For the first time, scientists have measured the instantaneous mind-blowing power of jets blasting from a black hole.
The jet power from this relatively close black hole-star system is equivalent to 10,000 suns, an international research team reported Thursday. They also tracked the jet speed: roughly 355 million mph (540 million kph)—half the speed of light.
Located 7,200 light-years away, Cygnus X-1 features not only a black hole—the first one ever identified more than a half-century ago—but a blue supergiant star, its constant companion. A light-year is nearly 6 trillion miles (9.7 trillion kilometers).
During wakefulness, neuromodulators operate largely independently to support behavior and cognition. By contrast, sleep reorganizes their activity into a coordinated brain rhythm. During sleep, the major neuromodulators—norepinephrine, acetylcholine, serotonin, and dopamine—exhibit synchronized fluctuations with a periodicity of ~50 seconds. These oscillations appear as recurrent bursts of fast (10 to 30 hertz) electroencephalography activity and are phase-coupled to cerebrospinal fluid flow. Neuromodulators are vasoactive agents and drive slow vasomotion, which provide the mechanical force that supports glymphatic clearance of metabolic waste. Disruption of neuromodulator signaling, as seen in psychiatric disorders, cardiovascular disease, aging, or with commonly prescribed drugs, impairs clearance of neurotoxic proteins, including amyloid-β and tau.
Traumatic memories are a complicated psychological phenomenon, where some experiences are never forgotten but can only be remembered in fragments. Traumatic memories are not as complete or coherent as regular memories. Even if its details are absent, the actual event can still make a strong impression. Trauma is the result of an extremely stressful, frightening or upsetting event that is hard to cope with or feel we have no control over. These experiences may be a one-time thing or repeated over time.
Many of the most exciting discoveries in science involve highly specialized knowledge and making connections between far-flung facts. Scientists must combine deep analysis with broad reasoning strategies.
As in many information-rich tasks, researchers are looking to artificial intelligence (AI) systems to speed up their work. AI tools may be able to support key steps such as generating ideas, reviewing existing work and analyzing data.
The latest systems use large language models (LLMs) to allow scientists to interact naturally and directly with the vast body of knowledge captured in words in the scientific literature.
VibeGen is a new generative AI model that designs proteins with dynamic vibration and movement. The model, developed at MIT, opens new possibilities for dynamic biomaterials and adaptive therapeutics.
Wang et al. report that Gn-specific mAbs from SFTS survivors exhibit broad and potent neutralization, with two providing complete protection in a lethal mouse model. This work maps the Gn antigenic landscape and establishes a deep mutational scanning platform coupled with structural validation for bunyavirus antibody discovery.
A team of scientists in Shanghai has developed a lab-grown biological pacemaker designed to mimic the heart’s natural rhythm control system. By working with human pluripotent stem cells, which can transform into many different types of tissue, the researchers created a three-dimensional sinoatrial node organoid capable of generating electrical impulses, the South China Morning Post reported.
To make the system more lifelike, the team linked the organoid to an artificial cardiac plexus, a network of nerves located near the base of the heart that helps regulate heartbeat activity. The achievement allowed researchers to recreate how the nervous system communicates with the heart, opening potential new paths for studying irregular heart rhythms and developing future treatments that could reduce reliance on electronic pacemakers.
The research, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell involved scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Fudan University. The team focused on the sinoatrial node, the tiny part of the heart responsible for controlling its rhythm. Although it plays a critical role in keeping the heart beating properly, the structure has been difficult for scientists to study because of its small size and hard-to-reach location inside the heart.
