Cell Biologist

  "Coral reefs are declining globally, and their recovery often depends on broken fragments reattaching and growing but that process isn't as simple as it sounds," Dr. Lewis said. "Even after decades of coral research, we still don't fully understand how fragments attach or how to make restoration efforts more effective." The QUT team also included Professor Peter Prentis and Associate Professor Luke Nothdurft, with collaborators Dr. Crystal Cooper from University of Western Australia and Professor David Suggett from UTS. Three-step coral attachment process Using advanced microscopy, the researchers identified a three-phase sequence that coral fragments follow when attaching to the reef surface. "First, they respond to contact by tissue through an immune response and transitioning their tissues -- almost like flipping yourself inside out," Dr. Lewis said. "Next, they anchor themselves with this new soft tissue. And finally, they build a skelet...

  The National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) and the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS), both under the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), have jointly launched the Centre for Artificial Learning and Intelligence for Biological Research and Education (CALIBRE) in Bengaluru. The initiative marks a significant step in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) with biological research to address India’s unique scientific and environmental challenges. A New Hub for AI-Biology Integration CALIBRE, established with a Rs 25 crore contribution from Vishal Gupta and Deepshikha Gupta of Reed India Consulting LLP, will serve as a national platform for advancing AI-led biological research. The centre aims to develop tools, datasets, and frameworks tailored to India’s biodiversity, healthcare, and agricultural sectors, making AI more relevant to local contexts. Collaborative Effort Between NCBS and ICTS Based at NCBS, CALIBRE will work closely with ICTS to ...

  The Government of India has announced the complete list of winners of the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025, honouring exceptional achievements by Indian scientists , technologists, and innovators across multiple fields. The awards highlight India’s growing scientific strength and recognise contributions that have advanced knowledge, innovation, and national development. About the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar Instituted to celebrate pathbreaking contributions in science and technology, the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is conferred in four categories: Vigyan Ratna (VR) – for lifetime achievements in science and technology. Vigyan Shri (VS) – for distinguished contributions in any scientific field. Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB) – for scientists under 45 years of age. Vigyan Team (VT) – for teams of three or more who have achieved outstanding results through collaborative work. Awards are presented across 13 domains, including Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Environmental Scien...

  Every living creature needs to get rid of waste, and reptiles are no exception. In humans, the body eliminates excess nitrogen by flushing it out through urine as urea, uric acid, and ammonia. Reptiles and birds, however, take a different approach. They transform some of those same nitrogen-based compounds into solids known as "urates," which are expelled through a shared opening called the cloaca. Scientists think this solid form of waste evolved as an adaptation to conserve water, a valuable trait for animals that often live in dry environments. What's Dangerous for Humans Is Normal for Snakes Although forming crystals in urine helps reptiles survive, the same process can cause serious health problems in people. When uric acid levels become too high in humans, the crystals can collect in the joints, leading to gout, or form in the urinary tract as kidney stones . To understand how reptiles manage to excrete these crystals safely, Jennifer Swift and her research team a...

  A team of EMBL researchers and collaborators has now created a tool that takes single-cell analysis to a new level. It can capture both genomic variations and RNA within the same cell, offering greater accuracy and scalability than earlier technologies. This approach allows scientists to identify variations in non-coding regions of DNA , the areas most often linked to disease, giving them a new way to explore how genetic differences contribute to human health. With its precision and ability to process large numbers of cells, the tool marks a major step toward linking specific genetic variants with disease outcomes. "This has been a long-standing problem, as current single-cell methods to study DNA and RNA in the same cell have had limited throughput, lacked sensitivity, and are complicated," said Dominik Lindenhofer, the lead author on a new paper about SDR-Seq published in Nature Methods and a postdoctoral fellow in EMBL's Steinmetz Group. "On a single-cell level,...

  The New York State Department of Health recently confirmed the first locally acquired case of chikungunya virus in the US since 2019. This case appeared in Nassau County on Long Island. It marks the first local transmission in New York. The infected individual likely contracted the virus through a mosquito bite. The source of the virus remains unclear. This event has raised awareness about mosquito-borne diseases in temperate regions. Overview of Chikungunya Virus Chikungunya is a viral disease spread by Aedes mosquitoes. It is common in tropical and subtropical zones. Symptoms include sudden fever, joint pain, muscle ache, headache, rash, and swelling. Most patients recover within a week. Some suffer long-term joint pain lasting months. Severe cases are rare but can affect newborns, elderly, and those with chronic illnesses. Transmission and Local Spread The virus spreads when a mosquito bites an infected person and then bites another. Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, found in parts...

