The Brain Initiative - A New Approach to Understanding the Human Brain

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Some slugs have managed to incorporate the alges photo symphetic structures called chloroplasts into their own cells. One species, elysia timida, even moves these chloroplast into its reproductive tissues. And now a team of researchers have observed that the slugs produce more eggs when in the presence of light than when they are in darkness. The teams show the stolen chloroplasts produce molecules the slugs use to build polyun saturated fatty acids for reproduction.

AI weather forecasters, mapping the human brain and the 2021 science Nobel prizes.

In this episode:

00:52 Improving the accuracy of weather forecasts with AI

Short-term rain predictions are a significant challenge for meteorologists. Now, a team of researchers have come up with an artificial-intelligence based system that weather forecasters preferred to other prediction methods.

Research article: Ravuri et al.

08:02 Research Highlights

The vaping robot that could help explain why some e-cigarettes damage lungs, and the sea-slugs that steal chloroplasts to boost egg production.

Research Highlight: This robot vapes for science

Research Highlight: Solar-powered slugs have a bright reproductive future

10:29 A map of the motor cortex

A group of researchers are undertaking an enormous task: to make a cellular atlas of the entire brain. This week, they publish a suite of papers that has accomplished this feat for one part of the brain — the motor cortex.

Research Article: BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network

News and Views: A census of cell types in the brain’s motor cortex

Editorial: Neuroscientists make strides towards deciphering the human brain

17:58 Nobel News

Flora Graham from the Nature Briefing joins us to talk about the winners of this year’s science Nobels.

News: Medicine Nobel goes to scientists who discovered biology of senses

News: Climate modellers and theorist of complex systems share physics Nobel

News: ‘Elegant’ catalysts that tell left from right scoop chemistry Nobel

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