Glial cells

Recent articles

Microglia scoop out garbage from inside neurons

Through a newly identified process called skoupocytosis, neurons recruit the immune cells to remove cellular waste they find hard to deal with themselves.

By Siddhant Pusdekar
23 September 2026 | 0 min watch
Mouse cortical organoid.

Hasty stem cells highlight potential limitation with cortical organoids

The models recapitulate many key developmental processes, but some radial glial cells in mouse organoids make neurons earlier than they should.

By Giorgia Guglielmi
22 September 2026 | 4 min read
An illustration of a sea cucumber as it moves through it's environment; depicted in shades of purple.

Inside the sea cucumber’s regenerative superpowers

José E. García-Arrarás studies how these marine invertebrates manage to regrow their nervous system, intestines and other internal organs in a matter of months after threats prompt them to literally spill their guts.

By Alissa de Chassey
28 August 2026 | 5 min read
An illustration of a sea cucumber as it moves through it's environment; depicted in shades of purple.

Os superpoderes regenerativos do pepino-do-mar

José E. García-Arrarás estuda como esses invertebrados marinhos conseguem regenerar seu sistema nervoso, intestinos e outros órgãos internos em questão de meses, depois que ameaças os levam a, literalmente, "expelir suas entranhas".

By Alissa de Chassey
28 August 2026 | 6 min read
An illustration of a sea cucumber as it moves through it's environment; depicted in shades of purple.

Los superpoderes regenerativos del pepino de mar

José E. García-Arrarás estudia cómo estos invertebrados marinos logran regenerar su sistema nervioso, intestinos y otros órganos internos en cuestión de meses, tras amenazas que los llevan a expulsar sus vísceras.

By Alissa de Chassey
28 August 2026 | 6 min read
Illustration of a coral, sea urchin, snail, and fish.

Climate neuroscience needs ‘integration’ and ‘guided’ research

Five years after a groundbreaking paper, can a young field move beyond piecemeal studies?

By Sarah DeWeerdt
21 August 2026 | 8 min read

Microglia in hypothalamus help kick-start puberty

In a “surprise” role, the cells regulate the neurons that produce gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

By Helena Kudiabor
6 May 2026 | 0 min watch
Research image of patterns of expression of autosomal genes.

Gene activity in human cortex shows striking sex differences

The results mark a “dramatic shift” in how neuroscientists think about sex differences, and they may help explain sex biases in certain neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental conditions.

By Lauren Schenkman
5 May 2026 | 5 min read
Astrocytes in a mouse brain.

Taking a closer look at astrocytes and autism

These glial cells are increasingly linked to neurodevelopmental conditions and the regulation of social behaviors and anxiety.

By The Transmitter
2 April 2026 | 2 min read
Research image showing more glucose in the bird retina than the bird brain.

Inner retina of birds powers sight sans oxygen

The energy-intensive neural tissue relies instead on anaerobic glucose metabolism provided by the pecten oculi, a structure unique to the avian eye.

By Federica Sgorbissa
18 February 2026 | 4 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Illustration of rolling dice.

Grant review needs reform. How about we add an element of chance?

A process that uses a lottery system saves time, reduces strategic resubmission and accepts that, above a quality threshold, luck has always played a part in science funding.

By Adrien Peyrache
25 September 2026 | 6 min read
Research diagram of gene expression.

Fly neurons carry molecular signatures of their origins

The pattern of transcription factors a Drosophila neuron expresses offers clues to its lineage and birth order—and ultimately how neural circuits emerge.

By Alissa de Chassey
25 September 2026 | 5 min read
Cortical organoids from the anterior (green) or posterior (red) cortex.

Polarized cortical organoids mimic the brain’s regional organization

The organoids show region-specific gene-expression changes that match those observed during fetal development.

By Holly Barker
24 September 2026 | 4 min read