  Greenhouse gas levels reached unprecedented highs in 2024, according to the United Nations . Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide all set new records. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported the largest annual rise in CO2 since measurements began in 1957. This sharp increase challenges global efforts to limit warming under the Paris Agreement. The 2024 year was also the warmest on record, intensifying concerns about climate feedback loops and the planet’s ability to absorb emissions. Unprecedented Rise in Greenhouse Gases In 2024, CO2 concentration soared to 424 parts per million (ppm). This is a 3.5 ppm jump from 2023, the biggest single-year increase ever recorded. Methane levels reached 1,942 parts per billion, while nitrous oxide hit 338 parts per billion. Since pre-industrial times, these gases have increased by 152%, 266%, and 125% respectively. CO2 remains the dominant greenhouse gas, responsible for about two-thirds of the current warming effect....

  Uruguay’s Senate passed a law on 15 October 2025 decriminalising euthanasia. This makes Uruguay the first predominantly Catholic Latin American country to legalise euthanasia by legislation. The law allows seriously ill patients to seek medical help to end their lives under strict conditions. This move follows similar judicial decisions in Colombia and Ecuador and ongoing debates in Chile. Recent Legislative Developments The euthanasia bill cleared Uruguay’s Senate with 20 out of 31 votes. The lower house had approved it earlier with a large majority. The government is now tasked with implementing detailed regulations. The law’s passage marks the culmination of five years of political effort and public debate. Key Provisions of the Law Euthanasia must be performed by healthcare professionals. Assisted suicide, where patients self-administer lethal medication, remains illegal. Unlike other countries, Uruguay sets no fixed life expectancy limit or waiting period. Patients with incu...

  The Botanical Survey of India recently identified a new balsam flower species named Impatiens rajibiana. It was found in Shergaon, West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. This discovery adds to the growing list of balsam species native to India. Arunachal Pradesh is emerging as a hotspot for such botanical discoveries. Discovery of Impatiens rajibiana Impatiens rajibiana was found during a survey of natural forests. It belongs to the balsam family, known for their bright flowers and seed dispersal mechanism. This species is unique to the Shergaon region and was officially recognised by the Botanical Survey of India . Significance of Arunachal Pradesh in Botanical Research Arunachal Pradesh’s diverse forests support many rare and endemic plants. The discovery of Impatiens rajibiana follows earlier finds like Impatiens godfreyi and Impatiens sashinborthakurii. These findings show the state’s rich biodiversity and the importance of conservation efforts. Overview of Indian Balsa...

  "We wanted to see what happened to their KoRV loads over time and how it related to chlamydial infection and levels of the stress hormones cortisol and corticosterone in their feces," Dr Blyton said. "Virus load likely weakens the immune system, so those with a higher KoRV load are more at risk of diseases such as Chlamydia which can cause blindness, infertility and death. "Poor quality or disappearing habitat may increase stress and the koalas with higher average cortisol levels had higher average KoRV loads. "We have confirmed the biggest threats faced by koalas of habitat loss and disease are connected - this is very important to know to improve support for remaining koala populations." The 67 koalas in the study included wild koalas being treated for Chlamydia before being released, others in a Chlamydia vaccine trial and a small number of animals kept in captivity because of injury or ill health. "Our study showed KoRV loads within individual a...

  The 2025 monsoon survey at Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary revealed the first record of the orb-weaving spider Araneus nox in India. Previously known only from Southeast Asia, this discovery expands the known range of the species. The survey also identified rare and endemic spiders of the Western Ghats , denoting the sanctuary’s rich biodiversity. Significance of the Discovery Araneus nox was first described in 1877 from the Philippines. Until now, only female specimens were recorded outside India. The recent survey found both males and females in Idukki, marking a new geographical record. This finding underlines the sanctuary’s role as a habitat for rare and previously undocumented species. Survey Details and Methodology The arachnid survey was conducted in two phases during August and September 2025. A team from the Centre for Arachnology Research at Bharata Mata College led the effort. They recorded 82 spider species across 20 families. The survey focused on vegetation and tree bran...

