Researchers at the University of Osaka developed a simple two-step culture system that turns human blood-derived B cells into germinal center-like B cells using CD40L, IL-4, and IL-21 in a specific sequence. The resulting cells closely resemble genuine human germinal center B cells and undergo somatic hypermutation. The platform provides a practical tool for studying antibody formation directly in human cells and may support future vaccine and autoimmune disease research.

Researchers analysing nearly 1,000 ice grains detected by NASA's Cassini spacecraft have uncovered unexpected chemical diversity in material originating from Enceladus' subsurface ocean. Laboratory experiments at ELSI show how salts can separate as ocean droplets slowly freeze. The researchers propose that these larger frozen droplets later shatter within the moon's icy vents, producing chemically distinct particles that are ejected into space.