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How can we map the brain’s wiring at molecular resolution, and what are the realistic promises and limits of connectomics?

In this episode of Neuroscience and Beyond, we speak with Dr. Sven Truckenbrodt, group leader at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge, UK), where his lab investigates #brain wiring at the molecular level. With previous research experience at ISTA Austria and E11 Bio, he works at the intersection of #ExpansionMicroscopy, molecular labeling, and scalable circuit reconstruction.

Beyond defining #connectomics, this conversation explores the technical, conceptual, and organizational challenges of mapping #NeuralCircuits at scale.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why synapses operate at the nanometer scale, and why this pushes imaging technology to its limits
• How physical tissue expansion bypasses the diffraction limit of light #microscopy
• Why whole-brain connectomes are rare “hero datasets” and what prevents comparative connectomics
• How combinatorial neuronal barcoding could reduce manual proofreading in circuit reconstruction
• Why new research models like Focused Research Organizations aim to close the gap between #academia and #industry.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:00 Dr. Sven Truckenbrodt’s research focus

00:02:20 How Small Is a Synapse?

00:05:20 How Can We See Synapses?

00:08:00 What Can Connectomics Realistically Reveal?

00:13:00 Connectomics With Electron Microscopy vs. Light Microscopy

00:16:00 Expansion Microscopy

00:18:48 What Is Neuronal Barcoding?

00:26:00 Are Glia Part of Connectomics?

00:29:15 Does Expansion Microscopy Introduce Artifacts?

00:32:00 What Is E11 Bio and a Focused Research Organization?

00:38:45 From ISTA to Cambridge - Building a Lab

00:44:48 What Are Connectopathies?

00:54:00 Advices to Graduate Students

Read the most recent preprint here: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.26.678648v1

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us for exciting neuroscience content. Watch our new episode to explore how connectomics, expansion microscopy, and neuronal barcoding are reshaping our ability to map the brain at molecular resolution.

🔗Link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond

Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286

Neuroscience and Beyond team:

Svilen Georgiev

Kristina Jevdokimenko

Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı

Laura van Agen

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Why is it becoming harder to build a stable career in science?

Prof. Sauer reflects on structural pressures in academia: competitive #ResearchFunding, short-term contracts, and increasing administrative burdens. He discusses how evaluation metrics and grant systems shape career paths and may discourage long-term, high-risk research.

He highlights the need for sustainable funding structures and realistic career prospects for early-career scientists.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive content and honest conversations about academic life.

#academic #challenges #academia #science #ResearchFunding #AcademicCareers #PhDLife

Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286

Neuroscience and Beyond team:

Svilen Georgiev

Kristina Jevdokimenko

Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı

Laura van Agen

Send us a text

How do you see structures inside cells that are smaller than the wavelength of light? Why was the diffraction limit considered an unbreakable barrier for decades, and how did super-resolution microscopy change everything?

In this episode of Neuroscience and Beyond, we explore the frontiers of biological imaging with Prof. Markus Sauer, a pioneer of modern super-resolution microscopy. Prof. Sauer developed direct STORM (dSTORM), a technique that enables visualization of molecular organization at the nanometer scale. He leads the super-resolution microscopy lab at the Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, where his team continues to push the boundaries of cellular imaging.

We discuss how single-molecule localization microscopy works, what are the technical challenges that we had to overcome to see the nanometer molecular world, and how these methods are now central to research in neuroscience, immunology, and translational science. The conversation also explores expansion microscopy, quantitative imaging, and the challenges of interpreting increasingly detailed biological data.

This episode takes a closer look at how improved imaging reshapes our understanding of cells, and why higher resolution often leads to deeper questions.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• Important barriers to brake in order to achieve super-resolution microscopy
• The principles behind dSTORM and single-molecule localization
• What super-resolution reveals about molecular organization in neurons and in the context of immunology
• Expansion microscopy and its impact on modern cell biology

Timestamps

00:00:00 Introduction & Episode Overview

00:02:10 Markus Sauer’s Path into Microscopy

00:08:40 What Is the Diffraction Limit and Why It Matters

00:12:30 The Idea Behind Super-Resolution Microscopy

00:15:20 How dSTORM Works at the Single-Molecule Level

00:30:00 From Physics to Biology: Applications of Microscopy

00:42:40 Expansion Microscopy

00:47:30 What is Next in Microscopy? What are the limitations?

