Lifeboat Foundation

The course of evolution on Earth was altered by a series of severe environmental crises caused between 185 and 85 million years ago in the oceans, according to scientists.

The phenomenon, described as a ‘tag-team’ between the oceans and continents, severely harmed the marine life which existed during that phase and also changed the evolution course on our planet.

The oceanic anoxic events, as per the term given by the researchers, occurred when the dissolved oxygen in the water depleted to a critically low level.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), which causes a cold-like illness, can be spread in the same way as other viruses from person to person through body fluids such as blood, saliva and urine.

But the infection is present in up to 45 per cent of Alzheimer’s cases, US scientists have claimed.

Some people exposed to the bug may develop a chronic intestinal infection, allowing it to enter the bloodstream and travel to the brain.

Video from Boston Dynamics.

Wishing you a holiday season full of light and laughter as we flip over into the new year!

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder associated with a progressive decline in memory and mental abilities, which can significantly hinder people’s ability to complete daily tasks. Past studies found that patients diagnosed with AD, as well as some other neurodegenerative disorders, exhibit an abnormal accumulation of tau protein in their neurons.

Tau protein is a microtubule-associated protein (MAP) known to stabilize the internal structure of neurons, binding to microtubules. These are microscopic tubular structures that support the transport of nutrients, proteins and other vital molecules within individual neurons or other cells.

Recent findings suggest that tau proteins interact with extracellular vesicles (EVs), small membrane-bound particles secreted by cells that carry molecules and deliver them to other cells. While the research hints at a connection between these vesicles and tau proteins in AD, the link between the two is not yet fully understood.

A new study may overturn the century-old understanding of how neurons are shaped—but not everyone is on board.

Scientists know biological neurons are more complex than the artificial neurons employed in deep learning algorithms, but it’s an open question just how much more complex.

In a fascinating paper published recently in the journal Neuron, a team of researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem tried to get us a little closer to an answer. While they expected the results would show biological neurons are more complex—they were surprised at just how much more complex they actually are.

Continue reading “New Study Finds a Single Neuron Is a Surprisingly Complex Little Computer” »

Monitoring electrical potentials with high recording site density and micrometer spatial resolution in liquid is critical in biosensing. Organic electronic materials have driven remarkable advances in the field because of their unique material properties, yet limitations in spatial resolution and recording density remain. Here, we introduce organic electro-scattering antennas (OCEANs) for wireless, light-based probing of electrical signals with micrometer spatial resolution, potentially from thousands of sites. The technology relies on the unique dependence of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate light scattering properties to its doping level. Electro-optic characteristics of individual antennas varying in diameters and operating voltages were systematically characterized in saline solution. Signal-to-noise ratios up to 48 were achieved in response to 100-mV stimuli, with 2.5-mV detection limits. OCEANs demonstrated millisecond time constants and exceptional long-term stability, enabling continuous recordings over 10 hours. By offering spatial resolution of 5 μm and a recording density of 4 × 106 cm−2, OCEANs unlock new readout capabilities, potentially accelerating fundamental and clinical research.

Sci. Adv. 10, eadr8380 (2024). DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adr8380

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Lava is bubbling through the crust of one of the world’s most active volcanoes, which is Kilauea, on Hawaii’s Big Island.

Macquarie University researchers have demonstrated how ordinary supermarket grapes can enhance the performance of quantum sensors, potentially leading to more efficient quantum technologies.

The study, published in Physical Review Applied on 20 December 2024, shows that pairs of grapes can create strong localized magnetic field hotspots of microwaves which are used in quantum sensing applications—a finding that could help develop more compact and cost-effective quantum devices.

“While previous studies looked at the electrical fields causing the plasma effect, we showed that grape pairs can also enhance magnetic fields, which are crucial for quantum sensing applications,” says lead author Ali Fawaz, a quantum physics Ph.D. candidate at Macquarie University.