SwRI scientists identify water molecules on asteroids for the first time
Southwest Research Institute scientists have utilised data from the retired Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) to make the groundbreaking discovery of water molecules on the surface of an asteroid, a finding that could enhance our understanding of water distribution in the solar system and its implications for life beyond Earth.
Global taskforce of scientists develop a unifying framework for the human affectome
An interdisciplinary team of 173 scientists from 23 countries has developed a groundbreaking framework to unify the field of affective science, enhancing the understanding of emotions and their impact on behavior and mental health disorders.
Cleaning waterways with waste human hair
From Superinnovators 14/02/24 US-based public charity Matter of Trust (f. 1998) produce human hair mats and booms for urban water filtration and cleaning up oil spills. They collect donated waste human hair, which naturally absorbs oil and petrochemicals, and weave it together at their factory in San Francisco or at volunteer eco-hubs across the globe. […]
Scientists discover biological mechanism of hearing loss caused by loud noise – and find a way to prevent it
From University of Pittsburgh 14/02/24 Anyone who has ever been to a loud concert knows the feeling of ringing ears. Some people experience temporary or even permanent hearing loss or drastic changes in their perception of sound after the loud noises stop. Thanos Tzounopoulos, Ph.D., director of the Pittsburgh Hearing Research Center at the University […]
The hidden rule for flight feathers—and how it could reveal which dinosaurs could fly
From Field Museum 14/02/24 Birds can fly— at least, most of them can. Flightless birds like penguins and ostriches have evolved lifestyles that don’t require flight. However, there’s a lot that scientists don’t know about how the wings and feathers of flightless birds differ from their airborne cousins. In a new study in the journal […]
Oxytocin: the love hormone that holds the key to better memory
Researchers identify specific oxytocin neurons in the mouse brain that modulate object recognition memory
MouthPad lets you control devices with your tongue
From Superinnovators 13/02/24 MIT spin out Augmental (f. 2019) unveiled the MouthPad in April 2023, a hands-free touchpad for controlling computers, smartphones, and tablets with your tongue, especially designed for those with disabilities. The 7.5g Bluetooth device, positioned across the roof of the mouth, offers a tongue-driven interface, that remains virtually invisible to others and […]
Small RNAs take on the big task of helping skin wounds heal better and faster with minimal scarring
From Elsevier 13/02/24 New findings in The American Journal of Pathology, published by Elsevier, report that a class of small RNAs (microRNAs), microRNA-29, can restore normal skin structure rather than producing a wound closure by a connective tissue (scar). Any improvement of normal skin repair would benefit many patients affected by large-area or deep wounds […]
UW-Madison researchers first to 3D-print functional human brain tissue
From University of Wisconsin–Madison 13/02/24 A team of University of Wisconsin–Madison scientists has developed the first 3D-printed brain tissue that can grow and function like typical brain tissue. It’s an achievement with important implications for scientists studying the brain and working on treatments for a broad range of neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Alzheimer’s […]
The evolution of sign languages globally revealed through computational analyses
From American Association for the Advancement of Science/AAAS 13/02/24 A computational analysis has highlighted the poorly understood relationships and elusive histories of modern sign languages worldwide, revealing two major sign language families shaped by geopolitical forces and relevant signing communities. The findings show that the computational methods applied – which have been useful in understanding […]