Tag Archive for 'Axon'

An anatomical illustration from Sobotta's Human Anatomy, 1908, shows the structure of a human brain. Image credit: Dr Johannes Sobotta.

Ancient Retroviral Invasion May Have Helped Shape Human Brain

Oct 28, 2026 by Enrico de Lazaro

Humans and chimpanzees share more than 96% of their protein-coding DNA, yet human brains are roughly three times larger and far more complex. New research...

Postigo et al. aim to see if neurons can transport light like fiber-optic communications channels. Image credit: Gemini AI.

Scientists Investigating Whether Neurons Can Transmit Light through Their Axons

Apr 30, 2025 by News Staff

Neurons communicate by firing electrical pulses, but scientists have found hints that neurons may transmit light as well. Researchers at the University...

Formation and characterization of the connected organoids. Image credit: Osaki et al., doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-46787-7.

Neuroscientists Create Human Brain-Mimicking Tissues in Lab

Apr 11, 2024 by News Staff

The idea of growing a functioning human brain-like tissue in a dish has always sounded pretty far-fetched. Towards this goal, researchers at the University...

Ghosh et al. suggest that retroviral endogenization played a prominent role in the emergence of vertebrate myelin. Image credit: Ghosh et al., doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.01.011.

Study: Ancient Retroviruses Shaped Vertebrate Brains

Feb 19, 2024 by News Staff

Biologists from Altos Labs-Cambridge Institute of Science, the University of Cambridge and elsewhere have found that a retrovirus-derived genetic element...