Behind the Paper
The real stories behind the latest research papers, from conception to publication, the highs and the lows
Increase in the rate of lunar recession caused by climate change
Yet another effect of climate change: the melting of polar ice sheets and mountain glaciers and shifts in the land hydrology cause the Moon to drift faster away from the Earth.
Why We Wrote About Chronic Stress, Mitochondria, and Bioenergetic Debt
Aging research has long acknowledged that chronic stress, mitochondria, and telomeres are tightly linked, yet it remains unclear why these systems fail together in humans—and why this failure begins so early, before overt disease or irreversible damage. This question motivated our review.
Advances in microbial enzyme technology for food processing strategies and applications
In this Behind the Paper post, I’d like to share the story behind the science—the challenges we faced, why this work matters, how it might shape future food systems, and a few personal reflections from the research journey.
USP43 promotes gemcitabine resistance in bladder cancer by stabilizing E2F1 to regulate cholesterol homeostasis
Gemcitabine (GEM) resistance remains a critical barrier in the treatment of bladder cancer (BLCA). Based on the observation that metabolic reprogramming drives chemoresistance, we identified USP43 as a promoter of GEM resistance via an E2F1-driven mechanism that modulates cholesterol metabolism.
Behind the Paper: How PRICKLE3 Found Its Place in WNT/PCP Signalling
Behind every research paper, there is a long story that is usually invisible to the reader. Our paper is no exception. What began as a focused cell biology project gradually developed into a broad, collaborative effort across laboratories, model systems, and countries.
Forested catchments as hydrological hotspots: a global synthesis on runoff processes
Forested catchments are among the most important hydrological hotspots on Earth, providing a large share of the world's clean freshwater. Yet, despite decades of intensive research, our understanding of how water actually moves through these systems at the global scale remains fragmented.
Neuro Fuzzy intelligence turns sugarcane bagasse into clean energy
Renewable fuels rely on biomass like sugarcane bagasse. Enzymatic hydrolysis converts lignocellulose into fermentable sugars for bioethanol and biogas. Models such as RSM and ANFIS optimize this process, reducing costs and improving accuracy in predicting sugar yields.
YKT6 drives bladder cancer progression by stabilizing β-catenin via a USP7-mediated mechanism
Bladder cancer (BLCA) remains a highly lethal malignancy with limited therapeutic strategies. In our latest study, we investigated the oncogenic role of YKT6, a conserved SNARE protein, in BLCA progression.
The First Glimpse of “Resting-State” Activity in the Human Spinal Cord
Even when we’re doing nothing, our brains are far from silent. Networks of brain regions continue to “talk” to each other through subtle, rhythmic fluctuations in activity. The patterns reshape our understanding of how the brain organizes itself.
But what about the spinal cord?
Onset of Benguela Upwelling influenced climate and triggered desertification of southern Africa
The Benguela Upwelling System (BUS) has driven the expansion of the Namibian desert since the late Miocene. The BUS carries cold and nutrient-rich waters that sustain booming ecosystems, and influence the hinterland climate as well as habitability of southern African landmass.
