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Beauty of the Brain

Each year, we sponsor an image contest where Harvard neuroscientists can share their amazing research images with the world. Below you will find all entries to our contest dating back to 2017. You can filter the contest by year by clicking the relevant heading. We typically solicit new images in the fall semester; join our mailing list to make sure you don’t miss out!

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This confocal image captures the balance that keeps the brain in tune. In the mouse frontal cortex, a delicate network of dendrites (blue) weaves together with inhibitory synapses marked by VGAT (green) and gephyrin (red). These vibrant threads of inhibition reveal the subtle architecture that tempers and fine tunes neural activity to maintain balance within the brain’s circuitry. Twinkle Stars in Alzheimer’s In-a-Dish by Sang Su Kwak This image shows neurons in the brain of a larval Japanese Rice Fish that transmit motor commands to the spinal cord. This was achieved by embedding a crystal of dye into the spinal cord and allowing the axons to carry dye to the brain. Color represents z-depth. Synaptic Talk Inside the Brain by Nannan Guo Six-Color Immunolabeling of Mouse Cerebellar Cortex by Xiaomeng Han Spinal Cord Starry Night by Ilayda Alkislar Nociceptors and Cancer Cells by Pavel Hanc A Touch of Fire by Lucy Gordon Neurons that Sense Blood Pressure in the Aortic Arch by Soohong Min Unique Distribution of N-Glycans in the Brain by Maxence Noel Human hippocampus, the brain region where memories are consolidated. Astrocytes were stained with the cytosolic marker ALDH1L1 (green) and the endfeet marker AQP4 (red). All nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). Bed of Roses by Katharina Meyer This image shows Pacinian corpuscles in the mouse hindlimb, each innervated by an axon (magenta), with supportive cells forming an inner (green) and outer corpuscle (red). The outer corpuscles touch, likely to assist signal transduction to the central nervous system. The Circle of Willis by Brian Chow Lateral Olfactory Tract by David Brann Into the Abyss of the Olfactory Landscape by Siddharth Jayakumar Unipolar Brush Cells Contacted by Purkinje Cell Feedback by Chong Guo In the skin, sympathetic nerves, arrector pili muscles, and hair follicles form a tri-lineage unit that produces goosebumps and regulates hair follicle stem cell activity in response to cold exposure. Human Retinal Organoids to Study the Underlying Causes of Spinocerebellar Ataxia 7 by Patrick Ovando-Roche Human Brain Spatial Transcriptome by Rongxin Fang The dura is the outermost layer of the meninges, a membrane that covers and protects the brain. This image shows a small molecular tracer NHS-biotin (gray) leaking out of blood vessels (green) in the dura. All cell nuclei are stained in blue. Magenta labels a histone modification that is associated with transcriptionally inactive DNA. Perineuronal nets glowing green through fluorescent microscopy, emerging from the extracellular matrix-the biological scaffold underlying neural circuitry. These structures embody the brain's central dilemma: stability to lock in essential connections, or plasticity to rewire and evolve, a choice that shapes every neural network. Guardians of the Brain Barrier by Huixin Xu The skin of a mouse ear by Brian W. Chow Rising From Splashing Waves in a Thundery Night by Giacomo Maddaloni C. elegans Nervous System by Rafael Jacobsen Lightsheet Illuminating Our Knowledge of the Brain by Andrew Silberfeld Human iPSC-derived Neuromesodermal Organoid by Delaney Wood This image captures the glowing mitochondria inside a rat neuron, shining like tiny embers. These bright fragments are the cell’s “power plants,” traveling along its branches to deliver the energy that makes every thought, memory, and movement possible. Astrocyte-Blood Vessel Interaction by Urs Langen Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Neural