This Map of Every Neuron in an Adult Fly Brain Could Be Nobel Prize Worthy
Researchers have created a detailed map of every neuron in the brain of an adult fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), numbering around 139,000 neurons and 50 million connections. This is a major achievement that neuroscientists have aimed for over 50 years. Previous brain mapping work focused on simpler organisms like nematode worms with only hundreds of […]
Nearly 40% of Young People Could Be Shortsighted by 2050
A global review examined data on the prevalence of myopia (nearsightedness) in people aged 5-19 from 50 countries up to 2023. The review found that the prevalence of myopia increased from 24% globally in 1990 to 36% in 2023. If rates continue to increase at the same pace, over 40% of young people worldwide could […]
Study Identifies Gut Microbe Imbalances That Predict Autism And ADHD
Researchers studied gut microbiome samples from over 1,200 Swedish children collected at birth and around 1 year of age as part of a long-term health study. They found significant differences in the bacterial composition and metabolite levels of these early life samples for children who were later diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD. […]
Stunning New Color Map of Mars Reveals Surface in Unprecedented Detail
– Chinese researchers from the CAS have used images from the Tianwen-1 orbiter to create the highest resolution color map of Mars to date, at 76 meters per pixel. – Previous maps had lower resolutions of hundreds of meters per pixel or more. This new map provides unprecedented detail. – Images from Tianwen-1’s optical camera […]
Type 1 Diabetes May Be Triggered by Bacterial Infections, Scientists Find
A new study led by researchers from Cardiff University found that type 1 diabetes may be triggered by bacterial infections. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. While some have suggested viruses may trigger type 1 diabetes, this study points to bacterial proteins as […]
COVID-19 Pandemic Affected the Moon, Scientists Claim
– Scientists from India’s Physical Research Laboratory observed that lunar nighttime surface temperatures dipped substantially across six sites on the near side of the Moon during early 2020 when COVID-19 lockdowns were in effect. – They propose that this “anomalous dip” was caused by a sudden drop in radiation being emitted from Earth as human […]
Some of Uranus’ moons might be able to support life. Here’s what a mission might reveal
– Some of Uranus’ moons like Ariel, Umbriel, Titania and Oberon could potentially have subsurface oceans due to radioactive heating and prior geological activity. This raises the possibility of them being able to support life. – A past study reanalyzed data from Voyager 2 and found evidence that four of Uranus’ largest moons could have […]
U.S. government moves to open up over 30 million acres of federal land for solar power: ‘A step in the right direction’
The Biden administration has finalized a plan to significantly expand access to federal lands for solar energy development. Specifically, it is opening up over 30 million acres across the Western U.S. for utility-scale solar farms. This builds upon an existing initiative, the Western Solar Plan, which had already approved 22 million acres for solar. The […]
Why space archaeologists are finding more Mayan ruins than ever before
– Space archaeologists are finding more Mayan ruins in Central America than ever before due to advances in satellite technology. – Lidar (light detection and ranging) sensors on satellites can see through dense forest canopies to detect structural features of buried Mayan sites. – In the past 10 years, archaeologists have mapped more Mayan structures […]
Doomed Franklin Expedition Ate Their Captain, Bone Study Reveals
– Scientists have identified bones recovered from King William Island as belonging to James Fitzjames, captain of the HMS Erebus. – DNA evidence from a tooth found matched a descendant of Fitzjames. This is only the second identification made of Franklin expedition remains. – Notches on Fitzjames’ jawbone indicate it showed signs of butchering, suggesting […]