Iris Kulbatski

Locusts swarm in response to pheromones, and their exquisite sense of smell is now coming to the aid of humans.There are millions of sensory worlds that humans cannot perceive. Fathoming what it is like to be a wild thing is beyond the limited resolution of human senses. For example, insects live in a world of smell, decoding the subtle chemical nuances of scent that waft across their antennae. In the case of locusts—the migratory swarming form of certain asocial grasshoppers—their sense of sme…

Scientists use locust brains as living biosensors to perform cancer cell breath tests.

Researchers show how a toxic therapy helped identify a mummy using preserved DNA.

Researchers use blue light therapy to treat infected burn wounds.

Mechanically sensitive gut cells similar to touch sensors in the skin allow the intestine to feel and assess the physical properties of its contents.

The winding trail of environmental microplastics is leading researchers to the human digestive ecosystem.

Paula Desplats (right) and postdoctoral researcher Daniel Whittaker (left) study how time-restricted eating resets the biological clock in Alzheimer’s disease.Paula DesplatsThe rhythm of life is hardwired into our DNA. More than forty percent of the human genes that code for proteins sync transcription to a twenty-four-hour cycle.1 A small hub of neurons deep inside the brain acts as a timekeeper, translating visual light cues into biomolecular signals that coordinate time on a cellular level.2…

ABOVE: A healthy gut relies on the interaction between epithelial cells in the gut wall and nearby neurons. Cell culture models help researchers understand how these cells interact to coordinate digestion. ©iStock. DrAfter123 The gut’s sensory system is a touchy subject thanks to specialized epithelial cells that line the gut and behave like touch sensors in the skin.1 These cells are sensitive to mechanical stimuli and communicate information about “gut feelings” to neurons in the gut as well…