This research investigates how the olfactory system of the Spanish ribbed newt adapts between aquatic and terrestrial environments. By analyzing cellular and genetic changes in the nose, the study reveals remarkable sensory plasticity, offering broader insights into nervous system flexibility and potential implications for understanding neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia.

The researcher rebuilds how cells sort materials to understand Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Using proteins and lipids like Lego pieces, they study how a key protein, retromer, malfunctions and disrupts cell transport. With cryogenic electron tomography, they aim to model this process and guide new treatments that restore healthy cellular function.