https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from Institute for Basic Science When animals move through complex visual environments, the brain cannot afford to analyze every detail one by one. Instead, it rapidly extracts the overall structure of the scene—for example, the mean (average) direction of motion across many moving elements. This ability, known as ensemble perception, allows the brain to capture the "gist" of a scene at a glance. Yet where, and how, this statistical summary is computed in the brain has remained unclear. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-brain-ability-grasp-gist-visual.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:00:04 EDT news693662101 A new study reveals that astrocytes—star-shaped support cells traditionally viewed as passive partners of neurons—play a previously underappreciated role in the maturation of coordinated movement. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-brain-circuits-mature-astrocytes-link.html Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:00:06 EDT news692268309 Chronic pain affects nearly one in five adults worldwide and remains one of the leading causes of disability. Unlike acute pain triggered by injury, chronic pain often arises spontaneously—without an obvious external cause—and fluctuates across minutes, hours, and days. Yet clinicians still rely largely on self-reported pain ratings, as there is currently no objective biomarker comparable to blood pressure or body temperature. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-personalized-fmri-decode-moment-chronic.html Neuroscience Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:40:01 EST news691758837 When we learn a new motor skill—whether mastering a piano passage or refining balance while walking—the brain must reorganize the circuits that control movement. For decades, this process of synaptic remodeling has been attributed primarily to neurons strengthening or weakening their connections. However, a new study reveals that another cell type in the brain called astrocytes actively participates in this rewiring process. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-dopamine-astrocytes-refine-mechanism-motor.html Neuroscience Tue, 24 Feb 2026 08:40:03 EST news691144202 For the first time, researchers have directly visualized how newly formed cellular organelles leave the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transition onto microtubule tracks inside living cells. This new finding reveals that the ER plays an active and dynamic role in steering intracellular traffic rather than serving as a passive factory. The study is published in the journal ACS Nano. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-capturing-moment-organelle-handoff-cells.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 28 Jan 2026 13:23:17 EST news688828982 Gastric (stomach) cancer remains one of the most common and deadly cancers in East Asia, including Korea. Yet despite its high prevalence, it has received far less molecular attention than colorectal cancer, which is more common in Western countries. As a result, many of today's models of gastric cancer biology are still based on assumptions borrowed from colorectal cancer research—often with limited success when applied to patients. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-stomach-cancer.html Oncology & Cancer Thu, 25 Dec 2025 12:20:01 EST news685793967 Researchers have developed a new class of ultra-thin, flexible bioelectronic material that can seamlessly interface with living tissues. They introduced a novel device called THIN (transformable and imperceptible hydrogel-elastomer ionic-electronic nanomembrane). THIN is a membrane just 350 nanometers thick that transforms from a dry, rigid film into an ultra-soft, tissue-like interface upon hydration. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-ultra-thin-nanomembrane-device-soft.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 10 Dec 2025 05:00:03 EST news684522781 For decades, nuclear physicists believed that "Islands of Inversion"—regions where the normal rules of nuclear structure suddenly break down—were found mostly in neutron-rich isotopes. In these unusual pockets of the nuclear chart, magic numbers disappear, spherical shapes collapse, and nuclei unexpectedly transform into strongly deformed objects. So far, all such islands have been exotic nuclei such as beryllium-12 (N = 8), magnesium-32 (N = 20), and chromium-64 (N = 40), all of which are far away from the stable nuclei found in nature. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-nuclear-island-magic.html General Physics Mon, 08 Dec 2025 15:12:19 EST news684429122 A study published in Nature Climate Change by an international team of scientists from the IBS Center for Climate Physics (ICCP) at Pusan National University in South Korea, presents new evidence that ocean turbulence and a process known as "horizontal stirring" will increase dramatically in the Arctic and Southern Oceans due to human-induced global warming and decreasing sea ice coverage. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-polar-ocean-turbulence-sea-ice.html Earth Sciences Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:02:18 EST news681562931 A new study published in the journal Nature Communications reveals that the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a key driver of global climate variability, is projected to undergo a dramatic transformation due to greenhouse warming. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-climate-whiplash-effects-due-rapidly.html Earth Sciences Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:09:03 EDT news679828141 Depression is a serious disorder that disrupts daily life through lethargy, sleep disturbance, and social withdrawal, and also increases the risk of suicide. The number of depression patients has steadily increased over the years, affecting more than 280 million people worldwide as of 2025. Now, researchers have uncovered a new pathological mechanism that could provide clues for the diagnosis and treatment of depression. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-tiny-sugars-brain-disrupt-emotional.html Psychology & Psychiatry Fri, 03 Oct 2025 14:00:06 EDT news678637912 Traditionally, chemical reactions have been described as one-line "equations" in which substrates, say A and B, convert purposefully but rigidly into a desired product, say C. Naturally, it has been recognized that byproducts may also form, but these have generally been considered undesirable and unproductive. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-robots-chemical-reaction-hyperspaces-complex.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 24 Sep 2025 12:50:03 EDT news677936977 A new study published in the journal Nature Communications by researchers from the IBS Center for Climate Physics (ICCP) at Pusan National University in the Republic of Korea reveals that global warming is accelerating the risk of multi-year droughts that can lead to extreme water scarcity, threatening water demands in cities, agriculture, and livelihoods worldwide, already within the coming decades. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-dry-extreme-scarcity-decades.html Earth Sciences Tue, 23 Sep 2025 11:50:07 EDT news677846453 Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is widely known for its core features, which include difficulties in social communication and repetitive behaviors. But beyond these, many individuals with ASD also struggle with comorbid conditions, particularly anxiety. