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A heat sensor for living cells

Researchers at Harvard's SEAS have developed a highly sensitive calorimeter that can detect metabolic heat signals on the order of 100 picowatts in living cells. The device tracks the growth of small populations of bacteria in real-time, including monitoring how bacterial growth changes in response to different antibiotics.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 16, 2026

Rhythm contains important information for the cell

Cells use a complex rhythm to respond to different types of stress, such as starvation or salt stress, with insulin-driven protein DAF-16 acting as a key regulator. The research may contribute to understanding diseases like diabetes and cancer, as well as aging.

SourceAMOLF·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 13, 2026

Mini-organs reveal how the cervix defends itself

Researchers at Aarhus University used mini-organs to show that cervical epithelial cells actively detect and combat infections, with uninfected cells becoming immune-active. This discovery opens opportunities for mucosal vaccines and targeted treatments against STIs and infertility.

SourceAarhus University·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 3, 2025

ACE-ing protein detection in single cells

A new DNA-powered signal amplification technology called ACE significantly enhances the sensitivity of mass cytometry, enabling the detection of multiple proteins in single cells. This breakthrough allows researchers to investigate complex biological processes and study immune cell functions with unprecedented depth.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalNature Biotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 30, 2024

B cell response after influenza vaccine in young and older adults

Researchers found a quantitative difference in B cell response following vaccination between young and older adults, with younger adults mounting a stronger clonal response and older adults having more activated B cells. This study provides insights into the age-related differences in B cell vaccine response and may lead to the develop...

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeObservational study·DateOct 10, 2023

Why men are at higher risk from COVID-19

Researchers at Osaka University found that male patients with COVID-19 have a faster loss of circulating Treg cells, leading to dysregulated antibody responses. Females, on the other hand, have higher levels of these cells, which may help protect them from infection.

SourceOsaka University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 12, 2023

CAPITAL: A major advance in single-cell RNA data analysis

Researchers at Osaka University have developed a computational tool called CAPITAL that can carry out accurate comparative analysis of complex single-cell sequencing datasets. The tool uses a pseudotime trajectory approach to align and compare cells along hypothetical paths reflecting their progress through transitional processes.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 17, 2022