Tube-Like Organoids 2 by Dosh Whye Trafficking of RNA Molecules to the Growth Cone by Kadir Ozkan Staying in Touch by Urs Langen Brain Fall Foliage by Clara Muñoz-Castro and Ayush Noori Cervical- and Lumbar-Projecting Corticospinal Neurons Carla Carol Winter Thoughts and Feelings by Paul Hatini Proximity of BMAL1 and CaMKIIα at Synapses in a Primary Neuron by Ilaria Barone Star-Crossed by Elisabeth Lawton Nose to Brain by David Brann Purkinje Neurons in Cerebellum by Swathi Ayloo Outgrowth of the developing cranial motor nerves in an embryonic mouse at embryonic day 12.5. Cranial nerves are segmented and pseudocolored to allow for tracking of the nerves from their nuclei in the brain as they grow out towards their target muscles. Astrocyte Perched on a Capillary in Awake Mouse Brain by Patricia Kelly Cluster of E1 Neuronal Population in a Virgin Male Mouse by Samantha Finkbeiner An isolated microvessel (a tiny blood vessel) from donated human brain, highlighted in light blue (using a cell membrane stain, Concanavalin-A). An astrocyte is hugging this microvessel, highlighted in yellow (stained for GFAP, an astrocyte marker). This image shows the intimate interactions between two different cell types in the brain. This image displays parallel networks in parietal and temporal regions from 10 human subjects, highlighting the unique organization of association networks for working memory, remembering, language, and social inference. Distinct color patterns reveal how specialized brain networks vary across people, advancing our understanding of individual differences in brain organization. This image shows a cleared zebrafish larva with all its nerves labeled using a fluorescent antibody.  A color scale indicates depth, transitioning from shallow nerves near the skin and fins to deeper ones innervating internal organs. The Hypothalamus Revealed: Fluorescent Luminance Meets Ultra-Structural Detail by Xiaomeng Han. Developing Motor Neurons and Muscles in E11.5 Mouse by Jess Bell & Mary Whitman Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cortical Organoids by Dosh Whye Pyramidals by Joseph Zak Non-Neuronal Network in the Developing Cochlea by Olubusola Olukoya. Neuronal Stem Cells Differentiating Into Neurons by Katharina Meyer Podoplanin in the DRG by Pavel Hanc Neuronal Network Cultured on an Integrated Circuit Chip by Jeffrey Abbott and Tianyang Ye Intersubject Synchronization of Brain Activity During Viewing of Film Clips by Xuehu Wei Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Neural Tube-Like Organoids 1 by Dosh Whye This image depicts a cross-section of the mouse nose after treatment with a drug that ablates the olfactory tissue, stained for a sensory neuron marker gene (in magenta) and specific subtypes of olfactory receptors (in yellow ). The expression of these genes and their spatial patterns indicates proper regeneration. Stem Cell-Derived Human Hair Cell of the Inner Ear by Carl Nist-Lund Distribution of N- and O-GalNAc Glycans in the Cerebellum by Maxence Noel Unveiling Cerebellar Cytology with Dual Lenses by Xiaomeng Han A Portal by Lucy Gordon The image depicts EB3–GFP–labeled microtubule plus-end tracking proteins in a cultured mouse hippocampal neuron. Wholemount of the Mouse Cochlea by Isle Bastille On the Vine by Chelsey LeBlang Art Generated by Neurons (no. 6) by Will Xiao Brain Tumor of a Fruit Fly by Torrey Mandigo Sensory and Motor Neurons in the Drosophila Nerve Cord by Jasper Phelps Astro Heart by Elisabeth Lawton Chick Retina-Bow by Masahito Yamagata This image shows two halves of a dog brain. In red we see a bundle of connections that process information about scent, mapped out by functional magnetic resonance imaging (diffusion MRI) studies. Scent processing takes up a lot of the dog brain! A human brain organoid (green/blue) surrounded by glioblastoma multiforme cell clusters (red). The cancer integrates into neural networks, showing how malignant cells