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-reveal-autism-linked-mutation-triggers.html Neuroscience Thu, 18 Sep 2025 09:35:04 EDT news677406901 Spinal cord injuries caused by external trauma, such as traffic accidents or falls, often lead to the permanent loss of motor and sensory functions. This is because the spinal cord—the central pathway connecting the brain and the rest of the body—harbors a "brake" mechanism that halts repair. For the first time, the molecular mechanism behind this braking system has been revealed. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-inhibiting-astrocytic-blocks-spinal-cord.html Medical research Wed, 10 Sep 2025 19:00:01 EDT news676740563 Hemoglobin, long celebrated for ferrying oxygen in red blood cells, has now been revealed to play an overlooked—and potentially game-changing—antioxidant role in the brain. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-hemoglobin-antioxidant-role-brain-cells.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 21 Aug 2025 19:00:01 EDT news674992214 Graphite has attracted global interest due to its unique anisotropic properties, including excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. Widely used as a battery anode material and in applications such as electromagnetic shielding, catalysis, and nuclear technology, graphite remains a critical material in both industrial and research fields. https://phys.org/news/2025-08-mirror-graphite-strength.html Nanomaterials Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:41:02 EDT news674210457 Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often struggle to forget traumatic memories, even long after the danger has passed. This failure to extinguish fear memories has long puzzled scientists and posed a major hurdle for treatment, especially since current medications targeting serotonin receptors offer limited relief for only a subset of patients. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-astrocytes-hidden-culprit-ptsd.html Psychology & Psychiatry Tue, 29 Jul 2025 08:32:04 EDT news672996721 Researchers at the Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) have uncovered a two-step mechanism by which the brain regulates blood volume—a breakthrough with significant implications for how scientists understand and interpret functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-reveals-inhibitory-neurons-astrocytes-brain.html Neuroscience Mon, 21 Jul 2025 09:10:04 EDT news672307588 Global warming does not affect our planet evenly. Some areas such as the Arctic region or high mountain peaks warm faster than the global average, whereas others, including large parts of the tropical oceans, show reduced temperature trends compared to the mean. The heterogeneity of future rainfall patterns is even more pronounced. https://phys.org/news/2025-07-high-resolution-climate-reveals-regional.html Environment Fri, 18 Jul 2025 08:44:21 EDT news672047055 The ability to analyze gene expression at the single-cell level—known as single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq)—has transformed life sciences, driving discoveries across immunology, oncology, and developmental biology. Over 40,000 studies have leveraged this technique to map the complex diversity of cells within tissues and organisms. https://phys.org/news/2025-07-scientists-tackle-cell-reliability-crisis.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 03 Jul 2025 14:35:04 EDT news670772101 A team has developed a powerful new spectroscopic technique that enables real-time tracking of how perovskite nanomaterials change under light. The study is published in the journal Nature Communications. https://phys.org/news/2025-06-capturing-fleeting-perovskite-nanomaterials.html Nanophysics Thu, 12 Jun 2025 14:44:42 EDT news668958272 A team of Korean scientists has developed an innovative green technology that transforms plastic waste into clean hydrogen fuel using only sunlight and water. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-06-plastic-hydrogen-scalable-solar-powered.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 11 Jun 2025 09:40:04 EDT news668853601 Scientists at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) have uncovered a non-invasive method to boost the brain's natural waste drainage system—a discovery that could open new avenues for tackling age-related neurological disorders. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-invasive-mechanical-brain-clearance.html Neuroscience Wed, 04 Jun 2025 11:00:04 EDT news668245261 Researchers at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) have identified a remarkably small but critical piece of genetic code that helps determine how brain cells connect, communicate, and function. The discovery not only deepens our understanding of how the brain's wiring is built but may also explain the origins of several neurological and psychiatric conditions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-tiny-genetic-brain-behavior.html Genetics Thu, 22 May 2025 11:24:04 EDT news667131842 If DNA bridges persist between chromosomes during cell division, chromosomes are abnormally segregated, leading to genetic instability and cancer. Researchers at UNIST and IBS have experimentally revealed for the first time how a critical protein acts as a last resort to eliminate these dangerous DNA bridges, often cutting it close during the final moments of cell division. https://phys.org/news/2025-05-survive-cells-dna-bridges-moment.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 19 May 2025 11:12:03 EDT news666871921 More than 75% of new infectious diseases affecting humans originally come from animals. Bats, in particular, are natural hosts to some of the world's most dangerous viruses, including those responsible for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), MERS-CoV, influenza A, and hantavirus outbreaks. Yet, despite their importance, scientists have long struggled to study how these viruses behave inside bats, simply because the right biological tools didn't exist. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-comprehensive-organoid-platform-paves-pandemic.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 15 May 2025 14:00:11 EDT news666513841 A team of researchers from the Institute for Basic Science, Yonsei University, and the Max Planck Institute have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) technique that brings machine vision closer to how the human brain processes images. Called Lp-Convolution, this method improves the accuracy and efficiency of image recognition systems while reducing the computational burden of existing AI models. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-04-brain-ai-technique-mimics-human.html Machine learning & AI Tue, 22 Apr 2025 15:45:16 EDT news664555504 A research team at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) has identified a previously unknown enzyme, SIRT2, that plays a key role in memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study, led by Director C Justin Lee, of the IBS Center for Cognition and Sociality, provides critical insights into how astrocytes contribute to cognitive decline by producing excessive amounts of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-scientists-key-enzyme-alzheimer-disease.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Mon, 14 Apr 2025 14:32:04 EDT news663859922 A team of researchers led by Dr. Kim V. Narry, director of the Center for RNA Research at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), has uncovered a key cellular mechanism that affects the function of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-cellular-mrna-vaccine-revealed-therapeutic.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 03 Apr 2025 14:00:04 EDT news662892541