Scientists discover never-before-seen part of human cells — and it looks like a snowman wearing a scarf

Originally published by Christoph Schwaiger at livescience.com on July 1, 2025

Scientists say they captured 3D images of a new organelle they're calling a "hemifusome," which may be a recycling center in human cells.

 The green and orange structures in this image are hemifusomes, newly discovered organelles that may represent a previously unrecognized pathway for recycling in human cells. (Image credit: Courtesy UVA Health)

A new organelle has been discovered in human cells — and scientists call it a "hemifusome."

Like the full-size organs in our bodies, the organelles within cells are specialized structures that carry out specific functions. While observing filaments that maintain the shape of cells, Seham Ebrahim, an assistant professor at the University of Virginia, and her team noticed a new structure that was consistently appearing in the 3D images they were making.

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