Core Insights - The Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel has developed a new research method using optogenetics to reveal the neural mechanisms controlling the attachment between infants and their parents [1][2] - The research indicates that oxytocin, previously thought to only enhance social abilities in adults, plays a significant role in the attachment process in infants [1][2] Group 1: Research Methodology - The research team utilized optogenetics to introduce specific light-sensitive proteins into the target neurons of infant mice, allowing selective "turning off" of these neurons using light without affecting natural behavior [1] - This innovative method enables researchers to observe brain activity in infant mice during specific social situations without interfering with their daily behavior [2] Group 2: Findings on Oxytocin - During separation from their mothers, infant mice exhibited increased oxytocin activity, which returned to normal upon reunion [2] - The study found that active oxytocin systems in infant mice helped them adapt to unfamiliar environments during separation, while suppressed oxytocin systems hindered their ability to cope with loneliness [2]

Core Viewpoint - The research published in Science reveals the three-dimensional structure of the PSI-FCPI supercomplex from Emiliania huxleyi, highlighting its unique adaptation strategies to marine light environments and its significance in the study of evolutionary mechanisms in photosynthetic organisms [2][3]. Group 1: Research Findings - The research team successfully purified and analyzed the PSI-FCPI supercomplex, providing insights into how coccolithophores adapt their photosystems to varying light conditions in the ocean [3][8]. - The PSI-FCPI supercomplex consists of 12 core PSI subunits, a specific linker protein, and 38 peripheral antenna proteins, making it the largest known PSI-antenna supercomplex [9]. - The structural analysis revealed a complex pigment network that includes 411 chlorophyll a, 152 chlorophyll c, and 256 carotenoids, which enhances the efficiency of light capture and energy transfer [9][12]. Group 2: Efficiency and Performance - The overall excitation capture time of the Eh-PSI-FCPI supercomplex is measured at 96-120 picoseconds, indicating a quantum conversion efficiency of approximately 95% [10]. - The supercomplex's light capture cross-section is expanded by 4-5 times compared to terrestrial plants, yet it maintains a high quantum conversion efficiency, demonstrating its effectiveness in energy conversion [12].

Core Insights - A new study from Israel reveals that the proton transfer process in biological systems is significantly influenced not only by chemical factors but also by the quantum property of electron spin, providing a new physical perspective on energy and information transfer within cells [1][2] - The research indicates a coupling relationship between electron spin and proton transfer in chiral biological systems, challenging the traditional view of proton transfer as a purely chemical process [1][2] Group 1 - The research team from Hebrew University of Jerusalem published findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, demonstrating that injecting electrons with specific spin directions into lysozyme crystals significantly reduces proton mobility [1] - The study confirms the existence of a coupling mechanism between electron spin and proton transfer, suggesting that energy and information transfer in living systems may be more selective and controllable than previously thought [2] Group 2 - The findings align with the "chiral-induced spin selectivity" effect in quantum chemistry, indicating that chiral molecules interact selectively with electrons of different spin directions [2] - This research provides important evidence for the potential integration of quantum mechanisms in biological phenomena, paving the way for new biomimetic technologies aimed at controlling intracellular information transfer [2]