Bionic leg moves like a natural limb — without conscious thought

Hello Nature readers,
Today we learn that the human brain can control a bionic limb better than a robotic algorithm, discover the hormones that drive mosquitoes’ bloodlust and explore evidence in mice that hints at how eggs in ovaries can last for decades.

Bionic leg moves like a natural limb

In a small clinical trial involving 14 people with lower-leg amputations, participants who had surgery to create a neuronal interface were able to walk faster than those with prosthetics controlled by standard robotic algorithms. “Even though the limb is made of titanium and silicone and all these various electromechanical components, the limb feels natural, and it moves naturally without even conscious thought,” said biophysicist and study co-author Hugh Herr. Herr had both of his legs amputated after being caught in a blizzard in 1982, and says he would consider using the interface himself.

Hormones drive mosquitoes’ bloodlust

A pair of hormones work in tandem to activate or suppress mosquitoes’ cravings for blood. One hormone produced in the insect gut, neuropeptide F (NPF), spikes when mosquitoes are seeking a host and disappears after they feast on blood. Levels of another hormone, RYamide, increase just as levels of NPF decrease. The findings reveal a possible mechanism for what drives mosquitoes’ attraction to people and other animals.

How ovarian eggs last for decades

Mammals are born with all the oocytes they’ll ever have already in their ovaries — now research in mice hints at how the eggs endure for entire reproductive lifetimes. Researchers have discovered proteins in mice that last as long as a year (roughly how long mice reproduce), rather than being recycled every few days like most proteins. Whether ovarian proteins in people have the same longevity isn’t yet clear. “That would be mind-blowing,” says molecular biologist and geneticist John Labbadia. “We are talking about proteins that are decades old” potentially contributing to new life.

Why neuroscientists should study religion

Four authors — from psychology, neuroscience and medicine — call on diverse scholars to help establish “the neuroscience of religion”. Social scientists have long studied the many ways that faith can influence people's behaviour but these authors argue that neuroscientists have been reluctant to investigate how people’s beliefs affect their brains, and vice versa. They recommend building on what’s known already from social science and applying existing neuroscience tools, such as brain imaging, or newer tools such as virtual reality or psychedelic drugs. They note that many people use meditation or prayer to deal with pain and addiction, and a better understanding of the brain processes involved could help religious and non-religious people alike.

US ran ‘indefensible’ anti-vax campaign

During the Covid pandemic, the US Pentagon ran a covert campaign to discredit the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine, face masks and test kits. A Reuters investigation reports the campaign was targeted at Muslim populations in the Philippines, Central Asia and the Middle East and spread through online misinformation on social media. The campaign was started under President Donald Trump and discontinued after President Joe Biden came to office. But its effects on vaccine support, and trust in US institutions, are longer lasting, say public health experts. “I don’t think it’s defensible,” said infectious-disease specialist Daniel Lucey. “I’m extremely dismayed, disappointed and disillusioned to hear that the US government would do that”.

Spinouts bring female engineers together

“We will often have male colleagues asked if they are the founders,” says civil engineer Brittany Harris, who founded a construction decarbonization company with sustainability specialist Jade Cohen. Their compassionate leadership style is often met with skepticism by those who believe leading requires ‘strong’, male-orientated traits. Having a collaborator with complementary skills to share the emotional load of launching a startup was key to their success. “Prioritise clear and honest communication with your co-founders and team,” advises mental-genetics specialist Irena Tyshyna, who co-founded an education AI company with electronic engineer Anna Baldycheva.