NPR

Scientists And Surgeons Team Up To Create Models Of Living Human Brain Cells

By rushing live brain cells from the operating room to the lab, scientists have been able to create three-dimensional models that reveal cells' electrical behavior and details about their shape.
Researchers injected dye into this human neuron to reveal its shape.

Scientists in Seattle have created three-dimensional computer models of living human brain cells by studying tissue that is usually discarded during surgery.

The models, unveiled Wednesday by The Allen Institute for Brain Science, capture not only the shape and anatomy of living cells, but also the electrical signals they produce.

Until now, scientists have had to rely primarily on animals to study the

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR4 min read
From Pandemic To Protests, The Class Of 2024 Has Been Through A Lot
Pomp and circumstance again fall victim to circumstance for some students in the graduating class of 2024, as protests over the war in Gaza threaten to disrupt commencement ceremonies.
NPR2 min read
Short-term Loss For Long-term Gain? The Ethical Dilemma At The Heart Of EVs
As mines meet mineral demands for electric vehicles, they put communities and ecosystems at risk. Sustainability researcher Elsa Dominish says the EV industry cannot repeat fossil fuel's mistakes.
NPR4 min read
Yes, Apple's New IPad Ad Is Ugly And Crushing, But Art Can't Be Flattened
The newest iPad ad depicts instruments, books and art supplies flattened into Apple's thinnest product ever. But anyone who owns and loves art in any form knows: The practicality isn't the point.

Related Books & Audiobooks