A new slate of #optogenetic# tools enables scientists to finely control G protein signaling in excitable cells—providing a flexible method that might also be used therapeutically for disorders that disrupt the excitability of cells. @SciSignal

A new slate of #optogenetic# tools enables scientists to finely control G protein signaling in excitable cells—providing a flexible method that might also be used therapeutically for disorders that disrupt the excitability of cells. @ruhrunibochum

Anyone here investing in optogenetics companies? I studied optogenetics on my own a few years ago, and while I found the science fascinating, there were still some pretty significant limitations at the time — efficient opsin/gene delivery, limited light penetration into deep tissue, and the invasiveness of optical fibers or other implanted light-delivery hardware. It always felt like an incredibly interesting technology, but with a big gap between what works in the lab and what can actually scale clinically. I haven’t followed the space closely for a while, so I’m curious how much has changed since then. From an investment perspective, are there any companies or recent breakthroughs in optogenetics worth paying attention to?

🔊 The 2026 Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded to three scientists for their work in optogenetics, used to control nerve cells in the brain. Hear more on the Reuters World News afternoon update

Calling all teachers – teaching material on this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is ready for use. The 2026 medicine laureates developed optogenetics, a method enabling us to show how nerve cells form memories, emotions and behaviours in a living brain. This method is used by laboratories all over the world and has fundamentally changed the way we see the brain With the Nobel Prize lesson it’s easy to teach your class about this year’s medicine prize. Find a slideshow with a speaker’s manuscript and a student assignment at