TOR solves a common problem in living beings: deciding whether to grow, based on the presence or absence of nutrients. It does it so well that it is present in a multitude of species: primates, fungi, birds, insects, plants...Tafur’s latest findings have been published in 'Nature Structural & Molecular Biology'.

Cryopreservation is not a new technology, but there is still much to explore and perfect in the field. Current methods use slow freezing, a method that is conducive to ice formation, cell dehydration and an increase in cryoprotective agents (CPAs). These are not ideal circumstances for achieving immaculately cryopreserved cells. Researchers from the University of Tokyo use vitrification, a process that transforms a substance into a noncrystalline solid by rapid cooling. This cooling yields favorable outcomes in biological samples, even those that are typically difficult to freeze and thaw successfully. Despite challenges within this method, the future of regenerative medicine research may be greatly, and positively, impacted by the use of vitrification for cell cryopreservation.

Study helps to better understand ecological and evolutionary processes.

Researchers led by Hiroki R. Ueda at the University of Tokyo developed comprehensive 3D cellular atlases spanning all organs and the entire body, termed the CUBIC Organ/Body Atlas. By optimizing the CUBIC tissue-clearing method and establishing high-resolution whole-body imaging, the group mapped the spatial positions of individual cells and enabled quantitative comparisons across samples. This platform enables whole-body–scale quantitative analysis, integration with molecular data, and opens new opportunities for 3D biological and pathological analysis.

A new Maths study from the University of Bath in the UK finds that adopting a neutral stance – such as abstaining in a vote – can speed up and stabilise group decision-making. By reducing the pool of active decision-makers, neutrality helps new consensus positions emerge faster.