00:54:00 Current Challenges and Future Directions

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🔗Link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond

#Neuroscience #SuperResolutionMicroscopy #dSTORM #Microscopy #CellBiology #DiffractionLimit #ExpansionMicroscopy #Neuroimaging #SciencePodcast #Biophysics

Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286

Neuroscience and Beyond team:

Svilen Georgiev

Kristina Jevdokimenko

Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı

Laura van Agen

Send us a text

How do cells move cargo with such precision? What controls vesicle trafficking, and why does this process shape everything from cellular communication to disease? And what can extracellular vesicles really reveal about health, aging, and neurodegeneration?

In this episode of Neuroscience and Beyond, Professor Randy Schekman, Nobel Prize Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, helps unpack these questions. He explains the molecular machinery behind vesicle trafficking, how these pathways were discovered through foundational cell biology, and how this research enabled breakthroughs like insulin production in yeast. Prof. Schekman also explores what extracellular vesicles carry and why interpreting their biological roles remains experimentally challenging.

The conversation then shifts to Parkinson’s disease; its complexity, why current treatments mostly manage symptoms, and why early cellular changes may begin long before diagnosis. Prof. Schekman highlights research on genetic risk, environmental factors, and emerging evidence that vigorous exercise may influence disease progression.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• How vesicle trafficking and extracellular vesicles shape cellular communication
• The cell‑biology foundations behind technologies like insulin production
• Why Parkinson’s disease is so difficult to treat and detect early
• Genetics, early warning signs, and the role of exercise in Parkinson’s research

Timestamps

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:08 Why Vesicle Trafficking Matters & Path to Nobel

00:10:12 Discovering Cellular Transport Mechanisms

00:16:52 How Vesicles Shape Cell Growth

00:22:18 From Cell Biology to Insulin Production

00:29:55 Technology, Science, and Deep Thinking

00:37:28 Why Extracellular Vesicles Are Important

00:43:32 Why Parkinson’s Disease Is So Devastating

00:48:23 Funding Parkinson’s Research at Scale

00:55:25 Does Parkinson’s Start Outside the Brain?

01:00:19 Can Exercise Slow Parkinson’s Progression?

01:06:40 Advice for Young Scientists

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🔗Link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond

#Neuroscience, #CellBiology #ParkinsonsDisease #ExtracellularVesicles #VesicleTrafficking #Neurodegeneration #MedicalResearch #SciencePodcast #NobelPrizeLaureate

Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286

Neuroscience and Beyond team:

Svilen Georgiev

Kristina Jevdokimenko

Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı

Laura van Agen

Send us a text

Why is Alzheimer’s disease so difficult to treat and how is the brain’s immune system involved?

Professor Michael Heneka, Director of the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, joins us to discuss key topics in #neuroinflammation and Alzheimer’s disease.

We explore how inflammation shapes the progression of #neurodegeneration, why detecting Alzheimer’s early remains a challenge, and the surprising biological world of tunneling nanotubes-tiny bridges that let cells exchange materials and signals.
Professor Heneka also breaks down emerging strategies in #prevention, #personalizedmedicine, #genetherapy, and anti-inflammatory approaches that could redefine the future of Alzheimer’s #treatment.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why Alzheimer’s is so complex and why traditional #treatments struggle to stop its progression
• How #neuroinflammation drives the disease, reshaping the #brain long before symptoms appear
• How early #biomarkers can reveal Alzheimer’s up to 10 years in advance, improving detection and intervention
• The future of personalized Alzheimer’s #treatment, from #genetics to targeted #immunotherapies
• How tunneling nanotubes and #immune pathways may transform our understanding of #neurodegeneration

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us for exciting neuroscience content.

🔗Link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond

#AlzheimersResearch #Neuroscience #BrainHealth #SystemsBiomedicine #NeurosciencePodcast

Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286

Neuroscience and Beyond team:

Svilen Georgiev

Kristina Jevdokimenko

Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı

Mels Akhmetali

Laura van Agen

Send a text

What happens in our brain when we crave revenge - and how can forgiveness set us free?

In this powerful conversation, we speak with James Kimmel Jr., a former lawyer, and currently an assistant clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine, and author of The Science of Revenge, about the psychology and neuroscience behind revenge, addiction, and forgiveness.

