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Brain research: “Pulse generators” grow and shrink as memories are formed

Scientists have observed changes in brain cells' signal transmission during learning processes, shedding light on the brain's adaptability. The study found that axon initial segments, responsible for generating electrical signals, can lengthen or shorten in response to experiences, influencing neuronal activity.

SourceDZNE - German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 23, 2025

Robots' sense of touch could be as fast as humans

Researchers at Uppsala University have developed an artificial tactile system that can detect pressure by touch in a similar way to the human nervous system. The technology has the potential to restore lost functionality to patients after a stroke, as well as enhance interactions between humans and robots.

SourceUppsala University·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 15, 2024
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Rice-engineered material can reconnect severed nerves

Researchers have created a magnetoelectric material that can directly stimulate neural tissue, potentially treating neurological disorders and nerve damage. The material generates an electric signal that neurons can detect, overcoming previous limitations.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 10, 2023

Wearable microscopes advance spinal cord imaging in mice

Researchers have created wearable microscopes to produce high-definition, real-time images of mouse spinal cord activity across previously inaccessible regions. This technology enables unprecedented insight into the neural basis of sensations and movement in healthy and disease contexts.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 21, 2023
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Engineers light the way to nerve-operated prosthetics of the future

Researchers at the University of New South Wales have developed optrodes that can measure neural activity using light, potentially revolutionizing medical technologies like nerve-operated prosthetics. The new approach addresses long-standing issues with impedance mismatch and crosstalk, paving the way for more complex neural networks.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalJournal of Neural Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 26, 2022

Wireless activation of targeted brain circuits in less than one second

Researchers from Rice University, Duke University, Brown University and Baylor College of Medicine developed a magnetic technology to wirelessly control neural circuits in fruit flies. They used genetic engineering to express heat-sensitive ion channels in neurons that control the behavior, and iron nanoparticles to activate the channels.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2022

How an internal body clock keeps roundworms free from constipation

Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have identified the key mechanism behind roundworms' precise bowel movements, revealing a synchronized nerve impulse between the brain and gut. The study found that the AVL nerve cell in the head regulates the defecation rhythm by relaying and modulating pacemaker signals from the gut.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 13, 2022
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Blood vessels are guides for stimulating implants

Rice University engineers have developed a tiny, wireless device that can stimulate nerves and treat neurological diseases. The implant, powered by a magnetic transmitter, uses blood vessels as guides to reach targeted nerves.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 31, 2022

Cleveland Clinic researchers develop bionic arm that restores natural behaviors in patients with upper limb amputations

Researchers created a bionic arm that combines intuitive motor control with touch and hand movement sensation, enabling wearers to think and behave like a person without an amputation. The system's bi-directional feedback and control allowed study participants to perform tasks with similar accuracy as non-disabled people.

SourceCleveland Clinic·JournalScience Robotics·DateSep 1, 2021

New mechanism affecting nerve impulses discovered

Researchers at Linköping University have identified a new mechanism by which substances can open specific ion channels and regulate nerve impulses. The study reveals a large group of substances that influence the coupling between ion channel parts, opening potassium channels in a specific manner.

SourceLinköping University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 12, 2020

Finding a cure for multiple sclerosis

A US researcher has received a National Multiple Sclerosis Society grant to identify compound analogues that can repair damaged axons in multiple sclerosis. The project aims to find a new treatment avenue that speeds up nerve impulses and promotes myelin repair.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·DateSep 30, 2020

Recording thousands of nerve cell impulses at high resolution

Researchers developed a new generation of microelectrode-array chips that can record electrical activity from up to 20,000 nerve cells simultaneously. The new chip enables comprehensive measurements of more than 1,000 cells at once, suitable for testing the effects of drugs and reducing animal experiments.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 28, 2020
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Why myelinated mammalian nerves are fast and allow high frequency

Researchers have discovered two potassium channels, TREK-1 and TRAAK, at the Nodes of Ranvier that enable rapid sensory and motor reactions in mammals. The channels allow for high-frequency nerve impulses with speeds up to 200 meters per second, essential for survival in a predator-prey world.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalNeuron·DateNov 5, 2019

Brain function partly replicated by nanomaterials

Scientists developed a neural network device using nanomaterials, generating spontaneous spikes similar to nerve impulses of neurons. The researchers replicated brain function by utilizing molecular junctions and negative differential resistance.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 12, 2018
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Nerve impulses can collide and continue unaffected

Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute found that nerve impulses can collide and continue unaffected, similar to how sound waves work. This supports the theory that nerves function as sound pulses, with the electrical signal being caused by a mechanical force rather than an electric current.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Niels Bohr Institute·JournalPhysical Review X·DateSep 10, 2014

'Molecular movies' will enable extraordinary gains in bioimaging, health research

Researchers have created an imaging technology that measures chemical and biological actions in real-time, allowing for improved biosensors to study life processes. This new approach uses short pulse lasers and bioluminescent proteins to create customized sensors for better imaging of living systems.

SourceOregon State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 30, 2014
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Controlling our circadian rhythms

A new study in The Journal of General Physiology has shed light on the biophysical processes underlying regulation of circadian rhythms. Researchers found that decreased BK channel activity, particularly a specific variant containing SRKR, contributes to reduced SCN neuron excitability during the day.

SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of General Physiology·DateNov 25, 2013

Fitting Kv potassium channels in the PIP2 puzzle

A recent study in the Journal of General Physiology reveals that Kv potassium channels are not regulated by physiological changes to PIP2. In contrast to inward rectifier channels, various members of the Kv channel family were unaffected by PIP2 depletion, suggesting a previously unknown mechanism for their regulation.

SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of General Physiology·DateAug 27, 2012

Knee injuries in women linked to motion, nervous system differences

A new study found that women's knees are more susceptible to injury due to differences in motion and nervous system processing. Women tend to have knee motions that make them more prone to ACL injuries, whereas men's knees process nerve impulses similar to explosive muscle usage.

SourceOregon State University·JournalEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology·DateApr 17, 2012

Neurons use chemical 'chords' to shape signaling

Neurons can modulate nerve impulses by releasing two neurotransmitters that target the same receptor, accelerating inhibition and enhancing temporal resolution of inhibition. This finding may represent a new way the brain precisely controls nerve impulses in its circuitry.

SourceCell Press·DateFeb 27, 2008
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Controlling your (nerve) impulses

The study reveals that ion channels collaborate through a third protein called ankyrin-G to control electrical signals in the brain. This mechanism is present in all vertebrates but lacking in invertebrates, suggesting its importance for higher brain abilities.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·DateMar 7, 2006

Penn study finds direct role for glial cells in brain cross-talk

A recent Penn study found that astrocytes, a type of star-shaped glial cell, play a direct role in regulating communication between neurons. The study suggests that astrocytes modulate the level of adenosine, a signaling molecule involved in controlling wake-to-sleep transitions and epileptic seizures.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalScience·DateOct 10, 2005

Muscle protein has role in nerve disorders

Researchers found that a muscle protein called dystroglycan plays a crucial role in forming normal myelin sheaths, which allow nerves to transmit signals efficiently. The study suggests that disruption of this protein may contribute to various neuropathic disorders.

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalNeuron·DateJun 17, 2003

'Kiss-and-run' rules the inner lives of neurons

Researchers develop technique to visualize individual vesicles after release, discovering three modes of recycling: kiss-and-run, compensatory and stranded. The study reveals the rate of synaptic vesicle recycling determines information transmission in nerve cells.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalNature·DateJun 4, 2003