A new study suggests that the sensory neurons responsible for pain rely on a designated delivery service to receive their energy. Researchers have discovered that support cells surrounding these neurons physically transfer mitochondria—the power plants of the cell—through tiny, tube-like bridges. When this supply chain breaks down, it appears to contribute to the nerve damage and pain associated with chemotherapy and diabetes. The study was published in the journal Nature. Our bodies possess an intricate network of sensory neurons that transmit information about touch, temperature, and pain to the central nervous system. These cells face a distinct logistical challenge. Their primary bodies are clustered in bundles called dorsal root ganglia located near the spine, but their thread-like extensions, called axons, must reach all the way to the toes and fingertips. Maintaining energy levels across such vast distances is energetically expensive. Biologists have historically understood that mitochondria are generated within a cell and remain there to produce energy. However, the extreme length of sensory axons raises questions about how neurons maintain enough power to function and …