A study of jewel wasps, known for their distinctive metallic colours, has shown that they can undergo a kind of natural ‘time-out’ as larvae before emerging into adulthood with this surprising advantage

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which give rise to all blood cell types, are essential for regenerative medicine and gene therapy. However, predicting their long-term quality remains a challenge. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a novel system combining live-cell imaging and machine learning to predict HSC quality based on real-time behavior. This approach reveals hidden cellular diversity and enables accurate prediction of cell stemness and quality, advancing basic biology and offering promise for clinical applications.

Amylase/trypsin-inhibitors (ATIs) are proteins that can trigger immune reactions in the human body. They are best known from wheat, where they are considered a possible trigger of non-celiac wheat sensitivity. An international research team led by Katharina Scherf from the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich has now succeeded for the first time in precisely measuring these proteins in barley. The results could open up new avenues for the development of more tolerable foods.

This research paves the way for point-of-care cortisol testing and diagnoses.

A team of UC Merced researchers has shown that tiny artificial cells can accurately keep time, mimicking the daily rhythms found in living organisms. Their findings shed light on how biological clocks stay on schedule despite the inherent molecular noise inside cells.

WOODS HOLE, Mass. -- The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) today announced a $25 million gift of unrestricted support from Mark Terasaki, an MBL Whitman Scientist and Associate Professor in the University of Connecticut Health Center’s Department of Cell Biology. The gift will provide $5 million annually for the next five years to support core operations and infrastructure for MBL’s education and research programs. “Mark’s gift is the largest private contribution that MBL has received in its 137-year history,” said MBL Board Chairman Bill Huyett. “Beyond reflecting his extraordinary generosity, Mark’s support is notable for its purpose: helping to underwrite the scientific and administrative infrastructure that sustains the excellence of our training and research programs and the impact they deliver. Unrestricted support is invaluable—it allows us to adapt to the rapidly evolving world of basic research and ensure our programs deliver the greatest possible impact.”