  In the Wang Lab, it's not unusual for worms to live for a long time. HHMI Janelia Research Campus Senior Group Leader Meng Wang and her team study longevity. They've shown that by overexpressing an enzyme in the lysosomes of the roundworm C. elegans, they can extend the worm's life by up to 60 percent. But surprisingly, the team found the worms' progeny without this genetic modification were still living longer than normal. When they crossed their long-lived worms with "wild-type" worms that weren't overexpressing the enzyme -- a routine lab procedure used to wipe clean any genetic manipulations -- they saw that the offspring also lived longer than normal worms. Somehow, the longevity markers were being transferred from generation to generation, even four generations later. In new research, Wang and her team uncover how changes in the worm's lysosomes that promote longevity are transferred from cells in its body to its reproductive cells through hist...

  A Delicate Balance Under Threat Few people are aware of coccolithophores, yet without them, the planet’s oceans and climate would look drastically different. These single-celled algae, which contain chlorophyll, float in the sunlit layers of the sea and are coated with calcium carbonate plates known as coccoliths. Though incredibly small, coccolithophores are among Earth’s most effective natural carbon regulators. Every year, they generate more than 1.5 billion tonnes of calcium carbonate, capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in deep-sea sediments. In addition to removing carbon, they produce oxygen, nourish marine food webs, and influence the planet’s greenhouse balance. Coccolithophores often dominate vast stretches of the ocean, but climate change is altering the temperature, chemistry , and nutrient makeup of seawater. These shifts pose serious risks to their survival—and to the stability of the ecosystems that depend on them. Why Coccolithophores? Wha...

  Researchers from the Botanical Survey of India discovered a remarkable new fungus species in Arunachal Pradesh ’s forests. This fungus, named Bridgeoporus kanadii, is notable for its exceptionally large fruiting bodies. The largest measured over three metres in radius and could support the weight of a person. This discovery adds to the limited known species within the Bridgeoporus genus and marks the ecological importance of fungi in forest ecosystems. Discovery and Naming Bridgeoporus kanadii was found during a monsoon mushroom survey in northeast India. The fungus grew on old fir trees in clusters of about 40. It was named in honour of Indian mycologist Kanad Das for his contributions to macrofungi research. Although known locally, it was not harvested due to its inedibility and lack of economic value. Physical Characteristics The fungus features fruiting bodies that are unusually large. The biggest specimen had a radius exceeding three metres, much larger than its closest rel...

  The discovery of a new wasp species named “Nesolynx banabitanae” in Central Park, Salt Lake, has attracted global scientific interest. This finding marks only the seventh wasp species identified in India. The wasp adds new vital information about parasitic relationships and biodiversity within urban ecosystems. Recent Discovery and Location Nesolynx banabitanae was found in Central Park, Salt Lake, an urban green space known locally as Banabitan. The discovery was made by a team of entomologists led by Arnob Chakrovorty , Neveen S Gadallah, and Banani Bhattacharjee. Their research focused on the multitrophic interactions within the park’s ecosystem, denoting the complexity of urban biodiversity. Taxonomy and Classification The new species belongs to the Eulophidae family. This family is known for its wide range of parasitic wasps. Nesolynx banabitanae is a hyperparasitoid. This means it parasitises other parasitoid wasps rather than directly attacking herbivores or plants. This b...

  Professor Gergely J. Szöllősi, author on this study and head of the Model-Based Evolutionary Genomics Unit at OIST explains the foundations of this research. "Complex multicellular life -- organisms made of many cooperating cells with specialized jobs -- evolved independently in five major groups: animals, land plants, fungi, red algae, and brown algae. On a planet once dominated by single-celled organisms, a revolutionary change occurred not once, but at least five separate times: the evolution of complex multicellular life. Understanding when these groups emerged is fundamental to piecing together the history of life on Earth." Emergence here was not simply a matter of cells clumping together; it was the dawn of organisms, where cells took on specialized jobs and were organized into distinct tissues and organs, much like in our own bodies. This evolutionary leap required sophisticated new tools, including highly developed mechanisms for cells to adhere to one another and...

