Mysterious Blobs, Green Monsters and the Space Junk Crisis

Mysterious Blobs, Green Monsters and the Space Junk Crisis

By Jeanna Bryner

Do you remember learning about cell diagrams in high school biology? The cell wall, the organelles, the nucleus. The real picture is turning out to be much more complicated, and interesting, than we were taught. Cells are filled with teensy, phase-shifting blobs that often contain protein and RNA, and in the past several years they’ve taken over cellular biology. In our cover story, science writer Philip Ball dives into the world of these specks, known as biomolecular condensates, which play astounding roles in cellular functioning across all domains of life. But when they go awry, researchers suspect they may lead to the tangled protein clumps behind some neurodegenerative diseases. Scientists are now looking into just how these blobs tick, what forms they take and how they might be leveraged for medical advances.

Teens are eternally trying to make sense of the world and find their place in it. This endeavor requires flexible shifts between two different brain circuits, one for immediate, focused thinking and the other for reflective pondering. Neuroscientist Mary Helen Immordino-Yang describes how teens’ proclivity for such transcendent and deep thinking leads to brain development and greater life satisfaction. The good news: parents and teachers can give adolescents mental space to travel in time, grapple with big questions and build their own narratives, resulting in brighter young adults with brighter futures.

The medical field is reconsidering the definition of Alzheimer’s disease. Until recently, doctors assessed people for the illness mainly by using subjective cognitive tests. Now, genetic counselor Laura Hercher explains, blood tests that look for telltale biomarkers can indicate someone has the pathology well before the onset of symptoms. The advancement has led scientists to debate whether someone with only biomarkers and no symptoms should get an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The answer has knotty implications, Hercher points out: “Would you go to a surgeon or hire a lawyer who was biomarker-­positive for Alzheimer’s disease?” On the flip side, what if the field advances to the point of prevention? Then a doctor might be able to treat a person with “pre-Alzheimer’s.” As my mom suffers through mid-stage Alzheimer’s, I’m watching every advance with hope for a future where the disease becomes preventable and treatable.

On supporting science journalism

If you’re enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

The James Webb Space Telescope continues to deliver gorgeous views of our universe. Senior space and physics editor Clara Moskowitz takes us on a tour of a recent JWST photography cache: a carnival of eye candy from a nearby supernova remnant, Cassiopeia A. The images provide the most detailed look at this glowing orb of gas and dust left over from the explosive death of a massive star centuries ago. You’ll see bright pink strands of gas, orange and red flows of material from the dying star, and even a bizarre-looking bubble now dubbed the “Green Monster.”

The climate emergency calls for big ideas. Author Douglas Fox digs into one called enhanced rock weathering, which entails spreading crushed rock across farm fields to suck carbon dioxide from the air (and potentially raise crop yields). The venture would require a mountain of mining, however, which releases its own CO₂.

Space environmentalist Moriba Jah warns that the amount of space junk orbiting our planet is rising fast, and if we don’t act soon, space will become unusable, taking with it technology we’ve come to rely on. The answer, Jah says, is to establish a “circular economy” that promotes the “reduce, reuse and recycle” mantra followed on Earth.

Since 2010 scientists have known that early Homo sapiens interbred with Neandertals, and most people still carry the genetic fingerprint from this intermixing. Neuroscientist Emily L. Casanova and geneticist F. Alex Feltus write about the accumulating research that indicates Neandertal DNA doesn’t just sit quietly in our genomes; it affects some brain structures and even our propensity for certain neurodevelopmental and psychological conditions. We hope reading this issue expands your mind and encourages you to explore the unknown.