infiltrate and rewire healthy brain tissue. This striking image captures the clash between organized neural architecture and the chaos of the most aggressive brain cancer. Breast Cancer Cells in Co-Culture with Neurons by Rachel Davis Birth of New Neurons in the Adult Mouse Brain by Brittany Mayweather Anti-Amyloid Antibody Binding to Vascular Amyloid with Microglia Recruitment by Praveen Bathini Confocal image reveals the complex beauty of human iPSC-derived cortical neurons cultured in a microfluidic chamber modelling Alzheimer’s disease. Fluorescently labelled neuronal RNA granules (red) travel along microtubule tracks (cyan), orchestrating the transport of translational machinery essential for localized protein synthesis, capturing both the precision and fragile elegance of neurons. Neuronal Clusters by Evelyn Aviles Spinal projection neurons of larval Japanese Rice Fish (left) and Zebrafish (right) labeled with z-depth color code. These fish diverged 300 million years ago, yet the basic neuronal architecture for motor command transmission is highly conserved. Local interneurons in the drosophila antennal lobe by Isabel D’Alessandro AH5 Coronal Slice 1127 by Javier Masis Glomeruli of the Fruit Fly Antenna Lobe by Matthew Churgin Different Types of Cells in the Cerebellar Cortex by Xiaomeng Han This image shows a cross section of an early chicken head at a stage when the eye is just beginning to form. The bright signal marks FGF8 at the center of the developing optic cup. FGF8 is a growth factor (?) that plays a critical role in organizing the future high-acuity region of the retina—the area responsible for sharp, detailed vision in adults. Even at this very early stage, key molecular cues are already shaping where specialized visual functions will emerge. The image highlights how early developmental signals help lay the blueprint for the development of key aspects of visual function long before the eye can detect light. Olfactory Bulb Glomeruli by Joseph Zak Mouse Dorsal Root Ganglia Aurora Hippocampus by Riley Magane and Meng Chen Red Blood Cells in Retina Vasculature by Swathi Ayloo Migrating Neurons in Embryonic Mouse Cortex by Kadir Ozkan A Reconstructed Arcuate Fasciculus by Steven Meisler Cells and Vessels by Mostafizur Rahman Medium Spiny Neurons in Ventral Striatum from a Behaving Mouse by Selina Qian Cortical neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (reprogrammed from skin tissue), grown for 14 days in a dish. The rose-like structures are called neuronal rosettes. The blue staining marks all cell nuclei, the red staining marks microtubules, and the green staining reveals expression of one transcription factor specific to cortical neural progenitor cells (FOXG1). A map of a growing neuron's molecular highways. Microtubules (red) make up the neuron's structural support and transportation routes. Patches of microtubules (green) have been converted to a different color to track their movements. Before thought begins, the fetal brain performs its first selection, discarding fractured genomes to preserve the integrity of those destined to shape the self. Blue DNA escapes through the orange nuclear envelope of a developing neuron, forming micronuclei, tiny archives of genetic failure marked by green rupture signals. Glowing mitochondria dot the long branches of neurons, highlighting the cell’s internal transport system. These mobile energy producers travel up and down the neuron to keep it functioning, powering the signals that allow brain cells to communicate over remarkable distances. The Murine Vomeronasal Organ and Immunity by Rodrigo Gonzalez vDeltaA Neurons in the Fly Brain by Emily Kellog Rendered by Lynde Folsom A Sparkling Spot by Keunjung Heo Neuron-Painted Portraits by Will Xiao Reaching Out by Austen Sitko A cross-section of the mouse cochlea, the organ that detects auditory information. Sound-receiving inner hair cells and hearing-related neurons are shown in cyan, with brightness