Celle

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for their work on optogenetics, a technique that lets scientists control brain cells with light. The three researchers developed light-sensitive proteins and methods now widely used in neuroscience to study behaviour and disease.

Researchers describe how salamanders and zebrafish regrow lost limbs and fins: after injury, the animals reactivate a cellular program that forms a blastema, a mass of cells that multiply and rebuild bone, nerve, muscle and blood vessels in the correct shape and size. Nerves are reported to drive the process, with the mechanism tied to evolutionary history, fueling discussion about what it could mean for human regenerative medicine.

Reports indicate solid-state batteries, long seen as too expensive for mass-market use, now have an estimated price that is far lower than expected. The news is generating buzz among electric vehicle fans, who see cheap solid-state cells as a potential turning point for longer range, faster charging and safer EVs, and are debating what the pricing means for the next generation of electric cars.

Stanford University bioengineer and psychiatrist Karl Deisseroth has been awarded a Nobel Prize, according to an announcement from the university. Deisseroth is known for pioneering optogenetics, a technique that uses light to control brain cells, which has transformed neuroscience research. Congratulations and discussion of his work are circulating widely following the news.

Researchers at Harvard University report that nanobodies, tiny antibody-like proteins, can be used to probe protein behaviour inside cells, a technique that could reveal how diseases develop and open new routes to treatment. The finding is being discussed as a potentially significant advance in biological research and drug discovery.

Discussions are growing around perovskite, a common mineral being promoted as a breakthrough material for next-generation solar panels. Advocates say it could make solar cells cheaper and more efficient than conventional silicon technology. The topic is drawing wide attention in energy circles, with audiences eager to learn how a readily available rock might reshape the renewable power industry.

Three scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on optogenetics, a technique that uses light to control activity in specific cells, notably neurons. The method has transformed brain research by allowing precise manipulation of neural circuits in living tissue, with broad implications for studying and potentially treating neurological conditions.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is championing a National Institutes of Health program to qualify human-based methods for drug development. The initiative aims to replace animal testing with approaches based on human cells and tissue, potentially making drug safety and efficacy testing more reliable. The group is urging support for the program, framing it as a step toward more humane and scientifically sound medical research.

The County of Maui Department of Finance has been recognized for excellence in financial reporting. The award honors the department's standards in preparing and presenting the county's financial documents. Local officials say the recognition reflects the staff's commitment to transparency and accuracy in handling public funds, and it adds to the county's record of achievement in government finance.

New research indicates that stem cells can withstand the harsh conditions of spaceflight better than scientists anticipated, surviving trips into space despite radiation and microgravity. The finding suggests stem cell-based therapies could remain viable for astronauts on long missions and opens the door to space-based regenerative medicine research.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to scientists from the United States and Germany for their pioneering work on optogenetics, a technique that uses light to control the activity of nerve cells. The award highlights a method that has transformed neuroscience research, allowing precise manipulation of brain circuits in laboratory studies.

Researchers report a design improvement that raises solar cell efficiency by controlling how the cells emit light, restricting emission to fewer directions. Light that would otherwise radiate away is instead kept within the cell, improving energy conversion. The finding is drawing attention in energy and photovoltaics circles as a potential route to more efficient solar panels.

Scientists from the United States and Germany have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on how light can be used to study the brain. The prize, announced by the Nobel Assembly in Stockholm, honours research that allows specific brain cells to be switched on and off using light, a technique that has transformed neuroscience. Coverage from Reuters and U.S. News highlights the recognition of this breakthrough in understanding how the brain works.

Crossroads Church in Oakley has been recognized in the Excellence Awards 2026 for The Wonderwall, a design project at its Ohio campus. The honor was reported by Live Design Online, which highlights notable work in live event and installation design. The recognition places the church's creative installation among awarded projects for 2026.

Marc Almond's 1986 single 'Ruby Red' marks its 40th anniversary today. Fans are revisiting the song's themes of love and desire wrapped in a cabaret-like atmosphere, with Almond's dramatic vocals backed by the Willing Sinners on an arrangement featuring marimba, accordion, cello and hurdy-gurdy. The anniversary has prompted appreciation of this lesser-known chapter of the former Soft Cell singer's solo career.

Researchers report that RNAs carrying sugar modifications, known as glycosylated RNAs, travel between cells inside extracellular vesicles and play a role in how cells communicate with one another. The finding, published in Nature, points to a previously underappreciated layer of regulation in intercellular signalling and could inform future research into disease mechanisms and drug delivery.

Researchers have developed a modified cellulose material that removes over 99% of lead from waste generated when recycling methanol-based perovskite solar cells. The finding addresses one of the main environmental hurdles to commercialising this emerging solar technology, offering a low-cost way to prevent toxic lead contamination during recycling and disposal of damaged or expired panels.

Optogenetics, a technique that lets scientists switch genes and neurons on and off using light, has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The method, pioneered in part by Stanford's Karl Deisseroth, transformed neuroscience by allowing precise control of brain cells. Commenters recalled the field's early days around 2004, noting how quickly it moved from novel idea to Nobel-recognised breakthrough.

An author is promoting MONSTERS, a dystopian novel about a teenage girl who is literally transforming into a monster. The promotional push quotes praise calling the book gripping, action-packed and well-plotted, and highlights themes of apocalypse, mutants and military conflict. It is aimed at ebook readers, with the story pitched as a page-turner set in a dystopian future world.

Communities in rural Illinois are deploying solar-powered ultrasound devices to combat toxic algal blooms in local water bodies. The technology emits sound waves that disrupt algae cells, offering a chemical-free treatment option. The approach is drawing attention as a low-cost, off-grid solution for small towns grappling with harmful blooms that threaten drinking water, recreation and livestock.

Marina Bay Sands has contributed more than $1.1 million to the Mandai Wildlife Centre in Singapore as part of its sustainability and corporate social responsibility efforts. The donation, announced by the integrated resort, supports wildlife conservation and education programmes at the Mandai reserve, underscoring the company's stated pursuit of excellence in environmental sustainability.