Finger-prick Alzheimer’s test, sonic booms for space debris tracking, and lab-grown nose study of rhinovirus

The Naked Scientists panel this week covers a fast, cheap finger-prick blood test for Alzheimer’s disease, a novel method for tracking space debris using sonic booms and ground seismometers, a lab-grown nose model to understand rhinovirus infections, and a study showing ancient cycads warming their cones to attract pollinators at specific times.

Overview of the episode

In this episode, the Naked Scientists explore cutting-edge biomedical and space science research, ranging from early detection of Alzheimer’s disease to tracking space debris during atmospheric reentry, to recreating human nasal tissue in the lab to study rhinoviruses that cause colds, and finally looking at how ancient plants may have used heat to attract pollinators. Each topic is introduced by researchers actively pursuing practical applications that could transform diagnosis, safety, and our understanding of plant–insect interactions.

Finger-prick Alzheimer’s test: progress toward early, equitable detection

The segment features Giovanna Lally from Life Arc discussing a finger-prick test designed to detect Alzheimer’s disease by analyzing a dried plasma spot on a card, similar in principle to a cholesterol test. The test targets three brain-linked proteins in the blood: phosphorylated tau 217, neurofilament light, and GFAP, a marker of brain inflammation. This approach could allow cheaper, faster, and more equitable screening without refrigeration, expanding the possibility of early identification before symptoms appear. While not a definitive diagnostic, the test could flag people at risk for cognitive decline and prompt further cognitive assessments and imaging. The team notes high correlations with brain amyloid plaques and potential to trigger earlier intervention as therapies expand. "We are trying to develop a test that is based on a finger prick for Alzheimer's disease." - Giovanna Lally.

Sonic booms as a tool for tracking orbital debris reentry

Ben Fernando of Johns Hopkins explains how space debris entering the atmosphere at high velocity generates sonic booms that can be detected on the ground by seismometers and even heard by observers who witnessed a fireball. The resulting ground vibrations, though tiny, are measurable with highly sensitive seismic equipment, enabling researchers to triangulate debris trajectories, speeds, and angles of descent. This method helps characterize atmospheric breakup and assess risks to aircraft and infrastructure when fragments survive reentry. The approach includes correlating seismic data with eyewitness accounts and known orbital information to identify the parent spacecraft, such as Shenzhou-15 in a recent event. "There’s enough energy in those sonic booms that when they reach the ground, they can actually trigger seismometers that we normally deploy to detect earthquakes." - Ben Fernando.

Recreating the nose to study rhinovirus infections

Ellen Foxman from Yale discusses recreating the human nasal lining in vitro using human stem cells cultured to form a tissue that resembles the nose and is exposed to air. This tissue becomes highly susceptible to rhinovirus infection, allowing researchers to study why half of those exposed do not become ill and how the virus triggers disease in others. The team observes that an interferon-based antiviral response acts as a fast warning system; when this response is delayed or blunted, mucus production and inflammation surge, mirroring severe cold symptoms in susceptible individuals such as smokers or people with asthma. The work identifies a single molecule as a potential drug target to modulate the mucus and inflammation response and points toward new therapeutic strategies. "If that viral alarm signal, which is called interferon, if that goes on really fast, it shuts it down right at the beginning of the infection." - Ellen Foxman.

Heat-based pollination in cycads: a window into plant evolution

Alex Webb and Beverly Glover discuss the Science paper on cycads, ancient seed plants that warm their cones to attract nocturnal beetle pollinators. Male cones warm up shortly after dusk, followed a few hours later by the female cones, a timing likely governed by the plant circadian clock. The beetles detect infrared heat rather than scent or warmth, using antennae equipped with warmth sensors akin to those in snakes. The researchers consider evolutionary implications: flowering plants evolved color-based signals to attract a broader range of pollinators across day and night, potentially driving their extensive diversification, whereas cycads remained reliant on a heat-based cue with more limited pollinator options. "The male plants warm up just after dusk, and then 3 hours later, the female plants warm up." - Alex Webb.

Concluding thoughts

The episode closes by highlighting the breadth of science covered, from disease detection to space monitoring and plant biology, and teases future conversations with leading figures in science and space research.