Articles by Andrea Alfano
Remote Control Mice Help Scientists Study The Brain
Scientists can control the activity of specific neurons thanks to a relatively new technique called optogenetics. Previously, animals studied by this method had limited mobility due to the need for wires coming out of their skulls, but a new device does away with this issue.
This Week In Space: The Origins Of Giant Gas Planets And 12-Mile-High Elevators To Space
This week, a problematic explanation of the origin of gas planets got an update and a plan for a space elevator made a splash in space news. Plus, there were surprises from the moon and a stunning view of an aurora from the International Space Station.
Science Images Of The Week: Microbial Masterpiece, First Flower Fossil And More
Whether zooming in on a tiny coronavirus or zooming out on coral reefs, science provides dramatic perspectives that bring out beauty in the natural world that we would otherwise miss. This week has proved that the aesthetic appeal of their work isn't lost on the scientists themselves - with another stunning shot of our planet from astronaut Scott Kelly and bacterial art on a Petri dish.
Hummingbirds Drink Nectar Through Tiny Tongue Pumps
The ultrathin tongues of hummingbirds suck up nectar using a clever pumping system. In the past, scientists had attributed this ability more to the properties of liquids than to the bird’s behavior.
DNA Could Be Used Like Diodes And Transistors In Electronics
Scientists have figured out a way to turn DNA into a molecular switch. This ability may one day make it possible to use DNA in electronic circuits.
Scientists Are Growing Human Fetus Brains In Dishes
Brain ‘organoids’ grown from skin cells are allowing scientists to study brains in an entirely new way. The organoids are comparable to a five-week-old fetus’s brain, which is about the size of a pencil eraser and has distinctive neural structures.
Combining Tobacco And Marijuana Could Improve Memory Function
Both tobacco use and marijuana use are associated with shrinkage of the hippocampus, a brain region involved in memory. But when you combine the two drugs, memory function was better than that observed in users of marijuana or tobacco alone.
All Of These Companies Are Working On A Space Elevator
The Canadian private space company Thoth Technology was recently granted a patent for its space elevator design. It's not the only company with its sights set on a space elevator.
Dog Fossils Reveal That Climate Change Shaped Canine Change
Scientists studying dogs that lived in North America millions of years ago found that climate change seems to have been a key factor in their evolution. When forests turned into grasslands, dogs that were once ambush predators started chasing down their prey.
Podmasters: 5 Great Tech Podcasts You Should Be Listening To Now
Tech podcasts are always informative, but many fall flat by offering commentary without engaging stories. These podcasts tell the stories of tech's ever-growing role in our lives.
A Cure For Blindness May Be In Sight Thanks To Vision Cell-Restoring Gene Therapy
By inserting a human gene for a light-sensing pigment, researchers were able to restore some vision in mice whose vision cells were destroyed. The work suggests that a similar strategy might succeed in humans.
Study Uses Data From A Smartphone Necklace To Map Memories In The Brain
The further apart two memories are formed in space and time in the real world, the farther apart those two memories are physically stored in the brain, a new study found. Scientists strapped smartphones around study participants’ necks to capture random photos that served as a definitive record of where and when memories where first made.
India’s First Interplanetary Mission Captures Incredible 3D Images Of A Massive Martian Canyon
This breathtaking 3D image of a canyon on Mars was sent back to Earth by India's Mangalyaan spacecraft, launched in 2013. India's first-ever interplanetery mission has been successful thus far, despite its remarkably low budget.
Giant Viruses Are Making Scientists Reconsider The Tree Of Life
Over the course of the past decade or so, scientists have found a bunch of enormous viruses, bigger than the scientific community thought was possible. They are causing a lot of confusion.
Black Phosphorous Might Beat Graphene In The Next-Generation Electronics Game
Graphene isn't the only 2D material in town. Advances in black phosphorous research are threatening to dethrone the carbon-based king of flatland.
