Tag: Debbie Lee

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Uterus as sentinel by Debbie Lee

Menstrual health research
Uterus as sentinel
Tampon-based study.

by Debbie Lee

Leveraging power in the menstrualome, NextGenJane (NGJ) is unlocking the data of monthly cycles.

* As a hyper-responsive organ that responds to external and internal stimuli, from stress to disease, the uterus is a data trove.

* Menstrual blood contains early indicators of health and disease that’s difficult to get any other way.

* Members of the NGJ community mail their tampons using a patented, specially-designed collection kit.

* A survey is the beginning of this anonymised conversation with NGJ.

* The menstrual cycle is a convenient way to sample the uterus and advance the science of uterine biology.

* As a longitudinal study of women’s menstruation, a more sophisticated, molecular understanding of gynecological health will inprove medical diagnostics.

* More precise options for treatment is expected to deliver genomic insights and improved outcomes for endometriosis, fibroids, and other gynecological conditions.

For more information: https://www.nextgenjane.com/

Author bio:

Debbie Lee (@lee_debbie):
Writing from places light and dark,
awkward data nerd,
elegant word nerd,
dreaming in colour,
clumsily balancing love, hope,
kindness with pragmatic realism.

Read more of Debbie’s sciku here!

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More research needed by Debbie Lee

Parkinson’s disease
cell replacement therapy
dopamine effects

by Debbie Lee

Parkinson’s disease has no cure, but in 2025 some clinical trials are showing positive early signs from transplantation. To confirm lasting benefits on dopamine production and improved motor control, more research is needed. Lab-grown neuron trials are reaping benefits from earlier fetal / foetal tissue proof-of-concept studies.

Further reading:

‘The stem cell race to rewire the Parkinson’s brain’, 2025, Busch, M., ScienceNews.dk, available: https://sciencenews.dk/en/the-stem-cell-race-to-rewire-the-parkinsons-brain

‘Patterning effects of FGF17 and cAMP on generation of dopaminergic progenitors for cell replacement therapy in Parkinson’s disease’, 2025, Holm Nygaard, A., et al., Stem Cells, available: https://doi.org/10.1093/stmcls/sxaf004

Author bio:

Debbie Lee (@lee_debbie):
Writing from places light and dark,
awkward data nerd,
elegant word nerd,
dreaming in colour,
clumsily balancing love, hope,
kindness with pragmatic realism.

Read more of Debbie’s sciku here!

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Maugean Skate by Debbie Lee

A threatened species,
the Maugean Skate is tracked,
what price farmed salmon?

by Debbie Lee

In a report to the National Environmental Science Program, the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), of the University of Tasmania, highlights Marine and Coastal Hub research which uses eDNA to survey the endangered Maugean Skate in Bathurst Harbour on the south-western coast of Tasmania.

Despite extensive sampling, only minute traces of Maugean Skate DNA were detected. This is considered remnant traces of biological material, such as egg cases in sediment, or a few live individuals maximum. Thus it confirms that the vast majority, if not all, of the remaining Maugean Skate are in Macquarie Harbour.

This finding illustrates Maugean Skate vulnerability. It supports the need for continued research on the endangered Macquarie Harbour population, plus conservation action to ensure the persistence of a unique species of ray (Zearaja Maugeana).

Further reading:

‘Application of environmental DNA to survey Bathurst Harbour (Tasmania) for the Endangered Maugean Skate (Zearaja maugeana)’, 2022, Moreno, D., et al., National Environmental Science Program Research Report, available: https://www.nespmarinecoastal.edu.au/publication/application-of-environmental-dna-to-survey-bathurst-harbour-tasmania-for-the-endangered-maugean-skate-zearaja-maugeana/

‘DNA survey finds Macquarie Harbour last refuge for Maugean skate’, 2022, University of Tasmania, available: https://www.utas.edu.au/about/news-and-stories/articles/2022/dna-survey-finds-macquarie-harbour-last-refuge-for-maugean-skate

‘Maugean Skate’, Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, available: https://nre.tas.gov.au/conservation/threatened-species-and-communities/lists-of-threatened-species/threatened-species-vertebrates/maugean-skate

Author bio:

Debbie Lee (@lee_debbie):
Writing from places light and dark,
awkward data nerd,
elegant word nerd,
dreaming in colour,
clumsily balancing love, hope,
kindness with pragmatic realism.

Read more of Debbie’s sciku here!

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Yes to gratitude by Debbie Lee

Yes to gratitude
Negativity bias;
Dino threats begone

by Debbie Lee

Brains are both tricky and powerful. In this article, Mark Travers talks to “negativity bias”, how it works and how we can overcome it.

Once upon a time, this bias was a survival mechanism of human psychology. Helped us avoid predators like dinosaurs. However, in modern relationships, negativity bias can erode connection, happiness and trust. This is true even in healthy partnerships, minor annoyances become grievances, plus acts of kindness may be misinterpreted.

