The protein ?-synuclein plays an important role in Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. Although a considerable amount is known about the structure of the protein within the Parkinson’s-typical amyloid deposits, nothing was known about its original state in the healthy cell up to now. Scientists have now for the first time visualized the protein in healthy cells with the help of high resolution spectroscopic procedures. Surprisingly, they discovered an unstructured state.