Rafael Dai Pra

Monitoring gene expression in the brain with a simple blood test?

In collaboration with @jerzyszablowski.bsky.social & his lab we figured out how to do it nonhuman primates using noninvasive neuroengineering of synthetic serum markers.

nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...

A black and white image depicts a snowy pier leading out to a frozen body of water. Several seagulls are flying overhead. The scene is serene and wintry, with overcast skies.

A serene, snowy landscape of an icy body of water with scattered birds on the surface. Faint outlines of distant land and structures are visible under a cloudy sky. A solitary bird is flying, adding dynamic contrast to the stillness.

A black and white image of a snowy street lined with trees, branches covered in snow. Four people walk in the distance. Buildings are visible on the left, and the street is tranquil and empty.

A black-and-white photo shows a snow-covered street between historical buildings, with a prominent arched bridge connecting them. Bare trees line the street, and a few people walk along the snowy path.

From campus to New Haven streets to the Connecticut shoreline, this storm left behind scenes that feel both stark and beautiful, especially in black and white.

Swipe through a few scenes from this week's storm.

📷: Kyle Hurley & Bronwen Pailthorpe

Congratulations Forrest!!

On #SquirrelAppreciationDay, check out a 2021 Science study that revealed how decision-making and learning capabilities complement the biomechanical adaptations that enable "squirrel parkour."

Learn more: https://scim.ag/3Nhl4n8

The deepest confirmed fish observation occurred at ~8,300 m. I know the shape behind it is another fish’s tail, but my brain insists it looks like the foreground fish is wearing a party hat. #deepsea #marinelife
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...

I had the wonderful opportunity to be part of Rising Stars Symposium this year and it was amazing! Great science, great people and a great place!!

It was one of my highlights of this year!

If you are a neuro grad student, I highly encourage you to apply! ✨

Neuro grad students! Applications for the 6th annual - Rising Stars in Neuroscience - due Jan 9!

Don’t miss this chance to present research, sharpen science communication skills and connect with peers & faculty. Plus you’ll get to experience stunning Utah!

medicine.utah.edu/neurobiology...

📣 Calling all early career #neuroscientists!

@thetransmitter.bsky.social & Neuromatch are teaming up to better understand how to support #EarlyCareer Researchers. Whether you're a student, postdoc, or launching your career, we want to hear from you.

➡️ www.thetransmitter.org/early-career...

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of seahorse male pregnancy - Nature Ecology & Evolution Seahorses have a unique sex role reversal with male pregnancy involving the brood pouch, an evolutionarily novel organ. This study uses single-cell genomics and in vivo experiments to reveal the cellular basis and molecular mechanism of pouch development and diversity in seahorses.

Seahorses have a unique sex role reversal with male pregnancy involving the brood pouch, an evolutionarily novel organ. A study in Nature Ecology & Evolution uses single-cell genomics and in-vivo experiments to reveal the mechanisms of pouch development in seahorses. 🧪

Pablo Villar and team uncover molecules and receptors underlying octopus mating.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

This parasitic ant tricks workers into killing their own queen.

Learn more: https://scim.ag/43FNdcR

q.e.d Science Critical Thinking AI for constructive criticism and science evaluation

Here's the link to the system, try it! qedscience.com
@qedscience.bsky.social

WTI Postdoctoral Fellowship applications are open! Unique opportunity for those pivoting fields or working across disciplines. I’d be happy to support candidates with a background in immunology and/or in vivo 2-photon imaging, including collaborations with other WTI labs wti.yale.edu/initiatives/...

Preprint -
Excited to present WHOLISTIC, which extends the concept of whole-brain functional imaging to the entire body. Pioneering work by incredibly talented Virginia Ruetten @vmsruetten.bsky.social, this platform reveals whole-organism cellular dynamics in vivo.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Beautiful cover and design! 🎉

small pert bird perches on wire fencing, black eye and bill, with feathers in shades of blue, purple, yellow & orange

Forget all the annoying stuff in the world for a few seconds and enjoy the natural beauty of Brazil’s Seven-coloured Tanager (Tangara fastuosa) Photo: Luiz Cavalcanti Damasceno

So glad to have had the chance to join this symposium. ✨ Amazing people and amazing science! Thank you for this opportunity!

Lab’s latest: (mouse) mums grow their guts during pregnancy and lactation: www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

How these hibernating squirrels conquer thirst Neurophysiology of resting rodents could hold secrets to suspended animation

Check out this @science.org video 📽️ featuring @yaleschoolofmed.bsky.social's PI Elena Gracheva & grad student Maddy Junkins 👩‍🔬 as they explore the fascinating physiology of hibernation 💤 in 13-lined ground squirrels 🐿️ and the neurophysiology behind thirst suppression! 🥤🧪

Hibernation scientists studying squirrels could get humans to deep space The biological phenomenon borders on sci-fi.

Squirrel-sicles, space travel, brain surgery, and scenes from an in-person reporting trip (unheard of in this economy)!

www.popsci.com/science/hibe...

Mating proximity blinds threat perception - Nature A state-dependent dopamine filter system in the male Drosophila brain balances threat perception against the drive to mate.

A paper that comes with a tagline

"Amorous adventures can lead us to pursue risky actions."

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Thermally induced neuronal plasticity in the hypothalamus mediates heat tolerance - Nature Neuroscience Ambroziak, Nencini, Pohle and colleagues identify a slowly emerging plasticity mechanism in a discrete set of hypothalamic preoptic neurons that is triggered by long-term heat exposure and that drives...

My inaugural post on Bluesky - quite fittingly, I'm thrilled to share our first study on heat acclimation, which identifies a neuronal mechanism that drives heat tolerance in mice. (www.nature.com/articles/s41... )
Here is the gist 🧵 (1/n):

Suppression of neurons in circumventricular organs enables months-long survival without water in thirteen-lined ground squirrels Water deprivation is a life-threatening condition that engages a protective physiological response to couple osmolyte retention with potentiation of thirst. This response, typical for most mammals, sa...

Beautiful study by Maddy from the Gracheva Lab describes a mechanism for long-term thirst suppression during hibernation in hibernating ground squirrels 🐿️💧
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

My lab studies both lab mice and naked mole rats. There is a belief amongst some that what we discover in mice will be universally true, and what we discover in naked mole rats will be a weird mole rat quirk. I believe this mouse-centric view of biological systems is very limiting.

That's awesome!! Congrats to you Nico and to the whole team! 🎉🎉

This is us! We're an educational resource with a bsky account. Content will be all about open educational resources in neuro, including but not limited to this book. #neuroscience #neuroskyence #openneuroscience #openscience