differences indicating varying expression levels. Pain-sensing neurons are labeled in magenta, revealing the mixture of sensory cells within the cochlea. Human iPSC-derived Neuromesodermal Organoid by Delaney Wood Blood vessels are an essential component of all organ systems, as they supply cells with oxygen and nutrients necessary to develop and function. Here, the developing vasculature (in red) is observed invading the embryonic cochlea (our hearing organ, outlined in dark blue), where it supports developing auditory neurons (in cyan). Unipolar Brush Cells Contacted by Purkinje Cell Feedback by Chong Guo Serotonergic Modulation of Sensory Information by Olga Alekseyenko Symmetric Division of a Neural Stem Cell by Haley Zanga A Fishy Nervous System by Morgan Phillips Actin Network Architecture of a Motor Neuron by Iván Coto Hernández Merry Christmas from iPSCs by Wardiya Afshar Saber and Federico Gasparoli From Human Adult Fibroblast to CA3 Neuron by Haley Zanga The Inner Ear Rainbow by Cristobal Von Muhlenbrock Rodriguez Love From Your Neurons by Encarnacion Torres A Reconstructed Corticospinal Tract by Steven Meisler Neurons that Sense Blood Pressure in the Aortic Arch by Soohong Min The Mind of a Worm Reconstructed by Electron Microscopy by Daniel Witvliet A straight-on view toward the eye of an embryonic mouse showing the extraocular muscles (magenta) as the oculomotor (cyan) and trochlear (green) nerves reach the area and connect to their target muscles. Brain Waves by Lariza Rento Blood Vessels in the Developing Retina by Swathi Ayloo Microglia (green) remodel synaptic connections, while inhibitory neurons (red) maintain network balance. This human stem cell–derived co-culture is used to investigate how microglia refine inhibitory synapses to tune neural communication. Motor Neurons Innervating Eye Muscles by Sampath Vemula Radial Journey by Katerine Morillo A Cloudy Memory by Leana Radzik Human stem cells were used to generate four major brain cell types—excitatory and inhibitory neurons (green and red), astrocytes (magenta), and microglia (cyan). Together, they form a 2D human model of how the brain’s diverse cell types interact and communicate. Tangled Tubules by Mara Casebeer Stairway to Heaven: The Bundle of a Human Stem-Cell Derived Hair Cell by Carl Nist-Lund A confocal microscopy image showing human neurons (magenta) forming connections with diffuse midline glioma cells (green), a rare childhood brain cancer. The red and white dots mark synapses — tiny contact points where the cells communicate. These signals show how tumor cells interact with and respond to nearby neurons. Distribution of GJB2 in a Nonhuman Primate Cochlea by Maryna Ivanchenko Immune cells (green) are shown interacting with blood vessels (magenta) within the dural layer of the meninges, a membranous structure that covers and protects the brain. This close interaction between immune cells and the vasculature highlights the role of the dura in immune surveillance and neuroimmune communication. All nuclei are shown in blue. A patient induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neuroepithelial organoid. Neuroepithelial stem cells self-organize in a columnar-like fashion around a central cavity (lumen). This process mimics the early spatial organization of the developing neural tube. Live 3D cell imaging highlights Plasma membranes (Red) and Nuclei (Blue). Boosting the Brain: The Choroid Plexus by Ryan Fame Integrating Granule Cells by Joseph Zak Serotonin fibers in the rostral migratory stream by Nikita Sturrock Projection Neurons of the Fruit Fly Antennal Lobe by Matthew Churgin Man-Made Brain by Annie Kathuria Retinofugal Projections into the Optic Tectum of Larval Zebrafish by Clemens Riegler Organized Mess by Stephanie Mauriac Ferret Phases by Ellen DeGennaro Nemo’s Home: The Surface of a Human Inner Ear Organoid by Carl Nist-Lund Neurons Within the Mouse Retina by Nicholas Hanovice Diffusion MRI Tractography of the Human Subcortical