Chimpanzee naive pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can now be grown in cellular cultures, reveals a recent study. They successfully created chimpanzee early embryo models, called ‘blastoids,’ and found that the inhibition of a specific regulatory gene is essential for chimpanzee PSC self-renewal. They also developed a feeder-free culture system, eliminating the need for mouse-derived feeder cells as support. These findings provide valuable insights into primate embryology and could advance stem cell research and regenerative medicine.

Skilful learners who alternate between their own learning and using tips from others achieve the greatest learning success. This is the conclusion reached by an international research team involving the Cluster of Excellence Science of Intelligence (SCIoI), the Max Planck Institute for Human Development (MPIB), the University of Tübingen, and NYU. Using the popular video game Minecraft, the researchers investigated how people combine individual and social information in a virtual food search. The most successful participants were those who flexibly combined their own exploration with social clues. Their ability to adapt to constantly changing conditions was crucial to their success. The results provide insights into how learning environments can be designed to support adaptive learning.