors are used for the treatment of mood disorders.

Juan Enriquez-Traba et al, Dissociable control of motivation and reinforcement by distinct ventral striatal dopamine receptors, Nature Neuroscience (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01819-9

Nicolas X. Tritsch, Motivating interest in D3 dopamine receptors, Nature Neuroscience (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01820-2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on January 15, 2025 at 11:01am

Even though the glass looks clean when cleaned with detergent, its ability to transmit light is significantly impaired. Therefore, a clean-looking end result does not guarantee optimal performance.
The study provides information on solar panel maintenance for users of solar power.

 Aapo Poskela et al, Impact of Textured Surfaces and Cleaning on Solar Panel Glass Transmittance, (2024). DOI: 10.4229/eupvsec2024/3av.1.17

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on January 15, 2025 at 10:59am

Solar panels should not be cleaned with dishwashing detergent

A study conducted at the University of Turku, Finland, investigated how household cleaning products affect the ability of solar panel glass to transmit light. The results of the study were presented at the 41st European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition and in the conference proceedings.

For solar panels to work optimally, it is essential that they can absorb as much of the incoming solar radiation as possible. Soiling and, on the other hand, damage to the solar panel glass will reduce the panel's ability to absorb radiation.

A research team at the University of Turku in Finland investigated the best way to clean solar panels so that solar radiation would penetrate the panels as well as possible.

Most cleaning agents, such as glass cleaner and isopropanol, proved suitable for cleaning the studied solar panel glass.

The exception was dishwashing detergent and the results suggest that it should not be used when cleaning solar panels. Even dirty glass transmitted more light than glass cleaned with dishwashing detergent.

Solar cell surfaces are usually made of glass, but typically have an anti-reflection coating and it is important to avoid damaging it. 

The study found that the optical properties of the studied anti-reflective coating on solar panel glass did not deteriorate as a result of chemical cleaning—except when dishwashing detergent was used.

It is unlikely that dishwashing detergent damages the glass. However, rinsing does not seem to be sufficient, as the transmittance of the solar panel glass cleaned with detergent did not return to the pre-cleaning level after the rinsing.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on January 15, 2025 at 9:49am

Beach guardians: How hidden microbes protect coastal waters in a changing climate

A hidden world teeming with life lies below beach sands. New research sheds light on how microbial communities in coastal groundwater respond to infiltrating seawater.

The study, published in Environmental Microbiology, reveals the diversity of microbial life inhabiting these critical ecosystems and what might happen if they are inundated by rising seas.

Beaches can act as a filter between land and sea, processing groundwater and associated chemicals before they reach the ocean. Understanding how these ecosystems function is key to safeguarding their services in the face of sea level rise.

Microbial communities living in groundwater within beach sand play a crucial role in maintaining coastal water quality. These microbes help break down chemicals, including excess nutrients like nitrogen, which can come from natural sources, such as decomposing plant matter, or human sources, like agricultural runoff and wastewater.

The researchers found that the microbial communities remained relatively stable over changing tidal conditions and seasons. However, a wave overtopping event—when seawater surged into the aquifer due to high-energy waves—caused significant changes in the microbial makeup. Such disturbances are expected to become more frequent with rising sea levels and storm surges, making it harder for the microbes to do their water purification work.

These microbes live in complex communities, many with specialized roles that include processing nutrients and even producing or consuming greenhouse gases.

The microbial community's resilience under typical conditions is encouraging, but disturbances like wave overtopping highlight their vulnerability to climate change.

The study's findings establish a critical baseline for understanding how subterranean estuaries function and respond to environmental changes. As sea levels rise, beach sands will be forced inland or erode, altering groundwater hydrology, chemistry, and microbial composition.

The research adds a crucial piece to the puzzle of coastal resilience. By highlighting the interplay between microbial dynamics and physical processes like wave action, the study brings into question impending changes to coastal groundwater. Policymakers and coastal planners should consider the role of these hidden ecosystems when designing strategies to manage sea level rise, according to the researchers.

We rely on these microbial communities for essential biogeochemical cycling at the land-sea interface. If their capacity diminishes due to climate impacts, we could see cascading effects on coastal water quality and marine life.