Auditory Pathway by Kevin Sitek The Olfactory Mantle by David Brann Neurofilaments by Evelyn Aviles Neuronal Plumage by Katherine Morillo Touch-Sensitive Pacinian Corpuscles by Katelyn Comeau Caught in the Net by Carolyn Johnson Asymmetry in the Brain by David Zimmerman Enteric neurons reside within the gut, so numerous that they have been referred to as Expression of PCDH15 in a Nonhuman Primate Photoreceptor by Maryna Ivanchenko Genetically Labeled Tapestry: Coloring the Brain Net of the Gut by Anoohya Muppirala This image depicts a bundle of axon fibers called a glomerulus (pictured in cyan) that serves as a compile + relay center for olfactory information. The neurons (pictured in magenta) are the projection neurons that transmit the information from this relay to high brain structures. Front and back views of a human stem-cell-derived skin organoid. Fluorescent labeling reveals green hair follicles swirling like Medusa’s curls as the tissue self-organizes. Plaque Attack by Aryan Rajput his image shows Pacinian corpuscles in the mouse hindlimb, located along the fibula, which each have an inner corpuscle composed of terminal Schwann cells (green), innervated by a single peripheral axon (magenta). Superficial White Matter Connections to Broca’s Language Area by Shiva Hassanzadeh-Behbahni Patient-Derived Midbrain Organoid to Study Parkinson's Disease by Ewa Grassin Detailed view of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus of an Alzheimer’s disease patient. Astrocytes were stained with ALDH1L1 (red) and GFAP (green). Neurons were stained with NeuN (magenta). All nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). Kiss in a Starry Night: Overcoming Developmental Constraints by Giacomo Maddaloni This confocal image captures neurons in the mouse dentate gyrus, a region of the mouse hippocampus where new neurons emerge and memories form. Neuronal dendrites and cell bodies (MAP2, magenta), neuronal nuclei (NeuN, green), and all cell nuclei (blue), are shown composing a fluorescent landscape of connectivity and growth. Vasculature in the Developing Cochlea by Katelyn Comeau Innervation of a Hair Follicle by Touch-Sensitive Neurons by Katelyn Comeau Mapping of Superficial White Matter Connections: by Fan zhang The mammalian cochlea is a spiral-shaped organ that mediates the sense of hearing with astounding precision. Here, auditory neurons are shown with their cell bodies in magenta, extending cyan axons to innervate sound-sensitive cells around the spiraling border of the tissue, also in magenta. mEMbrain by Elisa Pavarino Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image of two turns of the cochlea, the hearing organ, of a postnatal day 7 wild type mouse. On each turn, four rows of specialized sensory hair cells can be seen. Hair cells are responsive to frequencies of the sound spectrum in a structured tonotopic organization from base (high frequencies) to apex (low frequencies). Gray Matter Galaxy by Ayush Noori and Clara Muñoz-Castro Dancing Hairs by Cristobal Von Muhlenbrock Rodriguez Cerebellar Checkers by Ellen DeGennaro All Orientations Welcome by Erin Diel Immune Cell Surveillance by Katelyn Comeau Boulanger Multicolor FlpOut Clones of Drosophila Ellipsoid Body Ring Neurons by Isabel D’Alessandro Glia and Neurons in the Inner Ear by Isle Bastille Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image of the cochlea, the hearing organ, of a postnatal day 7 wild type mouse. This delicate structure is encased in the temporal bone of the skull and contains the specialized sensory cells (hair cells) and neurons (spiral ganglion neurons) that send sounds to the brain for downstream processing. Synapses on Hair Cells by Isle Bastille Sympathetic Ganglion Neurons by Katelyn C. Boulanger The Starburst Amacrine Cells of the Retina by Evelyn Aviles Cortical Sparks by Lariza Rento Brain Star Dome by Ayush Noori and Clara Muñoz-Castro A 3D Reconstruction of an Anti-PKHD1L1 Immunogold Labeled OHC