Neurons Store Memory Content and Context Separately Neural division of labor: Our brain doesn't store past experiences and their context together, but rather in two separate groups of brain cells, as an experiment reveals. Only the combination of both creates a complete memory. Content neurons, therefore, store only the information itself, such as an object or a person. Context neurons, on the other hand, only remember the circumstances. This division of labor makes our memor

The Oral Bacterium Streptococcus anginosus Also Promotes Stomach Cancer Microbes as Cancer Triggers: It is well known that Helicobacter pylori can cause stomach cancer. But there is another culprit: The bacterium Streptococcus anginosus also promotes the growth of cancerous tumors in the stomach, as a new study has confirmed. According to the study, this microbe is not only found in increased numbers in stomach cancer ulcers, but it also releases methionine, a molecule that f

Combination of Closeness and Cuddle Hormone Can Be Healing Healing through love? Superficial skin injuries heal faster when the cuddle hormone oxytocin is circulating in our bodies. However, this only works if the elevated hormone level is accompanied by physical and emotional closeness, as a study shows. According to the study, loving attention and oxytocin together can promote wound healing, but they do not act as independent remedies. In the test subjects, superficial skin

Zinc Deprivation Inhibits Fungal Infection of Mucous Membranes A Matter of Balance: The yeast Candida albicans colonizes our mucous membranes. Researchers have now discovered why this is highly dangerous under certain conditions, but remains harmless in most cases. According to their findings, the immune system deprives the fungus of the necessary zinc, thereby inhibiting both toxin production and the proliferation of yeast cells. However, if the immune system is weakened, Ca

Type 2 diabetes affects the energy balance and structure of heart muscle cells Deadly double disease: Doctors have discovered that type 2 diabetes also changes the structure of heart tissue and the energy balance of heart cells. In affected patients, the heart can contract less effectively and pump less blood. This limits cardiac performance and can worsen existing heart failure, as the researchers report. Their findings explain why people with diabetes have a higher risk of

Frog Hidden Object Game Wins Photo Contest Tonality: This Southeast Asian rice field frog (Fejervarya limnocharis) is barely distinguishable from the bark of the tree it sits on. With its gray-brown color, the frog is almost perfectly camouflaged in this environment. This camouflage protects the approximately four-centimeter-long tiny creature from predators while simultaneously stalking its prey undetected and catching them from behind. Southeast Asian rice-field frog (Fejer

Antibodies against the Epstein-Barr virus indicate risk of multiple sclerosis Biomarker discovered: A new blood test can detect the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) years before the first symptoms appear. The test measures the level of antibodies that bind both the body's own structures and the Epstein-Barr virus, which serve as indicators of MS. This could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment in the future, delaying or preventing the onset of the neurodegenerati

Trends and advances in cancer medicine Colon cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers. Thanks to improved screening, the number of affected individuals has been declining for years, but the incidence of colon cancer is increasing at an alarming rate, especially among younger people. The reason for this is not yet fully understood, but there is increasing evidence that our modern lifestyle is to blame. But what factors specifically influence whether we develop colon

Special Microbes in the Gut Flora Improve Fiber Degradation in the Gut Mystery Solved? Previously little-noticed microbes in our gut could explain why some people are better "food converters" than others. An experiment reveals that certain archaea help the rest of the gut flora to break down fiber more efficiently and completely. As a result, the food provides the hosts of these microbes with more energy and calories. A hallmark of such "super-utilizers" in the gut is increas

Reprogrammed Spleen Produces Insulin in Mice and Monkeys Reprogrammed: There is a natural bioreactor in which vital cells can be grown and regenerated directly in the body – the spleen. As a new study demonstrates, the spleen of mice and monkeys can be modified so that it can, for example, replace the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas – essentially acting as a replacement organ within the body. If this becomes possible in humans in the future, it could revolutionize the

First steps in metastasis formation clarified Quick-change artists: When melanoma cancer cells are attacked by the immune system, they activate specific genes and change their cell type. This reaction then inhibits T cells, among other things, making it easier for the skin cancer cells to colonize lymph nodes and form metastases, as researchers report in "Nature Cancer." They also identified proteins characteristic of these metastasis founder cells that may be suitable target

Gene Activity on the X and Y Chromosomes Influences Height XY becomes taller than XX: Researchers have discovered that a specific gene on the X and Y chromosomes plays an important role in our height. According to the study, this gene is more active on the male Y chromosome than on the second X chromosome in women. This gives men additional height. However, height is also influenced by other factors, including hormones and chromosome number. The method could also be used in t