Which eight escaped the Scientific 16?
The Journal of Biological Chemistry’s Methods Madness tournament started off with a bang as last year’s finalist, #TeamMassSpec, faced off against the tournament newcomer #TeamFRET. #TeamFRET fought valiantly, but their supporters’ energy just didn’t transfer into votes. Meanwhile, #TeamMassSpec supporters turned up in SPECTRAcular numbers, pushing their team to the next round.

X-ray crystallographers around the world are rejoicing after #TeamXRC’s victory over #TeamImmuno. Votes proved to be too nonspecific for #TeamImmuno, whose supporters were unable to band together to provide support for their team. #TeamXRC advances to the next round while #TeamImmuno fades into the background.

#TeamCryo iced their competition, leaving #TeamMachine frozen in their tracks. Despite strategic support from #TeamMassSpec, it seems too many #TeamMachine supporters had their heads in the cloud, because they couldn’t find the algorithm needed to execute a win against the defending champion. #TeamCryo will move on to the Energetic Eight, where they will have a tough matchup against #TeamCRISPR.

In this cellular showdown, #TeamiPSC lacked the factors necessary to differentiate from the other losers of the week. In contrast, #TeamLiveCell was unphased by the pressure, shining bright in the win they captured. #TeamLiveCell has #TeamOmics in their frame as they focus on the next round.

#TeamPCR copied last year’s success to defeat #TeamChroma and advance to the next round. Supporters of #TeamChroma couldn’t match the flow rate of #TeamPCR voters, leaving #TeamChroma stuck in a stationary phase while their opponent mobilized. #TeamPCR will look to amplify their success with a win over #TeamMassSpec in the next round.

Resonating with their supporters, #TeamNMR put forth a dynamic performance to secure their second #JBCMethodsMadness win in as many years. Living up to their name, #TeamCloning replicated last year’s performance where they also lost against #TeamNMR in the first round. Perhaps they’ll find the winning recombination next year!

#TeamCRISPR excised #TeamSuperRes in the first round of the tournament and will move on to the next round. Despite their resolution to make it further this year, the win that #TeamSuperRes pictured was never fully deconvolved. #TeamCRISPR has their work cut out for them, facing off against the defending champion #TeamCryo.

Seq-ing a win in their tournament debut, #TeamOmics analyzed their competition and came out victorious. Seemingly unable to shed light on a winning formula, #TeamOpto failed to excite their supporters, resulting in their second tournament loss in as many years. Next, #TeamOmics will match up against #TeamLiveCell in the Energetic Eight round.

Round 2: The Energetic Eight
Monday, March 22
12 p.m. Eastern – #TeamNMR vs. #TeamXRC
Tuesday, March 23
12 p.m. Eastern – #TeamPCR vs. #TeamMassSpec
Wednesday, March 24
12 p.m. – #TeamLiveCell vs. #TeamOmics
Thursday, March 25
12 p.m. – #TeamCryo vs. #TeamCRISPR
Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?
Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition monthly.
Learn moreGet the latest from ASBMB Today
Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.
Latest in Science
Science highlights or most popular articles

Mapping fentanyl’s cellular footprint
Using a new imaging method, researchers at State University of New York at Buffalo traced fentanyl’s effects inside brain immune cells, revealing how the drug alters lipid droplets, pointing to new paths for addiction diagnostics.

Designing life’s building blocks with AI
Tanja Kortemme, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, will discuss her research using computational biology to engineer proteins at the 2026 ASBMB Annual Meeting.

Cholesterol as a novel biomarker for Fragile X syndrome
Researchers in Quebec identified lower levels of a brain cholesterol metabolite, 24-hydroxycholesterol, in patients with fragile X syndrome, a finding that could provide a simple blood-based biomarker for understanding and managing the condition.

How lipid metabolism shapes sperm development
Researchers at Hokkaido University identify the enzyme behind a key lipid in sperm development. The findings reveal how seminolipids shape sperm formation and may inform future diagnostics and treatments for male infertility.

Mass spec method captures proteins in native membranes
Yale scientists developed a mass spec protocol that keeps proteins in their native environment, detects intact protein complexes and tracks drug binding, offering a clearer view of membrane biology.

Laser-assisted cryoEM method preserves protein structure
University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers devised a method that prevents protein compaction during cryoEM prep, restoring natural structure for mass spec studies. The approach could expand high-resolution imaging to more complex protein systems.