This Week In Space: Lettuce Grows In Space As Our Universe Slowly Dies
Space news was even wackier than usual this week. Among the highlights: space lettuce, a piano duet with a pulsating star, and an announcement that the universe is dying.
NASA Is Using A Tiny Camera Made For Surgery To Save Satellites In Orbit
The smallest camera that NASA could find in the entire world is barely a millimeter across and was designed for surgeries. Now, this camera is up in space as a critical part of an effort to service satellites.
Pig-To-Person Organ Transplants Are Becoming A Real Possibility With Genetic Engineering
Pigs could be an essentially unlimited supply of organs, if only human bodies didn't reject them. Scientists are working to engineer pig organs that won't invoke a deadly immune system response when transplanted into humans.
Science Images Of The Week: Mustachioed Microorganisms, Golden Arches In Space And More
From the feet of geckos to the surface of the sun, this week's science images are full of inspiration. Also in the mix: a gorgeous view of Milan from space, lab bench art and a dashing little microorganism.
First Fully Sequenced Octopus Genome Reveals Secrets Of Cephalopod Intelligence
For the first time ever, scientists have sequenced the octopus genome. Within these biological blueprints, they found clues about how these cephalopods became so incredibly intelligent.
'Genomic Archaeology' Reveals That Lager Yeast Was Born More Than Once
Lagers dominate the world beer market, but the origins of the hybrid yeast that brews them has been a topic of debate among beer buffs. The first-ever genome sequence of the long-lost strain of yeast that blended with bread yeast centuries ago shows that lager yeast arose at least twice.
Scientists Are 'Milking' Deadly Jellyfish For Medicine
How does one milk a deadly jellyfish? Scientists have come up with a more effective method for harvesting venom from jellyfish that they can use to develop better anti-venoms and other new drugs.
Growing Graphene Nanoribbons For Next-Generation Electronics Just Got Easier
Designing next-generation electronics means unlocking a new level of speed and energy efficiency with new materials. Graphene’s incredible properties have made it the materials science powerhouse of the 21st century, but actually making the stuff has proven to be its biggest obstacle.
Moonshots: How LiftPort’s Michael Laine Went From Crawling Through The Mud To Creating A Space Elevator
Michael Laine founded the space elevator company LiftPort in 2003 after spending most of his career as a Marine and then an investment manager. More than 10 years later, he’s still dedicated to the project because he believes it can change the world.
Using The Mathematics Of Memory To Reveal Genes' Roles In The Brain
For the first time, scientists have developed mathematical models that describe memory processes. The new models allow researchers to identify links between memory processes and genes.
Why Domestic Cats Have Slit Pupils And Big Cats Don't
Comparing the pupil shapes of over 200 species of land animals revealed that this feature is linked to an animal's role as predator or prey. For cats, whether pupils are slit-shaped or round depends on their proximity to the ground.
Barnacles On A Washed-Up Wing May Reveal Clues About The Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight
More than a year after Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared, a wing fragment believed to be from that plane washed ashore. The barnacles that have grown on its surface could reveal clues about where the plane crashed.
This Week In Space: The Dark Side Of The Moon And The Luminous Death Of Stars
Our own solar system soared this week with a beautiful image of the 'dark side' of our moon, the third anniversary of Curiosity's arrival on Mars, and observations of new features on Saturn's icy moon Tethys. Space telescopes also brought us spectacular images of the remnants of dying stars.
Tiny Implantable Sensor Lets Doctors Monitor Cancer Treatment In Real Time
This TicTac-sized sensor uses chemical signals to provide doctors with real-time information on how their patient's cancer is responding to treatment instead of only static snapshots. The new tool makes it possible for doctors to detect changes in tumor size more quickly so they can adjust treatments more effectively.
How Tiny Particles Called Prions Access And Destroy The Brain
Prions are basically brain-eating protein zombies, and so far, doctors have no way to cure the diseases they cause. New research that sheds light on how prions access the brain could facilitate earlier detection of prions in the body.
