Firing nerve fibers in the brain are supplied with energy on demand
From University of Zurich 12/02/24 Brain function depends on the swift movement of electrical signals along axons, the long extensions of nerve cells that connect billions of brain cells. The nerve fibers are insulated by a fatty layer called myelin, which is produced by specialized cells called oligodendrocytes. These cells wrap around and insulate nerve […]
When and how immune cells decide to form pathogen memories
From University of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine 12/02/24 Unexpected findings have emerged about how and when certain infection-killing white blood cells decide to form memories about their encounters with a pathogen. It has been known for decades that these cells can turn themselves into durable memory cells that can survive a long time after […]
Microgreens made to order: Italian scientists have tailored iodine and potassium content of radishes, peas, rocket and chard
From Society of Chemical Industry 12/02/24 In a significant development for personalised nutrition, researchers in Italy have cultivated microgreens with bespoke nutritional profiles to serve individual dietary requirements. The study, published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture (doi: 10.1002/jsfa.13222), provides a blueprint for the soilless cultivation of nutritionally enriched plants in […]
Electric Mercedes off-roader can do 360 tank-turn
From Superinnovators 12/02/24 Mercedes-Benz showcased a 360 tank-turning prototype of its electric G-class, called EQG, at CES last month, with a number of the vehicles pirouetting on the Las Vegas strip. Plans for an electric G-class were first revealed in 2021, with the ability to rotate within its footprint via four electric motors, dubbed G-turn, […]
Subsea kite feeds electricity to grid for first time
From Minesto 12/02/24. Title from Superinnovators Minesto, leading ocean energy developer, today [9th Feb 2024] announces that a key milestone has been reached: The utility-scale tidal powerplant Dragon 12 – rated at 1.2 MW – has been successfully commissioned and, in the early morning of February 9, delivered its first electricity to the national grid in […]
Plans reveal vineyard on roof of Florence airport terminal
From Superinnovators 09/02/24 US studio Rafael Viñoly Architects revealed plans last week for a new international airport terminal at the Aeroporto Amerigo Vespucci in Florence, Italy, complete with rooftop vineyard. The terminal integrates a 19-acre working vineyard and a 50,000 m2 building with a capacity for over 5.9 million passengers annually, designed to enhance the […]
UK lab sets fusion world record
From UK Atomic Energy Authority 09/02/24. Title by Superinnovators The Joint European Torus (JET), one of the world’s largest and most powerful fusion machines, has demonstrated the ability to reliably generate fusion energy, whilst simultaneously setting a world-record in energy output. These notable accomplishments represent a significant milestone in the field of fusion science and […]
Researchers uncover source rocks of the first real continents
From University of British Columbia 09/02/24 Geoscientists have uncovered a missing link in the enigmatic story of how the continents developed—a revised origin story that doesn’t require the start of plate tectonics or any external factor to explain their formation. Instead, the findings published last week in Nature Communications, rely solely on internal geological forces […]
UC Irvine scientists make breakthrough in quantum materials research
From University of California – Irvine 09/02/24 Researchers at the University of California, Irvine and Los Alamos National Laboratory, publishing in the latest issue of Nature Communications, describe the discovery of a new method that transforms everyday materials like glass into materials scientists can use to make quantum computers. “The materials we made are substances […]
‘Tiny tornadoes’ around leaves spread deadly plant pathogens
From Cornell University 09/02/24 A new study led by Cornell University is the first to analyze plant spore dispersion at its source, where rain droplets shake flexible leaves to initially disperse pathogens. When raindrops hit a leaf of a wheat plant infected with rust – a pathogenic spore that has decimated crops globally – the […]