A study by the Institute for Neurosciences CSIC-UMH reveals that thalamic activity regulates the integration of interneurons in a key region of the visual pathway. The results, obtained in mouse models, show that altering this activity also affects the organization of these cells in the visual cortex.

Researchers have developed an AI-based system that automatically and objectively detects the moment when fish experience loss of equilibrium (LOE) due to temperature stress. The system combines DeepLabCut, a deep-learning AI that captures animal posture from video, with ResNet34, a deep-learning AI-based image-classification technology. Their system is expected to help predict the effects of climate change on fish. The research team was led by Specially Appointed Lecturer Tomoya Nakayama and Yoshiya Matsuo (a master’s student at the time) of the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM) at Nagoya University, in collaboration with Associate Professor Tatsuto Hasegawa and Takuya Kato (a master’s student at the time) of the University of Fukui. Their research was published in the journal Scientific Reports on September 10, 2026.

Kyoto, Japan -- Amphibian larvae -- often known as tadpoles -- exhibit a behavior known as social aggregation, where they gather together as a way to avoid predators. These interactions are evidence of their association preferences, or their tendency to recognize members of their own species. Some varieties of tadpoles have even shown a preference for their siblings.

These association preferences and kin recognition in tadpoles have become a key topic in understanding the evolution of social behavior. Recent studies have suggested that microorganisms may be influencing communication through animal body odors, indicating the possibility that pond water rich in microbes may also affect social behavior. Yet whether this sociality is innate, shaped by early life experiences, or the aquatic environment, has remained unclear.

This uncertainty motivated Kazuko Hase at Kyoto University to investigate how early-life social experiences and the aquatic environment influence the development of sociality.

Researchers have developed an injectable supramolecular carrier that co‑encapsulates two hydrophobic anti‑inflammatory drugs within a hyaluronic acid matrix via Schiff‑base chemistry. The system achieves pH‑responsive release, suppresses inflammatory cytokines, promotes cartilage repair in a rat osteoarthritis model, and avoids the systemic toxicity of oral medications.

In vivo immune cell engineering directly reprograms endogenous immune cells, bypassing individualized ex vivo manufacturing and opening a path toward more accessible and scalable cell therapies. This review summarizes cell-specific engineering strategies, compares viral and non-viral delivery platforms, highlights emerging applications in cancer, autoimmune and degenerative diseases, and discusses the key challenges that must be overcome for clinical translation.