Mmastodon ScienceScience first seen 6 h ago, last 6 h ago, peak #2
Optogenetics pioneers win Nobel Prize for controlling brain with light
Original: Controlling the brain with light earns a physiology Nobel: the entire field of optogenetics traces back to light-seeking
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded for optogenetics, the technique that lets scientists control brain cells with light. The method traces back to light-sensitive proteins from algae, which researchers adapted to switch neurons on and off with precise beams of light. The approach has transformed neuroscience, allowing researchers to map and manipulate neural circuits in living animals.
Why now: The announcement of the 2026 physiology Nobel Prize has just drawn attention to the optogenetics field it rewards.
Nobel Prizeoptogeneticsalgaeneuroscience
Evidence
- Controlling the brain with light earns a physiology Nobel: the entire field of optogenetics traces back to light-seeking algae https:// arstechnica.com/science/2026/1 0/controlling-the-brain-with-light-earns-a-physiology-nobel/ # science # neuroscience # nobel · fedifind@flipboard.social · 3
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