- A newly discovered microdeletion in a FAAH pseudogene was linked to congenital pain insensitivity and elevated anandamide levels, offering a concrete genetic target for analgesic interventions.  
- Church-lab preprint reported 13,200 CRISPR base edits in a single human cell, a step toward fully “recoded” cells that could resist all natural viruses and enable new biocontainment strategies.  
- Researchers introduced the first mammalian acoustic reporter genes: gas-vesicle proteins that scatter ultrasound, allowing non-invasive, high-resolution imaging of gene expression deep inside living animals.  
- “Sewing-machine” robotic system for minimally invasive neural recording was detailed; it inserts flexible polymer threads into cortex at scale, aiming for high-density, long-term brain–computer interfaces.  
- Ultrapotent chemogenetic receptors (DREADDs) were engineered for both research and potential clinical neuromodulation, providing reversible, drug-controlled silencing or activation of specific neurons.  
- PESCA platform enables rapid creation of cell-type-specific viral vectors by mining enhancer elements, promising more precise gene-therapy delivery to defined neuronal populations.  
- Deep-learning model that predicts protein function from sequence alone was released, offering a unified framework for rational protein engineering without structural data.  
- DNA-origami nanostructures were shown to silence genes in mature plants, demonstrating programmable, spray-delivered gene regulation for agriculture and synthetic-biology applications.  
- Optogenetic reactivation of memory ensembles during anesthesia or sleep revealed mechanisms of memory reconsolidation, suggesting new approaches to weaken or strengthen specific memories.  
- Channel participants discussed coating CCD sensors with fluorescent violet dye to extend UV sensitivity below 200 nm for low-cost DIY bio-imaging experiments.