Summary: Researchers have discovered a way to control human body temperature, mimicking the hibernation process of animals like bears. By manipulating the brain’s temperature regulation system, they can induce a state of “thermoregulatory inversion” (TI) in rats, reducing heat production even in cold environments.

This breakthrough could lead to controlled hypothermia in humans, improving survival rates in life-threatening situations like heart attacks and strokes. The discovery opens the door to therapeutic hypothermia, which can protect tissues from damage by lowering metabolism and oxygen demand.

A new “molecular flashlight” technique allows non-invasive insight into brain pathologies, lighting up the future of neurological research. The probe can reach deep into the brain with minimal damage, earning its designation as a minimally invasive device. It emits an ultra-thin beam of light.

Integrated into a high-resolution wireless biosensing device, the antennas could enable researchers to decode complex electrical signals generated by cells.

Monitoring electrical signals in biological systems allows scientists to study how cells communicate, providing valuable insights that can improve the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as arrhythmia and Alzheimer’s disease.

But devices that record electrical signals in cell cultures and other liquid environments often use wires to connect each electrode on the device to its respective amplifier. Because only so many wires can be connected to the device, this restricts the number of recording sites, limiting the information that can be collected from cells.

A study led by researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, and other institutions has identified neuroanatomical differences in children associated with early substance use initiation.

Early-age substance use is strongly associated with a heightened risk for substance use disorders (SUDs) and other adverse outcomes later in life. Neuroanatomical changes in brain structure have been linked to substance use, especially in youth when the brain is undergoing substantial development.

But are the changes seen in substance user brains primarily a result of the substance use itself, or is it an inherent predisposition in some individuals with certain neuroanatomical variations?