Drawing from his own story of childhood bullying and near-violence, Kimmel explains how these experiences led him from a 20-year legal career into neuroscience research and the creation of the Yale Collaborative for Motive Control.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why revenge feels so satisfying - and why it’s addictive
- What happens in your brain when you crave revenge?
- Why does your self-control system shut down when anger takes over?
- The surprising difference between men and women when it comes to - empathy during acts of retaliation.
- How to turn revenge into healing through the “Courtroom of the Mind,” an evidence-based mental exercise that helps release anger safely.
- The transformative power of forgiveness and empathy

Timestamps
00:00:00 In this episode of Neuroscience and Beyond
00:00:29 Introduction and opening thoughts on revenge
00:01:30 Bullying, Anger, and the Moment That Changed Everything
00:11:00 From Lawyer to Yale Collaborative for Motive Control Studies
00:17:20 Revenge in the courtroom & Discovering the neuroscience of revenge
00:23:40 Studying the neuroscience of revenge and addiction
00:28:40 How the brain processes revenge and addiction
00:30:00 Dopamine, craving, and the “go” vs. “stop” systems
00:33:20 Developmental neuroscience and revenge in youth
00:38:00 When does revenge become addictive?
00:40:10 Healthy vs. harmful punishment and the role of dopamine
00:44:00 Pain, pleasure, and the biology of retaliation
00:50:00 Male vs. female revenge seeking
00:56:00 The myth of “good vs. evil” and real-world violence
00:59:00 How society fails to prevent revenge-driven violence
01:04:40 The “Courtroom of the Mind”: healing through inner justice
01:13:30 How forgiveness changes the brain
01:18:20 Treating revenge like an addiction
01:22:00 Education, prevention, and hope for future generations
01:25:00 Closing reflections on forgiveness and self-healing

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us for exciting neuroscience content.

🔗Link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond

#NeuroscienceOfRevenge #TheScienceOfRevenge #AddictionAndTheBrain #Forgiveness #EmotionalHealing #PsychologyPodcast #Mindfulness #NeurosciencePodcast

Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286

Neuroscience and Beyond team:
Svilen Georgiev
Kristina Jevdokimenko
Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı
Laura van Agen

Send us a text

Prof. Kukushkin emphasises that the hardest part for scientists is figuring out what motivates them. He explains that the current system rewards high-profile publications controlled by a few for-profit corporations, steering research toward profit.

Top-down structural change- from universities, governments, and leaders-is needed to restore creativity, integrity, and meaningful progress.

What’s your biggest challenge in academia? Share your thoughts in the comments! 💬

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive content and honest conversations about academic life.

#academic #challenges #academia #science #ResearchFunding #AcademicCareers #PhDLife

Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286

Neuroscience and Beyond team:

Svilen Georgiev

Kristina Jevdokimenko

Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı

Laura van Agen

Send us a text

Noise is more than just an irritation; it’s a global health and environmental issue. In this episode, we welcome Chris Berdik, science journalist and author of Clamor: How Noise Took Over the World and How We Can Take It Back. We explore how noise affects the body and brain, from sleep disruption and stress responses to hearing loss, dementia risk, and learning difficulties.

We also talk about why designing better soundscapes (in schools, workplaces, hospitals, and cities) is essential for public health, productivity, and even wildlife survival.
This episode offers deep insights for anyone interested in health, neuroscience or urban planning, revealing why it’s time to take noise seriously and how we can build healthier soundscapes for the future.

More from Chris Berdik: https://www.chrisberdik.com/clamor

#NoisePollution #HealthAndWellness #Neuroscience #UrbanDesign #Soundscapes #HearingHealth #EnvironmentalHealth #BrainScience #PublicHealth
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us for exciting neuroscience content.

🔗Link to our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/neurosciencebeyond

Timestamps
00:00:00 In this episode of Neuroscience and Beyond
00:00:29 Introduction
00:01:00 Chris Berdik’s journey into science journalism and noise research
00:07:30 What is noise?
00:10:45 Health Effects of Noise
00:14:00 Hearing and Dementia
00:15:30 Are we adapting to noise?
0017:00 Noise sensitivity: why even “deep sleepers” are affected
00:19:01 Noise and learning: classrooms and distraction
00:20:00 The auditory midbrain and early literacy
00:22:29 Open offices: productivity, distraction distance, and noise design
00:27:20 White noise, focus, and the science of masking sound
00:29:55 Hearing damage: how loud sound injures hair cells and neurons
00:38:25 Hearing protection as the “new sunscreen”
00:40:11 Noise and nature: wildlife, whales, and shrinking sensory worlds
00:50:00 Green Spaces and Soundscapes
00:53:50 Limerick, Ireland: redefining “quiet spaces” in cities
01:01:50 Noise inequality and environmental justice
01:05:29 Sound solutions: from restaurants to hospitals
01:15:42 Key message from Clamor

Supported by the International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences in #Göttingen, the European Neuroscience Institute, Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging, as well as SFB1286

Neuroscience and Beyond team:
Svilen Georgiev
Kristina Jevdokimenko
Ahsen Konaç Sayıcı
Mels Akhmetali
Laura van Agen