New research from the University of Chicago shows that dentine, the inner layer of teeth that transmits sensory information to nerves inside the pulp, first evolved as sensory tissue in the armored exoskeletons of ancient fish.

A team of scientists has answered a long-standing question in cell biology, uncovering how the cell’s main energy currency, ATP, is transported into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Disrupted energy transport could affect diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. The study, published in Nature, confirms that the transporter protein SLC35B1 is the key gateway for ATP entry into the ER.

A study in Nature explains how age reshapes the blood system. In both humans and mice, a few stem cells outcompete their neighbours and gradually take over blood production. The loss of diversity results in a blood system that has a preference for producing myeloid cells, immune cells linked to chronic inflammation which underlies many different diseases. Using a new technique, researchers tracked naturally-ocurring 'barcodes' in blood cells which can lead to new strategies that spot early warning signs of unhealthy ageing long before symptoms appear, helping prevent cancer or heart disease. The technique also opens the door to studying the viability of rejuvenation therapies in humans, efforts which have traditionally been the focus of animal research.

SeaSplat is an image-analysis tool that cuts through the ocean’s optical effects to generate images of underwater environments reveal an ocean scene’s true colors. Researchers paired the color-correcting tool with a computational model that converts images of a scene into a three-dimensional underwater “world” that can be explored virtually. 

New research reveals how repeated genetic changes in Hibiscus flowers have led to the loss of visually striking bullseye patterns despite their advantage in attracting pollinators like bumblebees.

When pollinators visit flowers, they produce various sounds, from wing flapping during hovering, to landing and takeoff. Francesca Barbero studied these vibroacoustic signals to develop noninvasive and efficient methods for monitoring pollinator communities and their influences on plant biology and ecology. The researchers found that the bee sounds led the snapdragons to increase their sugar and nectar volume, and even alter their gene expression that governs sugar transport and nectar production.