Travers suggests 3 ways to counteract negativity bias:

  1. Instead of fixating on problems (rumination or replay), retrain your brain to balance the narrative (reflect, recognise, reframe).
  2. Avoid assuming the worst of intentions, try cognitive reappraisal (a technique that helps us pause and reframe thoughts before reacting).
  3. Strive against a confirmation bias, argue the opposite side. Eg: challenge our own assumptions (try not to default a negative mindset or outlook).

Further reading:

‘3 Ways ‘Negativity Bias’ Harms Your Relationship — By A Psychologist’, 2025, Travers, M., Forbes, available: https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2025/03/26/3-ways-negativity-bias-harms-your-relationship—by-a-psychologist/

Author bio:

Debbie Lee (@lee_debbie):
Writing from places light and dark,
awkward data nerd,
elegant word nerd,
dreaming in colour,
clumsily balancing love, hope,
kindness with pragmatic realism.

Read more of Debbie’s sciku here!

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Language of fungi by Debbie Lee

Language of fungi
Mycelium colony
Neuronal spiking

by Debbie Lee

The mycelium of a fungal colony may use electrical impulses to communicate, which could be considered a “language”. The impulses vary in amplitude, frequency, and duration, and can be grouped into “words”. Mycelium acts as an organic network of telephone lines, sending signals to different parts of the fungus. The impulses can be modified in response to different stimuli, similar to how neurons operate in a brain. The patterns of electrical impulses could be the basis of a fungal language. Different fungal species may have distinct electrical signaling patterns, suggesting a unique “language” for each species. The average word length in the fungal language may be similar to the average word length in some human languages.

In his paper “Language of fungi derived from their electrical spiking activity”, Andrew Adamatzky applies quantitative analysis of voltage fluctuations in fungal mycelia. The report concludes that the patterns of electrical fluctuations can be grouped into “words” analogous to those found in human languages. Adamatzky’s 2022 study groups spikes into words, thereby providing a linguistic and information complexity analysis of the fungal spiking activity. This confirms a secret language of mushrooms: How fungi use electricity to speak.

Further reading:

‘Language of fungi derived from their electrical spiking activity’, 2022, Adamatzky, A., Royal Society Open Science, available: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.211926

Author bio:

Debbie Lee (@lee_debbie):
Writing from places light and dark,
awkward data nerd,
elegant word nerd,
dreaming in colour,
clumsily balancing love, hope,
kindness with pragmatic realism.

Read more of Debbie’s sciku here!

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Toxic male by Debbie Lee

Toxic male technique
mosquito biocontrol
venomous semen

by Debbie Lee

Macquarie University research into synthetic biology may provide solutions to dengue fever outbreaks and insect-transmitted disease.

Further reading:

‘’Toxic Male Technique’ promises faster biocontrol of mosquito populations’, 2025, Macquarie University, available: https://phys.org/news/2025-01-toxic-male-technique-faster-biocontrol.html

‘Recombinant venom proteins in insect seminal fluid reduce female lifespan’, 2025, Beach, S.J. & Maselko, M., Nature Communications, available: https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54863-1

Author bio:

Debbie Lee (@lee_debbie):
Writing from places light and dark,
awkward data nerd,
elegant word nerd,
dreaming in colour,
clumsily balancing love, hope,
kindness with pragmatic realism.

Read more of Debbie’s sciku here!

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Technomancy by Debbie Lee

Fitbit in your skull,
neuroscience leap
Musk technomancy

by Debbie Lee

Neuralink is a brain implant with 1,024 5-micron-wide (very, very thin!) electrodes and includes sensors for motion, temperature and pressure. Ultimately, according to Elon Musk, the medical goal is for such implants to be able to control prosthetic limbs, alleviate memory loss, help with addiction and fix mental illnesses and vision and hearing impairments.

Musk has described it as “a Fitbit in your skull” and some of his more enthusiastic claims are that this technology could one-day record and replay memories and (due to the device’s wireless capabilities) enable telepathy – sending and receiving words, concepts and images.

All this sounds incredible and Neuralink is certainly a step up from what has currently been available to neuroscientists – the current Utah Array has 64 electrodes and installation can cause significant tissue damage on installation and removal.

Whilst Neuralink represents a huge step forward for neuroscientists, however, there are still plenty of unknowns to do with how neurons function and how this type of technology can remain in the brain for long periods of time without causing tissue damage or being damaged by the environment within the cranium and the human immune response. For all of Musk’s technomancy hype, Neuralink currently asks more questions than it provides answers to and there are still plenty of difficult barriers to overcome before any of the promised advantages are possible.

Further reading: https://www.wired.com/story/neuralink-is-impressive-tech-wrapped-in-musk-hype/

Debbie Lee (@lee_debbie):
Writing from places light and dark,
awkward data nerd,
elegant word nerd,
dreaming in colour,
clumsily balancing love, hope,
kindness with pragmatic realism.

Read more of Debbie’s sciku here!