Researchers have made a breakthrough in the treatment of glaucoma with gene therapy. Glaucoma affects millions of people worldwide, leading to blindness due to high intraocular pressure (IOP). While the first-line treatment for glaucoma is eye drops, they don't work for everyone, and many people struggle with high IOP. The new gene therapy approach is incredibly promising, and researchers have used adeno-associated viruses (AAV) to deliver instructions for creating an enzyme called matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3). This enzyme aids the outflow of the aqueous humor, which reduces IOP and helps prevent blindness. Researchers have successfully tested this therapy on mice and human donor eyeballs, with significant findings. This therapy holds great promise in the future, and researchers are hopeful they can develop similar treatments for other blinding eye diseases.

Scientists at USF study sea urchins to learn the source of a mass die-off in 2022.

The long-spined sea urchin population in the Caribbean and other regions had been under attack from a mystery disease that caused a rapid die-off event with urchins showing erratic locomotion and loss of control over their tube feet. This rapid spread of the infection had baffled researchers and triggered fears of a potential ecological disaster. However, a team of experts has now managed to crack the case and identify the culprit - a ciliate microorganism called a scuticociliate.

Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos. The two potato-shaped objects have puzzled planetary scientists for a long time. What is their origin? Are they captured asteroids or were they once part of the Red Planet, like the Moon was part of ours? Now, the closest images ever taken of Deimos appear to indicate the latter.

The Emirates Mars Mission's Hope Probe has been studying the Red Planet for several years when last summer it undertook a course correction to slightly change its target of focus from Mars to Deimos, the planet’s smaller and outermost moon. Several flybys took the probe as close to Deimos as 100 kilometers (61 miles), the closest humans have ever been to the small rocky body.

An 'underwater spring' at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, which could trigger a magnitude-9 earthquake, has been captured on underwater video.

The vent releases liquid which has been trapped 2.5 miles below the seafloor into the ocean.

The fluid acts as a lubricant between tectonic plates and its release could mean that any earthquake which does occur could be worse.

With heavy bodies and small flippers, seals aren’t the most graceful movers out of water. But despite appearances, a robot that imitates the way they flop over dry land might be effective in search and rescue operations where a wheeled robot would struggle, says the team that made it.

@science

Octopuses are fascinating and intelligent creatures, with a unique ability to solve complex problems and learn from their experiences.

A groundbreaking new study has revealed a never-before-seen brain wave pattern in octopuses, suggesting that they have evolved a sophisticated neural network capable of processing complex information in a way that is similar to vertebrates. This study not only sheds new light on octopus cognition but also offers insights into the evolution of intelligence, as the last common ancestor of humans with octopuses was a flatworm that lived on the seafloor about 750 million years ago. These findings provide exciting new avenues of research into the cognitive abilities of octopuses and the evolution of intelligence.

Music Rejuvenates: The Benefits of Musicianship in Aging

In the metaphorical river of age, an elderly musician moves against the current, rejuvenated by the power of music. As the fish represent the aging brain, they gradually get younger as they swim upstream. This imagery is not far from reality, as studies have shown that musicians have better preserved functions in the sensorimotor cortical areas of the brain.

In particular, Zhang et al. conducted research that showed how even in old age, musicians can distinguish speech well in noisy environments, unlike those who have not engaged in music. This suggests that musicianship can mitigate age-related declines in audiovisual speech-in-noise perception, allowing for better communication abilities in older adults.

These findings were published in the scientific journals Neuron and Cell, highlighting the significance and impact of the research. It is clear that music has the power to rejuvenate and preserve cognitive abilities, making it a valuable activity for people of all ages.

@science

Crown Flash Over Miami Beach

One of the rarest natural phenomena - the “dancing beam” resembles a bright searchlight among the clouds.

It's funny, but scientists do not have a clear explanation of what is happening. One of the most popular hypotheses states that the effect is produced when light passes through ice crystals, which change their position due to a change in the electric field of the cumulonimbus cloud.

@science

Amazing visualization from NASA: the size of black holes in the universe.

DeepMind has developed miniature humanoid robots and taught them basic football skills using Deep Reinforcement Learning (RL) technology.

Newly minted football players quickly reacted to the sword, ran across the field, got up after a fall, and at times even showed a rough game, pushing the opponent.

