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Scientists Discover Way to Send Information into Black Holes Without Using Energy

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Scientists Create First-Ever 3D Cellular Map That Could Transform Organ Transplants

In a breakthrough that could change the future of medicine, scientists have created never-before-seen 3D reconstructions of human liver tissue at a cellular level. This remarkable achievement gives researchers an entirely new view of how one of the body’s most important organs is built—and how it breaks down in disease.

The study, published in Science Advances, was led by researchers from UW Medicine and the University of Washington. Their work opens the door to better treatments for liver diseases and may even help scientists engineer artificial replacement organs in the future.

The Liver: A Multitasking Powerhouse

The human liver is one of the most complex organs in the body. A healthy liver performs more than 500 essential functions that keep us alive and well. These include:

  • Detoxifying harmful chemicals and drugs

  • Processing nutrients from food

  • Producing bile to aid digestion

  • Storing vitamins and minerals

  • Making proteins needed for blood clotting

  • Regulating metabolism

  • Fighting infections

Despite its importance, scientists have never fully understood how the liver’s tiny structures are organized in three dimensions. Until now, most studies relied on thin, flat 2D microscope images. While helpful, these images could not show how cells and blood vessels connect throughout the entire organ.

Introducing the “Liver Map” Pipeline

To solve this problem, the research team developed a new method called the “Liver Map” pipeline. This advanced approach combines cutting-edge imaging tools, chemistry techniques, and powerful computer analysis to reconstruct liver tissue in 3D at cellular resolution.

The researchers studied tissue samples donated by patients who had liver surgery for cancer or underwent liver transplants. Some of these samples came from healthy tissue, while others came from people with cirrhosis, a serious liver disease.

Using advanced optical imaging technologies, the team was able to digitally rebuild multiple liver lobes—the small hexagonal units that make up the liver—layer by layer. The result was a highly detailed 3D map that shows how liver cells, blood vessels, and bile ducts are arranged and connected.

This is the first time scientists have been able to see the spatial microstructure of human liver tissue at this level of detail.

Why Structure Matters

The structure of an organ is closely linked to how it works. In the liver, the arrangement of blood vessels, bile ducts, and specialized cells allows nutrients and toxins to flow through in a carefully controlled way.

One key feature is the vasculature—the network of blood vessels. Blood enters the liver carrying nutrients and potentially harmful substances. As it moves through tiny channels called sinusoids, specialized liver cells process these substances. Cleaned and processed blood then exits the organ.

If this architecture is disrupted, the liver cannot function properly.

According to senior author Kelly Stevens, a bioengineering professor at the University of Washington, one major challenge in organ engineering is that scientists do not yet have accurate “blueprints” of human organs at the cellular level.

Without precise maps, it is nearly impossible to build functional replacement organs.

“If the maps aren’t right,” she explained, “the organs produced will not be functional.”

What Happens in Cirrhosis?

Cirrhosis is a condition in which healthy liver tissue is gradually replaced by scar tissue. It can be caused by long-term alcohol abuse, viral infections such as hepatitis, metabolic disorders, or certain medications. Over time, cirrhosis can lead to liver failure and life-threatening complications.

The 3D reconstructions revealed exactly how cirrhosis changes liver architecture.

The researchers observed:

  • Disruption of the sinusoidal zones, affecting how metabolites move through the liver

  • Loss of specialized liver cells that help remove toxic ammonia from the blood

  • Regression of central vein networks

  • Disruption of artery networks

  • Fragmentation of bile transport systems

Together, these changes show that cirrhosis significantly alters the liver’s vascular and biliary networks. Instead of a smooth, organized flow of blood and bile, the diseased liver becomes structurally chaotic.

This structural shift explains why liver function declines in cirrhosis. When blood vessels are distorted and bile ducts are fragmented, the organ cannot efficiently detoxify blood or process nutrients.

For the first time, scientists can now see these disease-related changes in full 3D context rather than guessing from flat images.

Implications for Treatment

Understanding exactly how cirrhosis reshapes liver architecture could help researchers develop better treatments. If doctors know which networks are most affected, they may design therapies to protect or restore those specific structures.

The team hopes that future improvements in the Liver Map technology will allow them to image entire liver lobules from top to bottom. Currently, the imaging method cannot capture the full depth of a lobule, which is one limitation of the study.

However, as imaging tools continue to advance, these gaps may soon be filled.

A Future of Bioprinted Organs?

One of the most exciting possibilities of this research lies in organ bioprinting.

Bioprinting is an emerging field that uses 3D printers to build living tissues layer by layer. Instead of plastic or metal, these printers use living cells, biomaterials, and biological molecules. The goal is to create functional organs that can be transplanted into patients.

However, building a working liver is extremely challenging. It is not enough to simply arrange liver cells in a cluster. The blood vessels, bile ducts, and cellular organization must precisely match natural anatomy.

This is where the new liver maps become critical.

By providing a detailed blueprint of how liver tissue is structured, the Liver Map pipeline could guide the design of artificial organs. Engineers could use these digital models to program bioprinters to recreate the exact arrangement of cells and vessels.

If successful, this approach could reduce the shortage of donor organs and save thousands of lives each year.

A New Era of 3D Biology

The success of this project reflects broader advances in imaging and computational science. Scientists now have powerful tools that allow them to move beyond flat microscope slides and explore tissues in full three dimensions.

This shift represents a new era in biological research. Instead of studying isolated cells or thin slices, researchers can now examine whole tissue systems and understand how structure and function are connected.

The study’s lead scientists—including Wesley B. Fabyan, Chelsea L. Fortin, and Dorice L. Goune—worked alongside experts in medicine and surgery to bridge the gap between engineering and clinical science. Their collaboration highlights the importance of teamwork across disciplines in solving complex medical problems.

Looking Ahead

The 3D reconstruction of human liver tissue at cellular resolution marks a major milestone in biomedical research. It provides an unprecedented look at how this vital organ is built and how diseases like cirrhosis disrupt its delicate architecture.

While challenges remain—such as imaging deeper tissue layers—the foundation has been laid for future discoveries.

In the years ahead, these liver maps could help scientists:

  • Develop more targeted treatments for liver disease

  • Improve early detection of structural changes

  • Advance the field of regenerative medicine

  • Design functional, bioprinted replacement organs

By revealing the hidden 3D blueprint of the liver, researchers have taken a crucial step toward understanding, repairing, and perhaps one day rebuilding one of the body’s most essential organs.

The human liver may perform more than 500 tasks—but thanks to this breakthrough, scientists are finally beginning to see how it accomplishes them all, one cell at a time.

Reference: Wesley B. Fabyan et al, 3D reconstruction of human liver tissue at cellular resolution, Science Advances (2026). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adz2299

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