Global science lies at the edge of a new age of discovery thanks to advances in synthetic biology driving innovations that could reshape human health. Synthetic biology involves redesigning organisms at a cellular level to grant them new abilities. It is, at first blush, the stuff of science fiction; but in fact, it is a reality here in Seattle.  

In this episode of Lab Notes, we explore the promise and potential of this exciting field with some of the leading minds spearheading efforts to understand the foundational principles of the human cell. This cutting-edge work aims to turn cells into living DNA recorders chronicling their complete cellular histories to shed light on health and disease with unprecedented clarity. If successful, it could light the path forward to new celluar therapies that are able to make decisions after they are introduced into patients. 

Behind every science headline, there is a human story. Hear about the scientific advancements aiming to shape the cures of tomorrow with Lab Notes: A podcast from the Allen Institute. Streaming everywhere.

Science is supporting the battle against addiction and substance use disorder. Neuroscientists around the world are working to better understand the mechanisms of addictive drug use and how to alleviate the debilitating withdrawal symptoms that cause people to suffer. In this episode of Lab Notes, we meet two social service providers who work directly with people in treatment and recovery on the complex nature of of substance use disorder and a leading neuroscientist working to unravel its mysteries.

Behind every science headline, there is a human story. Hear about the scientific advancements aiming to shape the cures of tomorrow with Lab Notes: A podcast from the Allen Institute. Streaming everywhere.

This episode originally aired on March 14, 2022.

Why is the brain harder to understand than other organs? What can we learn about our brains from studying octopus arms? Is the human brain even capable of understanding itself?

We are revisiting a past episode about the challenges still facing scientists as they work to better understand our brains. Tune in to learn how far we've come, and how far we have to go. Listen on our site or wherever you find podcasts.

Behind every science headline, there is a human story. Hear about the scientific advancements aiming to shape the cures of tomorrow with Lab Notes: A podcast from the Allen Institute. Streaming everywhere.

How does the brain work? Scientists are closer to answering this enigma with the largest wiring diagram and functional map of a mammalian brain to date. In April 2025, the Allen Institute, as part of a global team, unveiled what was once thought impossible: a high-resolution functional map of a cubic millimeter of brain, revealing both form and function. In this Lab Notes episode, the Allen Institute’s Clay Reid, M.D., Ph.D., Nuno da Costa, Ph.D., and Forrest Colman, Ph.D., and scientific collaborator, Andreas Tolias, Ph.D., explain how they created a "digital twin" of a portion of the mouse brain the size of a grain of sand and how they used artificial intelligence to digitally reconstruct a labyrinth of brain cells and wiring from 95 million high resolution images – stitching together the elaborate  architecture that underpins the "language of the brain." 

Behind every science headline, there is a human story. Hear about the scientific advancements aiming to shape the cures of tomorrow with Lab Notes: A podcast from the Allen Institute. Streaming everywhere.

Reaching new heights, stem cells from the Allen Institute for Cell Science were flown into space for the first time ever. In 2023, astronauts from Axiom Space studied genetically engineered cells, derived from human skin cells, in microgravity aboard the International Space Station. Axiom Space’s astronaut Peggy A. Whitson and Chief Scientist, Dr. Lucie Low; along with Professor Arun Sharma from Cedars-Sinai share the experience and science behind the out-of-this-world mission.  

Behind every science headline, there is a human story. Hear about the scientific advancements aiming to shape the cures of tomorrow with Lab Notes: A podcast from the Allen Institute. Streaming everywhere.

Where are we with long COVID? Researchers at the Allen Institute and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center are working to understand the science behind this new chronic disease. 

Behind every science headline, there is a human story. Hear about the scientific advancements aiming to shape the cures of tomorrow with Lab Notes: A podcast from the Allen Institute. Streaming everywhere.

Reward is essential for life. Our brains flood with feel-good chemicals when we learn, eat, have sex. But these essential brain circuits are hijacked in drug addiction. Neuroscientists at the Allen Institute and the University of North Carolina are working to crack the biology of reward and addiction. Hear about their work and their hopes for the future of treating addiction in this episode of Lab Notes.

Behind every science headline, there is a human story. Hear about the scientific advancements aiming to shape the cures of tomorrow with Lab Notes: A podcast from the Allen Institute. Streaming everywhere.

It is no secret that social isolation has major developmental consequences on humans, but what about other social creatures like bumblebees? Neuroscientist Z Yan Wang investigated how social isolation impacted young bumblebees, and it looks like they grow up to be a little ‘socially awkward.’ Dr. Wang joins Lab Notes to talk about one of her favorite social insects.

Behind every science headline, there is a human story. Hear about the scientific advancements aiming to shape the cures of tomorrow with Lab Notes: A podcast from the Allen Institute. Streaming everywhere.

Can we put a number on human consciousness? Neuroscientist Christof Koch is leading an effort to build a consciousness meter that could have real-world applications to determine whether coma patients are in a true vegetative state. Christof joined Lab Notes to talk about the science of consciousness, what psychedelic drugs have to do with consciousness, and how this new project could one day have applications in hospitals and clinics.

Behind every science headline, there is a human story. Hear about the scientific advancements aiming to shape the cures of tomorrow with Lab Notes: A podcast from the Allen Institute. Streaming everywhere.

Scientists have known for centuries that the brain is the seat of human thought, but we’re still in the dark about how it works. For Brain Awareness Week 2022, Lab Notes asked four neuroscientists to get into the weeds with us about why the brain is so complicated and hard to understand. Do we have any hope of understanding our own brains?

Behind every science headline, there is a human story. Hear about the scientific advancements aiming to shape the cures of tomorrow with Lab Notes: A podcast from the Allen Institute. Streaming everywhere.