Biologists at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have uncovered how the protein NuSAP safeguards tiny structures inside cells called centrioles, revealing a mechanism linked to developmental disorders such as microcephaly and mosaic variegated aneuploidy (MVA) syndrome.

Parasites may do more than weaken animals – they can reshape the signals used to choose mates. Studying male green treefrogs in the wild, researchers found that tongueworm infections subtly alter mating calls, changing their frequency and duration. Females avoided the most heavily infected males but sometimes favored moderately infected ones, suggesting they weigh multiple cues at once. The findings reveal how parasites can influence sexual selection by reshaping the acoustic signals females use to evaluate potential mates.

Boron agents termed GluBs, developed by Science Tokyo researchers, overcome a key limitation in cancer therapy by entering tumor cells through a pathway that standard drugs cannot use. The GluBs target ASCT2, a transporter abundant in aggressive cancers such as glioblastoma and breast cancer, rather than the LAT1 route. Results from cell and animal studies show the agents were safe and effective in limiting tumor growth, indicating potential to treat cancers with limited LAT1 expression.

Researchers have developed a capsule-based method that makes it possible to analyse the same cell through multiple experimental steps. The technology overcomes a long-standing limitation in cell research and could open new ways to study disease mechanisms at the single-cell level.

Current crystalline thin-film production techniques typically require specific growth substrates, posing significant challenges for their use in flexible electronics and integrated optoelectronics. To address this, Scientist in China have developed a novel “induced fit growth” method inspired by molecular biology, enabling universal growth of Ga-based semiconductor films on arbitrary substrates. This approach facilitates applications in large-scale transistor arrays, synaptic transistors, omnidirectional and flexible photodetectors, paving the way for next-generation wearable electronics and neuromorphic computing systems.

Researchers at University of Tsukuba and affiliated institutes have developed a publicly accessible single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) atlas that captures developmental and neurogenic processes in sea urchin embryos and larvae at unprecedented resolution. Because of the relatively small number of neurons in the embryos and larvae of the sea urchin , it has been difficult to trace neuronal differentiation and its underlying molecular regulation in detail. To address this challenge, the researchers constructed a comprehensive scRNA-seq atlas spanning multiple developmental stages of Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus, enabling the intuitive exploration of gene expression at single-cell resolution.

New research reveals a surprising link between immunity and our gut bacteria. Researchers studied the Seychelles warbler, a small songbird found on Cousin Island in the Seychelles. They collected the birds’ poo to analyse their gut bacteria – and found that their immune genes influence which gut microbes thrive. They say their work sheds light on how animal immune systems and communities of beneficial gut bacteria evolve together - including in humans.