Human brains (and the brains of other vertebrates) are able to process information faster because of myelin, a fatty substance that forms a protective sheath over the axons of our nerve cells and ...

How well our brain functions depends heavily on the performance of our nerve cells. That is why they are regularly checked for their proper function -- defective cell components are marked, disposed ...

Every time we feel a gentle tap on the skin, specialized nerve cells convert that physical force into an electrical signal the brain can ...

When the longest cells in the body are injured at their farthest reaches, coordinating the cells’ repair is no easy task. This is in part because these peripheral nerve cells can be extremely long – ...

Most human nerve cells last a lifetime without renewal. A trait echoed within the cells' components, some enduring as long as the organism itself. Most human nerve cells last a lifetime without ...

The average human cell contains roughly 10,000 different proteins. Existing as several to millions of copies in each cell, proteins mediate all manner of tasks, including chemical transformations, ...

The Institute’s president and molecular biologist is captivated by solving the mysteries behind the aging process and the extended lifespan of humans. Hetzer is fascinated by the biological puzzles ...