Stereocilia Bundle Neural Hyperspace by Jenny Yau Rare Perspectives on Rare Diseases by Marlene Scheffold In Vivo Organ of Corti by Nam Hyun Cho The Brain in Time (Snake Representation) by William Orwig Astrocyte Waltz by Molly Healey Auditory Rainbow by Stephanie Mauria A map of a growing neuron's molecular highways. Microtubules (red) make up the neuron's structural support and transportation routes. Patches of microtubules (green) have been converted to a different color to track their movements. Festive Fluorescence by Marlene Scheffold Sole Projector by Leannah Newman. Sketching the Brain by Minsu Kim When the Heart Finally Catches Up to the Brain by Encarnacion Torres Jimenez Image 18 Fish is Watching You 2 by Yasuko Isoe The Human Meissner Corpuscle by Ilayda Alkislar Spinal Motor Neurons by Spencer Price Multicolor Imaging of Peripheral Nerve by Iván Coto Hernández Love of Hearing by Jin Jiahe The Intertwinement by Wardiya Afshar Saber and Federico Gasparoli Vessel near ENS by Valentina Lagomarsino On the left, a healthy brain organoid self-organizes into complex neuronal networks. On the right, the same system is invaded by glioblastoma multiforme (yellow), the deadliest brain cancer. Cancer cells integrate into neural circuits, exposing how malignancy hijacks human brain tissue and reshapes its delicate architecture. Chain of Olfactory Glomeruli by Nao Horio Astrocytes in the mouse retina form a delicate, ramified web that weaves a complex cellular architecture. The Brain in Time (Flower Representation) by William Orwig Human iPSC-Derived Spinal Spheroid by Keunjung Heo Pericellular Basket Surrounds a Cell in the Lateral Septum by Rebecca Senft Miami on the brain by Natasha M. O'Brown Developing Zebrafish by Barbara Robens Glia and Neurons in the Inner Ear by Isle Bastille Breaching of the Choroid Plexus Barrier by Huixin Xu A coronal slice of an adult mouse brain showing antibody staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), which labels reactive astrocytes in the adult brain. A Watchful Eye of NPY by Olga Alekseyenko Fish is Watching You 1 by Yasuko Isoe Ring in the Brain by Jaeeon Lee An isolated microvessel (a tiny blood vessel) from donated human brain, highlighted in light blue (using a cell membrane stain, Concanavalin-A). In yellow, you can see the Glial Diversity in the Olfactory Bulb by Anoohya Muppirala In darkness our eyes may fail us, but our brain cells still glimmer in response to things we cannot see. This image snapshots the activity and connections between cells in the visual cortex, the brain area responsible for processing vision, even when we are in complete darkness. A motoneuron-containing midbrain organoid derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (reprogrammed from skin tissue), cultured in vitro for 55 days. The magenta staining (Islet1) reveals the organized nuclei of motoneurons, the blue staining (ChAT) marks cholinergic neurons, and the green staining (MAP2) specifically labels neuronal microtubules. TMS-EEG Source Space Colormaps in MMVT Flaming Cerebellar Cortex by Olga Alekseyenko Brain Teardrops by Methasit Jaisa-Aad Giving Feedback by Austen Sitko Skin Organoid Generated From iPSC with Innervated Neurons by Ahn Phuong Le Spiny Night: A Neuron Illuminated by Maryse Thomas Anti-Amyloid Antibody Binding to Vascular Amyloid with Microglia Recruitment by Praveen Bathini. Neurons and Sensory Cells of the Mouse Cochlea by Katelyn Comeau Let's Play Catch! by Methasit Jaisa-Aad Connect to Hear: Afferent and Efferent Neurons in the Ear by Yi-Chia Huang The Site of Touch by Annie Handler In the inner ear, immune cells make very close contact with pericytes, cells that wrap around blood vessels so small that red blood cells have to pass though in single file. These vessels weave through neuron fibers as they reach out to hair cells that sense vibration (top). Mapping of Whole Brain White Matter Connections by Fan Zhang Astrocytic Hug by Aryan Rajput Accidental