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    Study shows that Adaptive Immune Responses can cause Cellular Loss in the Aging-Related Brain

    November 8, 2022, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Study shows that adaptive immune responses can cause cellular loss in the aging brain
    The cell type composition of scRNA-seq was analyzed and oligodendrocytes were separated into four different sub-clusters. Two previously unknown oligodendrocyte clusters appeared in aged mice, which were enriched in the white matter. One was associated with injury responses. Because this cluster was highly enriched in the aged white matter, it was named aging-related oligodendrocytes (Fig. 1b-c, e). Also a smaller interferon-responsive oligodendrocyte subpopulation (IRO) was characterized by the expression of genes commonly associated with an interferon response. Credit: Kaya et al.

    Past neuroscience studies have consistently demonstrated that the aging of the mammalian nervous system is liked with a decline in the volume and functioning of white matter, nerve fibers found in deep brai...

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    Speaking the Same Language: How Artificial Neurons Mimic Biological Neurons

    November 8, 2022, Categories  Physics

    Speaking the same language: How artificial neurons mimic biological neurons
    A biological neuron and the OAN. a, Simplified schematic of a biological neuron. Action potentials, the basic cell-to-cell communication events, are generated by rapid transmembrane ion exchanges through ion channels, and they propagate across the axon. In myelinated cells, alternate myelin/non-myelin domains (nodes of Ranvier) contribute to the fast and long-range action potential propagation. Biological neurons are immersed in an electrochemical environment, such as an aqueous electrolyte. This extracellular space is a common reservoir containing various biological carriers for signaling and processing (ions, biomolecules and so on). Noise is also present in this environment. Ionic channels on the membrane endow neurons with ionic/molecular specificity and recognition. b, Circuit diagra...
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    Earth’s Oldest Stromatolites and the Search for Life on Mars

    November 8, 2022, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    Hand sample of Dresser Formation stromatolite, showing a complex layered structure formed of hematite, barite, and quartz, and a domed upper surface (arrow).

    The earliest morphological traces of life on Earth are often highly controversial, both because non-biological processes can produce relatively similar structures and because such fossils have often been subjected to advanced alteration and metamorphism. Stromatolites, layered organo-sedimentary structures reflecting complex interplays between microbial communities and their environment, have long been considered key macrofossils for life detection in ancient sedimentary rocks; however, the biological origin of ancient stromatolites has frequently been criticized...

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    Seeing Clearly into a New Realm – Researchers Prototype a New Generation of Quantum Microscopy

    November 8, 2022, Categories  Physics

    An artist's impression of a quantum microscope for study of chemical reactions and to identify molecular origin. Credit: Dr Mehran Kianinia
    An artist’s impression of a quantum microscope for study of chemical reactions and to identify molecular origin. Credit: Dr Mehran Kianinia

    With the advance of quantum technologies, new microscopy modalities are becoming possible – ones that can see electric currents, detect fluctuating magnetic fields, and even see single molecules on a surface. A prototype of such a microscope, demonstrating high resolution sensitivity, has been developed by an Australian research team.

    While quantum computing seems like the big-ticket item among the developing technologies based on the behaviour of matter and energy on the atomic and subatomic level, another direction promises to open a new door for scientific research itself — quantum microscopy.

    With the advance of quantum technologies, new ...

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