Behind the Paper
The real stories behind the latest research papers, from conception to publication, the highs and the lows
How the brain adapts its 2D compass for a 3D world
The brain’s neural compass seems 2D, detecting only left and right head-turns. However, if the head is tilted in 3D, its rotation around the vertical axis also covertly changes its horizontal facing direction. We find that the compass neurons can detect these covert changes and thus avoid errors.
Increasing successive sudden stratospheric warmings linked to Arctic sea ice decline
Winter Arctic stratosphere is usually dominated by a strong polar vortex that helps to isolate cold air over the polar region. Sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) represent a dramatic breakdown of this vortex. New evidence shows increasing successive SSWs are linked to the declined sea ice trend.
Why Recovery, Not Stress, May Be the Missing Biology of Resilience
Stress is inevitable, but recovery is conditional. This Behind the Paper piece explains how bioenergetic limits, mitochondrial throughput, and unresolved recovery may shape resilience, aging, and chronic disease.
How do humans prepare for disturbances before they happen? : A question behind our study of anticipatory postural control
Anticipatory postural control helps us prepare for instability before it happens. Our study suggests that this process is not merely reactive, but is shaped by prediction, optimization, and the active use of gravity.
When Metals Collide: How Copper Shapes Cadmium Uptake in Crops
Heavy metal contamination in soils is a growing threat to food safety. Cd, a toxic metal, can accumulate in crops, posing serious risks to human health. But in real soils, Cd rarely acts alone. Cu, an essential micronutrient, often co-occurs with Cd, but how do these metals interact inside plants?
