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Originally written by Carnegie Mellon University and published in phys.org on October 22, 2026   edited by Swati Mestri , reviewed by Robert Egan The GIST Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Biological clocks are often associated with light . Historically, most people started their days when the sun was up and ended their days when the sun set. But new research from Carnegie Mellon University suggests that some of the body's most important timekeepers live in the gut . A study led by Zheng Kuang, the Eberly Family associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences , showed that gut bacteria can detect when people eat and send signals that help intestinal cells absorb nutrients at the right time of day. The findings reveal a previously unknown link between the microbiome, circadian rhythms and metabolism. Read more

Originally written by Institute of Science Tokyo and published in phys.org on October 12, 2026 edited by Swati Mestri , reviewed by Robert Egan Cholesterol-conjugated PMO/RNA heteroduplex oligonucleotide (Chol-HDO[PMO]) achieves high efficacy and high safety, representing a powerful new platform for treating diseases of the central nervous system. Credit: Institute of Science Tokyo Nucleic acid therapeutics , such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) , have emerged as promising platforms for treating a variety of previously hard-to-treat diseases , including neurological diseases. Over the past decade, ASO drugs have been approved worldwide for hereditary amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy. These drugs are administered directly into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) via lumbar puncture, a method known as intrathecal administration, enabling them to reach the brain and spinal cord. Artículo original

Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel share the honor 5 October 2026 Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel received the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine “for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.” Today, optogenetics took the spotlight when the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2026 was awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel “for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics .” This field uses light to stimulate, inhibit, and control neuron activity in the brain , with potential clinical benefits for treating neurological disorders . The brain serves as a computer for the body : it regulates body functions and systems, sends signals, stores memories and learned behaviors, and adapts as new behaviors and concepts are learned. One of the most complex organs in the human body, the brain does all this through a dense n...