Scientists at Rockefeller University claim they’ve pinpointed a protein in the ear that acts as a sort of molecular gatekeeper, helping convert soundwaves into the electrical signals that our brains interpret as sound. The finding, though incremental, helps establish a more detailed understanding of how hearing works.

Down the Inner-Ear Rabbit Hole

But first, some basics. Deep inside the ear, through your ear canal and past your ear drum, lies the inner ear. Here, there’s an impor