SPONSORED BY  | | | | November 21, 2023: A new type of signaling cell in the brain, wolves are back in California and NASA may destroy the International Space Station. —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor | | | Cells called glia help regulate brain metabolism, protect neurons and clean up cellular waste. They were once thought to hold nerve tissue together (which is why their name comes from the Greek for "glue"). Scientists have discovered a new type of "hybrid" glia that sends signals using the neurotransmitter glutamate. By cataloging individual cells' molecular profiles in mouse brains, researchers spotted the new glia in the hippocampus—a key region in the brain for memory, learning and navigation.
Why this matters: When the researchers blocked the signaling of these cells in live mice, it impaired the mice's memory. Further mouse experiments suggested these cells might play a role in epilepsy and Parkinson's disease. Analysis of human genetic databases indicates the same cells may exist in us, but they have not been directly observed.
What the experts say: "We know they're located in memory circuits, so the next question is, What happens in dementia?" says Andrea Volterra, a neuroscientist at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. "If these cells are modified, they become a new target" for research. | | | California has a new wolf pack in Tulare County, about two hours north of Los Angeles. Wolves are native to the state, but development and hunting extirpated them by 1920. California's Department of Fish and Wildlife examined scat, photos and video and confirmed the presence of one female and four offspring. DNA evidence showed that the female wolf is a direct descendant of one of the first wolves to cross back into the state decades ago. She traveled more than 200 miles (over the Sierra Nevada) to Tulare County.
How this happened: Wildlife ecologists suspect that the increased frequency of wildfires has encouraged the re-establishment of wolves. When fires kill trees, more sunlight is able to reach the blackened soils; this stimulates grasses and other plants to sprout. The nutritious grasses attract deer and other species, offering wolves plenty of prey.
What the experts say: "Wolves are generalists. They go from Arctic tundra all the way down to forests," says Karen Hodges, an ecologist at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus. "As long as they have prey, they're capable," she says, meaning that the new pack is likely safe for now, even in crowded California. | | | • NASA may pay $1 billion to destroy the International Space Station. Here's why. | 8 min read | | | • U.S. emissions are on track to fall by as much as 3 percent in 2023. But it's not enough to meet its goals under the Paris Agreement. | 4 min read | | | • We often think that people who commit violent acts have a "broken moral compass." But research shows that strong moral convictions are at the heart of conflict and violence, writes Joshua Rottman, an associate professor at Franklin & Marshall College. "Moral conviction is much more likely to be a detriment, especially in cases of intergroup conflict. Pragmatism may be the only viable solution for achieving peace," he says. | 3 min read | | | SPONSORED CONTENT BY CHRISTOPHER & DANA REEVE FOUNDATION | Help, Guidance, Support: Living with Paralysis | For those newly diagnosed, those who have lived with paralysis for years, or who care for someone living with paralysis, the Reeve Foundation provides the information and support needed to lead an independent and empowered life with spinal cord injury or paralysis. Learn More | | | In a past life, I was an editor of college-level textbooks in ecology and environmental science. The gray wolf's comeback in Yellowstone National Park is a classic example of how a keystone species plays an outsize role in the health of its surrounding ecosystem. When the wolves returned they curtailed the overpopulated deer herds, which in turn allowed the grasses to regrow, which in turn gave nesting birds places to roost, which in turn...on and on and on. Ecosystems are intricate, surprising and more complex than we might ever guess. | —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor | | Subscribe to this and all of our newsletters . | | | | Scientific American
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