C. elegans
NEURONS, HEAL THYSELF: Researchers recently described the molecular mechanism that helps broken axons, such as these in C. elegans, repair themselves using an enzyme called ADM-4. Posted: March 17, 2022
Xue Yan Ho, Nick Valmas
Christmas Island rat (Rattus macleari)
THE COMEBACK RAT: Scientists are exploring the possibility of using modern genomic techniques to bring back the Christmas Island rat (Rattus macleari), which was declared extinct in 1908. Posted: March 24, 2022
Joseph Smit, Proc Zool Soc Lond, 1887
Microelectrode array
COMMUNICATION, RESTORED: A microelectrode array, like this one, recently helped restore a 36-year-old man’s ability to communicate. After practicing with the brain implant for months, he composed a full sentence: ”I love my cool son.” Posted: March 24, 2022
Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering
Syllipsimopodi bideni
CEPHALOPOD IN CHIEF: Researchers recently described a 330 million-year-old, 10-limbed fossil creature, possibly the oldest known relative of modern octopuses, and named it Syllipsimopodi bideni after US President Joe Biden. Posted: Mar 10, 2022
K. Whalen, Christopher Whalen
Centuries-old gosling bones
GOOD FOR THE ANCIENT GOOSE: These centuries-old gosling bones recovered from a village along the Yangtze River in China suggest that humans were domesticating geese about 7,000 years ago. Posted: Mar 9, 2022
Masaki Eda
zebrafish (Danio rerio)
MOUSE OUSTER: A new initiative at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory seeks to move beyond mice and into other model organisms, such as the zebrafish (Danio rerio), for testing and developing drugs. Posted: Mar 15, 2022
Marko Pende, Science Advances