Salk scientists find the brain regulates the density of synaptic vesicles in presynaptic terminals during long-term potentiation (LTP), a key mechanism of learning and memory. The study uses novel 3D reconstructions and computer simulations to capture structural changes that were previously unmeasurable and predict that synaptic vesicles increase mobility during LTP. These findings lay the groundwork for understanding how dysregulation of synaptic vesicle clusters may contribute to aging and neurological disease.

In Biointerphases, a Hiroshima University researcher closely examines the light-emitting organ in a bioluminescent deep-sea fish to reveal layers of guanine platelets that do more than just reflect the light — they scatter the light in complex ways. The platelets are needle-shaped and clustered locally around the light organs, and when light hits the guanine crystals, their shape causes light scattering. Knowing this could provide insights into highly efficient biomimetic designs that maximize and recycle leaked light.

A new AI model developed by UC San Diego researchers could make it possible to predict treatment response based only on a tumor's genetics.

Researchers at Concordia University have developed magnet-guided soft robots designed to safely navigate blood vessels and remove dangerous clots linked to strokes and heart attacks. The flexible devices can maneuver through narrow, complex pathways more precisely than conventional tools, potentially reducing damage to surrounding tissue and improving outcomes in minimally invasive treatments for life-threatening vascular conditions.

Living systems such as cells rely on membrane pores and channels to transport molecules, exchange signals, and organize biochemical reactions. These functions emerge from dynamic interactions between molecular components. Researchers at the University of Stuttgart have used DNA nanotechnology to develop a synthetic membrane architecture that mimics such interactions. The new platform enables coordinated molecular transport and programmable biochemical reactions inside an artificial compartment. The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from the University of Michigan and Arizona State University, and has been published in the journal Nature Chemistry.