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Category: innovation

Researchers from Kyushu University have developed an innovative technique to non-invasively measure two key signals, membrane voltage and intracellular calcium levels, at the same time, in neurons of awake animals. This new method offers a more complete understanding of how neurons function, revealing that these two signals encode different information for sensory stimuli. The research was published in Communications Biology on September 16, 2024.

Neurons are cells that act as the brain’s fundamental building blocks, transmitting information through . When a neuron receives a stimulus, changes in membrane voltage (the electrical charge across the neuron cell membrane) trigger the neuron to activate, causing rapid changes in membrane voltage to propagate along the neuron as an electrical signal. These changes in membrane voltage then lead to changes in intracellular calcium (calcium levels inside neurons).

Historically, measuring membrane voltage has involved invasive techniques using electrodes. As a non-invasive alternative, scientists have developed techniques to measure calcium activity using fluorescent proteins that are sensitive to calcium ions as sensors, providing an indirect proxy for neuron activity. However, these different methods mean that the two signals have almost always been studied separately, making it challenging to understand how they interact in real-time and to identify their distinct functions in living animals.

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A persistent challenge in quantum research has been overcome by scientists at the University of Copenhagen in collaboration with Ruhr University Bochum. They have successfully achieved control over two quantum light sources simultaneously—a feat previously limited to just one.

This breakthrough might appear modest to those outside the realm of quantum mechanics, but it marks a pivotal moment in the field. By enabling the creation of quantum mechanical entanglement, this advancement opens the door to transformative commercial technologies.

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Scientists at Newcastle University have created a new lung scanning method that shows real-time changes in lung function. This technique tracks airflow in and out of the lungs, particularly in patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or those who have had a lung transplant. This innovation could help doctors detect declines in lung function earlier.

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Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a method to generate bright, twisted light using technology similar to an Edison light bulb. This breakthrough overcomes the challenges of producing twisted light with sufficient brightness using traditional methods like electron or photon luminescence.

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These models are poised to become a standard for classifying geological data across various databases. The models are freely available and open-source, allowing for continual updates and improvements from the geoscience community. This initiative fosters an adaptable and interactive environment, crucial for enhancing our understanding of Earth’s geological history, especially the Mesoproterozoic era and older periods.

A significant innovation is the transition from traditional raster maps to vector format shapefiles. This shift allows for seamless integration of geological data, offering a more nuanced understanding of Earth’s geological fabric. The vector format ensures that each polygon, line, or point can possess multiple unique attributes, enabling a detailed and multidimensional representation of geological features.

In essence, the work paves the way for more precise and comprehensive geological and tectonic models. This is a crucial step towards better predicting and understanding the Earth’s future.

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RedC Biotech revolutionizing healthcare with technology to mass-produce red blood cells from stem cells; aimed at solving blood donation shortage, it offers safe, contamination-free supply, vital for patients needing frequent transfusions.

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The world of artificial intelligence (AI) has made remarkable strides in recent years, particularly in understanding human language. At the heart of this revolution is the Transformer model, a core innovation that allows large language models (LLMs) to process and understand language with an efficiency that previous models could only dream of. But how do Transformers work? To explain this, let’s take a journey through their inner workings, using stories and analogies to make the complex concepts easier to grasp.

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