Danger Mouse

Keeping tabs on the living processes in the body is a struggle. Even when sensitive tests are available, spotting the early stages of issues across tissues is a huge challenge. Computer learning models – a form of artificial intelligence – can help. Here a fluorescence microscope takes high-definition scans of two mice, highlighting organs and tissues in different colours – the peripheral nerves (green), bones and other organs (red) and muscle (blue). There’s a lot going on, so researchers turn to new software called Mousemapper, which looks for changes between the healthy mouse (left) and the obese mouse (right). The software finds widespread inflammation in the obese mouse – but also an unexpected change to the trigeminal nerve in the face. With similar signs discovered in obese humans, Mousemapper might be crucial to spotting unexpected symptoms that may otherwise go unnoticed.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Video by Doris Kaltenecker, Izabela Horvath, Rami Al-Maskari, Ying Chen, Zeynep Ilgin Kolabas, and colleagues
• Institute for Intelligent Biotechnologies, Helmholtz Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
• Video originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
• Published in Nature, May 2026