A GLASS prison that keeps worms still during surgery is changing our view of how nerves regrow.
One way to study nerves is to sever those of Caenorhabditis elegans and watch what happens. Anaesthetising the worms stops them moving, but could interfere with nerve regrowth. Now a glass chip made by Adela Ben-Yakar at the University of Texas, Austin, and collaborators means the unfortunate worms need no longer be knocked out.
A worm is placed in a cavity on the chip which is covered by a flexible membrane. Pumping air above the membrane deflects it, restraining the worm inside. Lasers…
