Fossilized fish ear stones – known as otoliths – can reveal far more than previously thought. In a recent study, a team of palaeontologists from the University of Vienna demonstrated that a refined electron microscopy technique can make even the finest growth rings visible. These microscopic structures may reflect a fish's life story down to just a few hours – an important breakthrough for understanding fish growth, biomineralization, and environmental change across millennia. The study was recently published in Limnology and Oceanography: Methods.

Researchers from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have now revealed the complete three-dimensional (3D) ultrastructure of xylem vessel pits in rice and identified a critical regulatory module, MYB61-PS1, that shapes the 3D structure of pits in rice. 

An exceptional “dual feeding” strategy underlies a Mediterranean coral’s resilience to rising sea temperatures, according to a study in Nature. The stony coral Oculina patagonica is known to feed itself with or without algae. Now, the first direct comparison of algae-hosting cells in O. patagonica and other coral species reveals how this flexibility works at the genetic and cellular level. The study is a window into how marine species are adapting to climate change, and also explains why the stony coral has expanded eastwards since it was first discovered in 1966.

POSTECH-UCLA Collaborative Team Develops Novel ‘Univody’ Platform for Antigen-Independent Cancer Immunotherapy.

The researchers are investigating the interaction of different cell types at the border between blood vessels and the brain. A particular focus here is on sex-specific differences.

Scientists at La Trobe University have discovered a previously unknown way viruses could spread around the body, potentially paving the way for more effective drug development.