Star Formation Burst in the Milky Way 2-3 billion years ago

The region of the stellar formation Rho Ophiuchi observed by ESA Gaia satellite. The shining dots are stellar clusters with the massive and youngest stars of the region. The dark filaments track the gas and dust distribution, where the new stars are born. This is not a conventional photographic image but the result of the integration of all the received radiation by the satellite during the 22 months of continuous measurements through different filters on the spacecraft. Copyright: ESA/Gaia/DPAC, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

Researchers have found, analyzing data from the Gaia satellite, that a strong star formation burst occurred in the Milky Way about 2 to 3 billion years ago. In this process, more than 50% of the stars that created the galactic disc may have been born...

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New Brain Tumor Imaging technique uses Protein found in Scorpion Venom

A Deathstalker scorpion sits in a jar illuminated by ultraviolet light in a laboratory. Photo by Getty.

A Deathstalker scorpion sits in a jar illuminated by ultraviolet light in a laboratory. Photo by Getty.

A novel imaging technique that uses a synthesized form of scorpion venom to light up brain tumors has shown promise in a clinical trial. The imaging system enables neurosurgeons to better see malignant growths that often are difficult to fully eliminate. Results from the multi-institutional clinical trial, led by investigators from Cedars-Sinai and sponsored by Blaze Bioscience, Inc., appear in the journal Neurosurgery.

The new imaging technique that was studied uses a special high-sensitivity near-infrared camera developed at Cedars-Sinai, along with the imaging agent tozuleristide, or BLZ-100, developed by Blaze...

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Broccoli Sprout compound may Restore Brain Chemistry Imbalance linked to Schizophrenia


Sedlak’s daughter grows broccoli sprouts Credit: Thomas Sedlak

In a series of recently published studies using animals and people, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they have further characterized a set of chemical imbalances in the brains of people with schizophrenia related to the chemical glutamate. And they figured out how to tweak the level using a compound derived from broccoli sprouts.

They say the results advance the hope that supplementing with broccoli sprout extract, which contains high levels of the chemical sulforaphane, may someday provide a way to lower the doses of traditional antipsychotic medicines needed to manage schizophrenia symptoms, thus reducing unwanted side effects of the medicines.

“It’s possible that future studies could show sulforaphane to ...

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Hummingbird Robot uses AI to soon go where Drones can’t


Purdue University researchers are building robotic hummingbirds that learn from computer simulations how to fly like a real hummingbird does. The robot is encased in a decorative shell. (Purdue University photo/Jared Pike)

What can fly like a bird and hover like an insect? Hummingbirds. If drones had this combo, they would be able to maneuver better through collapsed buildings and other cluttered spaces to find trapped victims. Purdue University researchers have engineered flying robots that behave like hummingbirds, trained by machine learning algorithms based on various techniques the bird uses naturally every day.

This means that after learning from a simulation, the robot “knows” how to move around on its own like a hummingbird would, such as discerning when to perform an esca...

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