  "We can now observe the first steps of the hearing process in a controlled way that was previously impossible," says co-first author Francesco Gianoli, a postdoctoral fellow in the Hudspeth lab. Described in two recent papers (in PNAS and Hearing Research, respectively), the innovation is a product of Hudspeth's five decades of work illuminating the molecular and neural mechanisms of hearing -- insights that have illuminated new paths to preventing or reversing hearing loss. With this advance, the researchers have also provided direct evidence of a unifying biophysical principle that governs hearing across the animal kingdom, a subject Hudspeth investigated for more than a quarter-century. "This study is a masterpiece," says biophysicist Marcelo Magnasco, head of the Laboratory of Integrative Neuroscience at Rockefeller, who collaborated with Hudspeth on some of his seminal findings. "In the field of biophysics, it's one of the most impressive experim...

  HHMI Janelia Research Campus Senior Group Leader Meng Wang and her team study longevity. They've shown that by overexpressing an enzyme in the lysosomes of the roundworm C. elegans, they can extend the worm's life by up to 60 percent. But surprisingly, the team found the worms' progeny without this genetic modification were still living longer than normal. When they crossed their long-lived worms with "wild-type" worms that weren't overexpressing the enzyme -- a routine lab procedure used to wipe clean any genetic manipulations -- they saw that the offspring also lived longer than normal worms. Somehow, the longevity markers were being transferred from generation to generation, even four generations later. In new research, Wang and her team uncover how changes in the worm's lysosomes that promote longevity are transferred from cells in its body to its reproductive cells through histones -- proteins that play a key role in organizing and regulating DNA . ...

  The Government of India recently invited applications for research and innovation projects under its Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector scheme. This initiative aims to transform the sector into a globally competitive and innovation-driven industry. With a total approved budget of Rs 5,000 crore, the scheme is expected to support about 300 projects. These projects will involve a combined R&D investment of approximately Rs 11,000 crore in areas such as new medicines, complex generics, biosimilars, and novel medical devices. Scheme Objectives and Scope The scheme seeks to promote innovation in pharmaceuticals and medical technology. It focuses on creating a robust innovation pipeline. The goal is to enhance India’s capacity to develop advanced healthcare solutions. This includes medicines for rare diseases, antimicrobial resistance, vaccines, and devices addressing tropical and pandemic-related diseases. Financial Assistance and Project Categories Pro...

  Dementia is now the leading cause of death in Australia. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60 to 80 per cent of dementia cases. Recently, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved lecanemab, a new drug for early Alzheimer’s disease. This follows the approval of donanemab earlier in 2025. Lecanemab aims to slow disease progression but is costly and requires careful monitoring. What Is Lecanemab? Lecanemab is a monoclonal antibody drug. Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made proteins designed to target specific molecules. Lecanemab targets amyloid protein in the brain. Amyloid plaques are a key feature of Alzheimer’s disease. The drug helps the immune system remove amyloid deposits to reduce brain damage. Effectiveness of Lecanemab A major clinical trial involving 1,734 participants over 18 months showed lecanemab slows Alzheimer’s progression. Participants had early Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment confirmed by PET scans detecting amyloid. The drug reduced di...

  Recent biodiversity surveys in the Western Ghats have revealed findings about rare and endemic lizard species. For the first time, Beddome’s cat skink (Ristella beddomii) has been recorded in the Aralam and Kottiyoor Wildlife Sanctuaries. The survey also reconfirmed the presence of the critically endangered Kottiyoor Day Gecko (Cnemaspis kottiyoorensis), a species rediscovered after decades. These discoveries show the rich reptilian diversity and emphasise the importance of ongoing conservation efforts in this fragile ecosystem. Survey Overview and Key Findings The survey was conducted from 20 to 23 September, organised jointly by the Forest Department and the Malabar Awareness and Rescue Centre for Wildlife (MARC). It recorded six previously unreported agamid lizards, four skinks, and five geckos. The Kottiyoor Day Gecko was found in the Suryamudi forest area of Kottiyoor Sanctuary. This survey is the first to document Beddome’s cat skink in these sanctuaries. Beddome’s Cat Skin...