Adam Bowman

4 jam yang lalu

ARTICLE AD BOX

June 16, 2026

Adam Bowman

Clocking nan electrical messages betwixt neurons utilizing fluorescence

By Josh Fischman

Jessine Hein

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

Adam Bowman comes from a family of tinkerers. One grandfather worked connected nan engines of tractors and cars. The different had a boat, which Bowman worked connected pinch him, and they besides built radio-controlled exemplary airplanes together. Today Bowman continues to tinker astatine nan Salk Institute for Biological Studies successful La Jolla, Calif., but alternatively of moving pinch airplanes and engines, he’s trying to make it easier for researchers to spot cells successful nan encephalon pass pinch 1 another, building exertion that could beryllium applied to galore diseases and disorders, including Parkinson’s, schizophrenia, autism and cancer.

When neurons talk to 1 another, they nonstop mini charges of energy done their membranes. Scientists tin study this process by putting fluorescent proteins successful nan cells, making them glow. Most methods study nan brightness of nan proteins. Bowman’s method, called electro-optic fluorescence life imaging microscopy (EO-FLIM), focuses connected really agelong nan proteins stay lit up aft a accelerated laser pulse, making it imaginable to spot 1 compartment passing its electrical awesome to another—a encephalon circuit successful action. “It takes a really dependable hand,” Bowman says of nan methods he and his colleagues usage to employment EO-FLIM successful animal models.

On supporting subject journalism

If you're enjoying this article, see supporting our award-winning publicity by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to guarantee nan early of impactful stories astir nan discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

Portrait photograph of Adam Bowman by Christie Hemm Klok.

Several labs are now building EO-FLIM microscopes based connected Bowman’s design. Some researchers, Bowman says, person utilized EO-FLIM to make amended recordings of neuron activity successful nan brains of surviving consequence flies. He hopes nan method tin thief different scientists study how, successful group pinch Parkinson’s, nan encephalon loses its expertise to nonstop messages. It could besides beryllium utilized to observe nan accelerated section of cells that is simply a hallmark of cancer.

Bowman has continued to create EO-FLIM, but he notes that it takes clip to move techniques into marketable products. With nan occurrence he’s had truthful far, though, he tin spot nan fluorescent ray astatine nan extremity of nan tunnel.

This article is portion of “The Young American Scientists,” an editorially independent task that was produced pinch financial support from Regeneron.

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d for illustration to inquire for your support. Scientific American has served arsenic an advocator for subject and manufacture for 180 years, and correct now whitethorn beryllium nan astir captious infinitesimal successful that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped style nan measurement I look astatine nan world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a consciousness of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I dream it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you thief guarantee that our sum is centered connected meaningful investigation and discovery; that we person nan resources to study connected nan decisions that frighten labs crossed nan U.S.; and that we support some budding and moving scientists astatine a clip erstwhile nan worth of subject itself excessively often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get basal news, captivating podcasts, superb infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and nan subject world's champion penning and reporting. You tin moreover gift personification a subscription.

There has ne'er been a much important clip for america to guidelines up and show why subject matters. I dream you’ll support america successful that mission.

Selengkapnya