Subaru Telescope Captures 1800 Exploding Stars

Supernova illustration (stock image).
Credit: © Korn V. / Adobe Stock

The Subaru Telescope has captured images of more than 1800 exploding stars in the Universe, some 8 billion light years from Earth. By combining one of the world’s most powerful digital cameras and a telescope capable of capturing a wider shot of the night sky compared to other big telescopes, a team of researchers from Japan have been able to identify about 1800 new supernovae, including 58 Type Ia supernovae 8 billion light years away, reports a new study released online on 30 May.

A supernova is the name given to an exploding star that has reached the end of its life...

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New way to Protect against High-dose Radiation Damage Discovered

Intestinal stem cells with URI, CNIO
In red, highly proliferative cells of the intestinal crypts; they are targeted by irradiation and die during radiotherapy. They are considered to be radiosensitive. In green, dormant stem cells with high levels of URI; they survive irradiation, become proliferative after irradiation to regenerate the damaged intestine. /CNIO

Intensive radiotherapy can be toxic in 60% of patients with tumors located in the gastrointestinal cavity. Increases in levels of the protein URI protect mice against high-dose ionizing radiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome and enhance mouse intestinal regeneration and survival in 100% of the cases...

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Research confirms Gut-brain Connection in Autism

An image showing neurons in the gut of a mouse with the autism-related gene mutation. The study found mice with the mutation had more neurons in the small intestine.
An image showing neurons in the gut of a mouse with the autism-related gene mutation. The study found mice with the mutation had more neurons in the small intestine.

Up to 90% of people with autism suffer from gut problems, but nobody has known why. New research reveals the same gene mutations – found both in the brain and the gut – could be the cause.

The discovery confirms a gut-brain nervous system link in autism, opening a new direction in the search for potential treatments that could ease behavioural issues associated with autism by targeting the gut.

Chief Investigator Associate Professor Elisa Hill-Yardin, RMIT University, said scientists trying to understand autism have long been looking in the brain, but the links with the gut nervous system have only been recently ex...

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Flexible Generators turn Movement into Energy

Rice University postdoctoral researcher Michael Stanford holds a flip-flop with a triboelectric nanogenerator, based on laser-induced graphene, attached to the heel. Walking with the flip-flop generates electricity with repeated contact between the generator and the wearer's skin. Stanford wired the device to store energy on a capacitor. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)
Rice University postdoctoral researcher Michael Stanford holds a flip-flop with a triboelectric nanogenerator, based on laser-induced graphene, attached to the heel. Walking with the flip-flop generates electricity with repeated contact between the generator and the wearer’s skin. Stanford wired the device to store energy on a capacitor. Photo by Jeff Fitlow

Laser-induced graphene nanogenerators could power future wearables. Researchers have produced triboelectric nanogenerators with laser-induced graphene. The flexible devices turn movement into electrical energy and could enable wearable, self-powered sensors and devices.

The Rice lab of chemist James Tour has adapted laser-induced graphene (LIG) into small, metal-free devices that generate electricity...

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