All articles tagged with #sensory biology
Scientists discovered that octopuses use their arms to taste and detect microbiomes on surfaces, helping them identify prey and assess their environment, revealing a sophisticated microbial sensing ability that influences their behavior and interactions.
Researchers have identified GluK2 as the key protein responsible for enabling mammals to sense cold temperatures, filling a long-standing gap in sensory biology. The absence of GluK2 specifically impairs responses to noxious cold in mice, while responses to other temperatures remain unaffected. This discovery offers potential therapeutic targets for addressing abnormal cold sensations in various medical conditions, potentially enhancing patient well-being.
A recent study has failed to replicate two key papers on fruit flies' ability to sense magnetic fields, raising doubts about this long-held belief. This finding could have implications for scientists' understanding of the mechanism behind magnetic sensing, which is a major question in sensory biology. Additionally, the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico has shut down due to funding exhaustion and no clear plan for its future, leaving scientists uncertain about the fate of the iconic facility.