Behind the Paper
The real stories behind the latest research papers, from conception to publication, the highs and the lows
Beyond Visualization: Rediscovering Bhāvanā — The Science of Becoming
What if meditation isn’t about calming the mind, but about becoming something more? Beyond Visualization: Reframing Bhāvanā as a Multisensory, Lived Experience explores how embodied inner cultivation can reshape our scientific understanding of mindfulness and transformation.
Earthquake stress-drop values delineate spatial variations in maximum shear stress in the Japanese forearc lithosphere
Our study in Communications Earth & Environment uses an interdisciplinary approach to link earthquake stress drop, depth, and crustal strength (i.e. stress to failure). We find that stress drop scales with modeled maximum shear stress, revealing a physical basis for its correlation with depth.
Passing Traits Without Genes: How the Gut Microbiome Transfers Behavior
Microbes can evolve faster than their hosts. We show that selecting only the microbiome, while keeping host genes fixed, can alter mouse behavior across generations. Microbes and their metabolites thus act as agents of adaptation, transmitting traits independently of host DNA.
Modeling t(4;11) leukemia in umbilical cord hematopoietic stem precursor cells
Chromosomal translocations of the KMT2A/MLL gene are frequently diagnosed in acute leukemia patients (ALL and AML) with very poor outcome. Here, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 technology to model this translocation t(4;11)(q21;q23) in hematopoietic stem cells deriving from umbilical cord blood.
DARPP‑32 Beyond the Brain: A Potential Regulator of Macrophage M2 Polarization Through STAT6 Signalling
DARPP-32 orchestrates macrophage polarization towards M2 subtype via JAK1/STAT6/SHP-1 axis, fostering an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment supporting tumor growth.
From Friction to Freedom: How Superlubricity Could Redefine Sustainable Technology
Friction wastes nearly a quarter of the world’s energy. This review traces how the study of superlubricity, where friction almost disappears, has moved from atomic theory to practical materials that enable cleaner and more efficient technologies.
Unmasking the Drivers of Africa’s Rising Heat Extremes
Most climate studies talk about global averages, but Africa’s climate reality is deeply regional. The Sahara’s vast deserts, the humid tropics of West Africa, and the temperate zones of the south all respond differently to the same global drivers.
