A new clue to how the body detects physical force

Scientists have discovered that specialized nerve cells convert physical force, such as a gentle tap on the skin, into electrical signals that the brain interprets as touch. A protein called PIEZO2 is identified as a key sensor for touch, but its specialization for localized mechanical forces in sensory neurons contrasts with its close relative, PIEZO1, which responds to broader mechanical stresses like those in blood vessels.