 Jessica A. Bullington et al, Microbial Community of a Sandy Beach Subterranean Estuary is Spatially Heterogeneous and Impacted by Winter Waves, Environmental Microbiology (2024). DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.70009

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on January 14, 2025 at 9:55am

The findings have exciting implications for health and disease. The researchers discovered that boosting BA-MCY levels in mice helped reduce fat accumulation in the liver, suggesting a potential treatment for conditions like fatty liver disease or high cholesterol. Moreover, dietary interventions such as increasing fiber intake enhanced BA-MCY production, hinting at the role of diet in managing this system.
This study reveals there is a dialogue occurring between the gut microbes and the body that is vital for regulating bile acid production.

Tae Hyung Won et al, Host metabolism balances microbial regulation of bile acid signalling, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08379-9

Part 2

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on January 14, 2025 at 9:55am

Your gut bacteria are in a chemical tug-of-war with your body

Our gut is a bustling hub of activity, home to trillions of microbes that work together with our bodies to keep us healthy. A recent study explores one fascinating aspect of this partnership: how gut bacteria team up with the host body to regulate bile acids, essential molecules that control digestion, cholesterol levels, and fat metabolism.

Bile acids are produced in the liver and help digest fats. 

But it now has become clear that they're more than just digestive aids; they act as signaling molecules, regulating cholesterol levels, fat metabolism, and more. They do all this by binding to a receptor called FXR, which acts like a traffic light, controlling cholesterol metabolism and bile acid production to avoid excess buildup.

Here's where the microbes come in: gut bacteria can modify bile acids to completely change their activity. Bacteria can turn bile acids into forms that strongly activate FXR, signaling the body to slow down bile production and modify other aspects of fat metabolism. Scientists have long wondered how the body counteracts this microbial chokehold on metabolism.

In the study, researchers identified a clever trick the body uses to keep the microbial influence in check (the study used mice as a model). They found that in the intestines, the body further modifies the microbial bile acids into a new family of derivatives, called BA-MCYs, using an enzyme named VNN1. Unlike the forms made by gut bacteria, these BA-MCYs act as FXR antagonists—essentially flipping the "off switch" on FXR. This encourages bile production rather than limiting it.

This balancing act is crucial. When gut bacteria produce lots of bile acids that strongly activate FXR, the body pushes back by making BA-MCYs, ensuring the bile acid system stays finely tuned. This interplay highlights how gut microbes interact with the host body in a dynamic, give-and-take relationship. Importantly, BA-MCYs were also detected in human blood samples, indicating that the same mechanism also operates in people.

Part 1

Comment by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on January 14, 2025 at 8:59am

Microscopic robots that swim towards chemical signals offer precise drug delivery solutions

Imagine microscopic robots that can navigate the body, delivering medicine precisely to damaged tissues while avoiding side effects. Researchers have discovered a new breakthrough that brings this vision closer to reality.

The research, published in the journal Soft Matter, demonstrates how specially designed microscopic robots, known as Janus particles, can detect and navigate towards chemical signals, much like bacteria-sensing food.

When placed near a chemical-releasing patch, the particles can automatically "swim" toward it and maintain a stable hovering position directly above it. Drug-carrying particles could automatically locate and hover over infected or damaged tissue that releases specific chemical signals, delivering medication precisely where needed.

Elongated particles, shaped like microscopic rods, proved more effective at maintaining their position compared to spherical ones, which tended to drift away over time.

This research brings us closer to having 'smart' microscopic devices that can deliver medicine exactly where it's needed in the body, much like having a tiny, precise delivery service at the cellular level. Instead of flooding the whole body with medication, which can cause side effects, these microscopic robots could 'swim' directly to the problem area—whether it's an infection, tumor or injury—and deliver treatment right at that spot.

Viviana Mancuso et al, Chemotactic behavior for a self-phoretic Janus particle near a patch source of fuel, Soft Matter (2024). DOI: 10.1039/D4SM00733F

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 79
• 80
• 81
• 82
• 83
• …
• 1081
• Next ›
• Page