GoKawiil‘Ace’, a robotic arm, can best elite ping-pong players. Plus, a new network of cells in a mouse’s brain and monkeys in Gibraltar are eating dirt to settle their stomachs.
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The lesser-known brain cells called astrocytes form their own networks in the brain.Credit: Prof. Stephen Waxman, Hank Morgan/Science Photo Library
Brain cells called astrocytes form extensive networks in the mouse brain that are similar in some ways to those formed by neurons. Researchers have compiled a whole-brain 3D map of astrocyte networks — the first of its kind, they say. The atlas reveals how webs of these cells connect far-flung regions of the brain, allowing them to exchange molecules with each other over long distances. “It’s a secret subway system we didn’t know was there,” says neuroscientist and study co-author Shane Liddelow. “This opens up a whole new avenue of investigation.”
Nature | 5 min read
Reference: Nature paper
A study of 31 regular coffee drinkers and as many abstainers aimed to discover how the beverage affects us and our microbiomes. When both groups were introduced (or re-introduced) to coffee after a period without, they reported lower perceived stress, depression and impulsivity scores — whether the coffee was caffeinated or not, suggesting that compounds such as polyphenols might take the credit. Other results were mixed: a notable improvement in learning and memory was found only in those who consumed decaf, and only caffeinated coffee was associated with reduced feelings of anxiety. Meanwhile, coffee drinkers had markedly different populations of bacteria in their guts than non-coffee drinkers.
The Independent | 8 min read
Reference: Nature Communications paper
Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) in Gibraltar have been spotted eating soil in what might be an attempt to settle their stomachs. Tourists often feed the monkeys high-fat, sugary foods, which could disrupt the animals’ gut microbiomes. The soil could “buffer their digestive system”, says primate researcher and study co-author Sylvain Lemoine, and the bacteria and minerals in it could help to rebalance the monkeys’ microbiomes. But the behaviour might also be causing the monkeys harm. They often eat dirt from the roadside, which could contain harmful pollutants, says Lemoine.
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