A new class of simplified computational models developed by @hhmijanelia.bsky.social researchers could help shed light on how we see.

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In this video you can see a visual map of some of the neurons within a fruit fly’s ventral nerve cord (VNC), like that of a human’s spinal cord. Neurons progressively stack on top of each other and at the end of the video, you can see a rough neuronal map of the VNC.

“Basic scientific research is so appealing to me because, despite it being very frustrating and a lot of work, the payout is so amazing,” explains @fsantoriello.bsky.social‬, a postdoctoral researcher in HHMI Investigator Bonnie Bassler’s lab at Princeton.

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For over a decade, @tangledbankhhmi.bsky.social‬ has delivered award-winning films that engage audiences with the wonder, complexity, and importance of science.

Researchers at @hhmijanelia.bsky.social are decoding how neurons carry out computations carefully calibrated to an animal’s movement and environment to precisely regulate the release of neuromodulators—chemicals that fine-tune brain activity and enable us to adapt to new situations.

How does basic science explain bacteria’s big impact?

At Princeton, HHMI Investigator Bonnie Bassler and her lab are leading research in quorum sensing, the process by which bacteria communicate with one another to carry out collective tasks. Watch and find out more about their work.