Scientific discoveries, research breakthroughs, and academic studies
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The Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to German researchers Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel and American researcher Karl Deisseroth for discoveries in optogenetics. The technique uses light to activate or switch off nerve cells and enables researchers to study brain activity with precision. The work has helped researchers examine how nerve cells are involved in memory, feelings and behaviour.
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The Weekend of Science attracted 125,000 visitors on 3 and 4 October. More than 300 organisations across the Netherlands opened their doors and introduced visitors to science and technology.
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The wetapunga, a giant cricket species, is no longer considered threatened after a successful breeding programme in New Zealand. Tens of thousands were bred and released or moved as part of the restoration effort.
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Three scientists received a long-awaited prize for discovering how brain cells can be switched on and off using light. Their work was described as a contribution to understanding how the brain works, and involved an alga that reacts extremely quickly to light.
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The rejection of an experimental drug developed by the Netherlands Cancer Institute was reported as a setback for academics and non-commercial institutions seeking to develop expensive medicines outside the pharmaceutical industry. The available account does not specify why the drug was rejected or what the next steps will be.