Fabric that changes color and shape when exposed to heat and electricity

Researchers from Canada have come up with a fabric that can change two of its properties at once under different external influences.

They combined polyethylene terephthalate, thermochromic microcapsules and stainless steel fibers into a material using a loom-like device. The resulting fabric, on the one hand, is durable, and on the other hand, it retains flexibility and softness.

If the fabric is heated (for example, with a hairdryer) to a temperature of 20 to 60 ° C, then it will evenly change color from purple to blue, and upon subsequent cooling, it will return to its original color.

When the fabric is heated, applying electricity to it, it changes not only the color, but also the shape. The researchers were even able to selectively activate different areas of the tissue by applying power to specific points.

The material changes properties when applied as little as 5 V for 20 seconds, which means that it can be used in small portable devices.

The Unforeseen Challenge: How Electric and Automated Cars Aggravate Motion Sickness


The evolution of transportation has witnessed remarkable strides with the emergence of electric and automated vehicles, promising a new era of convenience and efficiency. However, amid this transformative shift, an unexpected obstacle has arisen: a surge in motion sickness among passengers. In a thought-provoking article published on The Conversation, the intricate relationship between electric and automated cars and the exacerbation of motion sickness is meticulously explored.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has created a self-propelled, autonomous robot snake designed to explore extreme extraterrestrial terrain. Its first-of-a-kind propulsion system means it can boldly go where no robot snake has gone before.
The robotic snake is called an Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS) and was inspired by a desire to look for life deep in Saturn’s icy moon, Enceladus.

@science

The coolest service ScreenStory, which will make screen recordings with animations like from After Effects.

It's simple: just make a record with a demonstration of your product or guide, and the service will automatically arrange transitions and effects depending on your clicks and context.

One disadvantage - so far only available for Mac, the version for Windows will be recorded later.

@gadget

Pyypl: The Future of Financial Inclusion

Pyypl is a non-bank digital app that gives everyone access to the financial system through a smartphone. It is easy to use, affordable, and secure. There are no account fees, no minimum balance requirements, and no paperwork. You can use Pyypl to make online and in-store purchases, send and receive money, withdraw cash from ATMs, and buy and sell crypto.


Download the Pyypl app today and start enjoying the benefits of financial inclusion.

Are you concerned about the increasing amount of plastic waste that ends up in our oceans? Join us in exploring a ground-breaking solution to this problem: The Ocean Cleanup Interceptor. This innovative machine, developed by The Ocean Cleanup, has the capability to extract enormous amounts of plastic waste from rivers and prevent them from reaching the ocean.

@science

Astronomers have detected the biggest cosmic explosion ever seen.

The explosion, designated AT2021lwx, is about 100 times bigger than the solar system and two trillion times brighter than the Sun at its peak. It has been visible since 2020 in the constellation Vulpecula, about 8 billion light-years away.

Astronomers are still not sure what caused the explosion, but they believe it may have been the death of a massive star. The event is so powerful that it is thought to have been able to create new elements, such as gold and platinum.

The discovery of AT2021lwx is a reminder of the vastness and power of the universe. It is also a reminder that there are still many things we do not know about the cosmos.

@science

Sanctuary AI Unveils Phoenix, a Humanoid Robot Designed for General Purpose Labor

Sanctuary AI, a Canadian robotics company, has unveiled a new humanoid robot called Phoenix. The robot is designed for general purpose labor, and is capable of performing a variety of tasks, including lifting and carrying objects, assembling products, and providing customer service.

Phoenix is powered by Sanctuary AI's Carbon platform, which is a cloud-based AI system that allows the robot to learn and adapt to its environment. The robot is also equipped with a variety of sensors, including cameras, microphones, and force sensors, which allow it to interact with the world around it.

Sanctuary AI says that Phoenix is the first robot of its kind to be designed for general purpose labor. The company believes that the robot has the potential to revolutionize the way that work is done, and that it could be used in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare.

Phoenix is still under development, but Sanctuary AI says that it will be available for purchase in early 2024. The company has not yet announced a price for the robot.

Phoenix is a significant development in the field of robotics, and it has the potential to revolutionize the way that work is done. It will be interesting to see how the robot is used in the years to come.

@science for https://www.sanctuary.ai/