Crystallization of Cell Media Solution on Culture Dishes Cervical- and Lumbar-Projecting Descending Projection Neurons in the Red Nucleus by Carla Carol Winter Wheel in Chick Retina by Masahito Yamagata 3D sensory neuron organoid with cell bodies clustering in the middle and radiating out axonal projections, stained for the building block, tubulin, with a live dye - SIR tubulin Spiral Ganglion Neuron Diversity by Isle Bastille This image was captured as part of our research into understanding nerve–stem cell interactions in the skin. Shown here is the intricate network of sensory neurons (blue) that innervate the skin epidermis and hair follicles (white), enabling us to perceive touch, temperature, and pain—crucial functions for adapting to a constantly changing environment. Clock Neuron Subpopulations in Drosophila melanogaster by Bryan Song Neural Stem Cell in the Subgranular Zone of the DG by Cinzia Vicidomini A coronal section of an adult mouse brain. Green staining marks astrocytes expressing glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), while red indicates the expression of a cell membrane-targeted protein in layer 2/3 cortical neurons. Coronal Section of the Dorsal Raphe Nucleus of a Mouse Midbrain by Olga Alekseyenko Hair Follicle With Touch Receptor Cells by Ahn Phuong Le Slices Under Stress: Neuronal Activation in the Mouse Brain by PK Vincze E11.5 Orbit Showcasing Developing Extraocular Muscles and Cranial Nerves by Jess Bell & Mary Whitman Let There Be Sound by Volkan Ergin Cochlear Immune Cells Phagocytose Bacteria by Katelyn Comeau Boulanger, Accidental Crystallization of Cell Media Solution on Culture Dishes by Farimah Mapar Krause Corpuscles in the Mouse Clitoris by Lijun Qi The Brain in the Gut by Valentina Lagomarsino Microglia (red) populate the proximal optic nerves of a mouse with optic pathway glioma. The putative tumor-bearing region (right) shows disrupted cellular organization, where irregularly positioned oligodendrocytes (pink) trace the altered architecture of the optic nerve. Amyloid Coral Reef by Celia Blanco. Astrocyte-blood vessel interaction by Urs Langen Man-Made Brain by Annie Kathuria In the inner ear, three populations of feedback neurons intermingle with the fibers of auditory neurons to change how our ears respond to stimuli. Their axons display a range of appearances but still are very organized, bringing to mind strings of holiday lights of different colors all arranged with care. Ear to Hear: Spiral Ganglion Neurons of the Cochlea by Katelyn C. Boulanger In white are mouse retinal ganglion cells, the output neurons of the eye that communicate with the brain. In red are retinal bipolar cells, interneurons which relay information from photoreceptors to retinal ganglion cells. Developing Zebrafish by Barbara Robens Follow Your Heart, But Take Your Brain With You The Brain and the Machine by Mariana Garcia-Corral Redefining Viral Infection by Tyler Krause Sensory Tulips Jin Jiahe Network at the Fingertips by Sara Hakim and Yu-Ting Cheng Confocal image reveals the complex beauty of human iPSC-derived cortical neurons cultured in a microfluidic chamber modelling Alzheimer’s disease. Fluorescently labelled neuronal RNA granules (red) travel along microtubule tracks (cyan), orchestrating the transport of translational machinery essential for localized protein synthesis, capturing both the precision and fragile elegance of neurons. This whole-mount projection of a chemically cleared mouse spinal column visualizes the spatial relationship between skeletal and vascular systems. Mineralized bone forms a continuous axial chain (red), while CD31-immunolabeled endothelial networks (blue) course along the vertebral bodies. The resulting tapering profile and interlaced vascular contrast incidentally evoke the appearance of a dragon's tail. Steering Control by Emily Kellogg Losing Stability in Bipolar Disorder by Katharina Meyer Hair Cells and Neurons of the Cochlea by Carl Nist-Lund