Science in telegram

That moment when evolution took a wrong turn.

👆 How the experiment works: Both female mice were injected with magnetic nanoparticles into their brains, but different receptors and ion channels were introduced for control. The “green” mouse has mechanosensitive receptors on GABAergic neurons in the hypothalamus, while the “red” mouse does not. These particular cells trigger the maternal care pattern—if they are blocked, the female won’t pay attention to the pups. When the magnets are activated, the particles start to ‘tickle’ the mechanosensitive receptors, thus activating the cells. By choosing where to express the receptors, you determine which behavior pattern you will induce. The authors successfully controlled feeding and social behaviors selectively and reversibly, influencing the motivation system in freely moving animals. This innovation comes from Korea’s IBS, and you can find more details here. It’s worth noting that the approach using nanoparticles and magnetic fields was pioneered by Polina Anikeeva. Unsurprisingly, the Korean researchers reference her work. Polina graduated from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and, as of July, heads the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT. 👏 P.S. Mechanosensitive channels can also be directly activated by ultrasound, bypassing the need for particles. A recent development from the University of Texas introduces a wearable miniature device for transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation. Weighing only 8.5 grams, it is compatible with EEG and simply attaches to the scalp. These are just glimpses of what’s happening, and they already hint at the future.

Where is the frontier of neurotechnology today? Consider this experiment: two healthy female mice are idly sitting in a chamber. Suddenly, magnets around the chamber are activated. The female mouse marked with green suddenly rushes to the distant mouse pups and brings them to safety. The other female mouse, marked with red, remains indifferent. Scientists have triggered a specific behavior pattern—maternal care—in the "green" mouse. This was achieved without any cables or electronics attached to its head, solely using a magnetic field. They could induce other behaviors as well, depending on which neurons were targeted. Now, researchers can gather rodents in one place and simultaneously activate or deactivate various behavior patterns in different individuals. There's no need to worry yet—turning a human into a zombie using magnets is still far from reality. However, we are now a step closer to treating brain diseases. This method allows for non-invasive and selective regulation of specific neural circuits' activity. @science

The image of Saturn captured by the Hubble Telescope also includes two of its icy moons. The dot on the right is Mimas, while the one below is Enceladus. @science #space

The Origin of Bread: A Discovery 14,000 Years in the Making In 2018, archaeologists made a groundbreaking discovery in the Jordanian desert: traces of a 14,000-year-old bread-like mixture. This astonishing find, predating the advent of agriculture by millennia, sheds new light on the culinary practices of ancient hunter-gatherers. The site, abandoned in haste by its inhabitants, featured two primitive ovens where remnants of this ancient bread were found. Using a scanning electron microscope, researchers identified 24 charred fragments as bread, though the exact grain type remains undetermined. The cell structure of the grains suggests they may have been wild einkorn, rye, or millet. Likely, these were unleavened flatbreads, but their precise appearance is unknown. This discovery reveals that the practice of bread-making is far older than previously thought, originating well before the development of farming. The Natufian culture, flourishing around 15,000 to 11,500 years ago in regions now known as Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, is credited with this early culinary achievement. These people had already begun settling in wooden houses, indicating a shift towards a sedentary lifestyle independent of climatic factors. This transition to the Neolithic way of life—characterized by settled living, food production, and significant cultural changes—started before the end of the Ice Age. The intriguing question remains: why did these ancient people undergo such a radical transformation in their lifestyle and thinking? What motivated one of the most profound changes in human history? @science #history

Former OpenAI employee shares a thrilling roadmap that outlines the company’s ambitious plans for the next five years, hinting at a future where artificial intelligence dramatically reshapes our world. Here’s what they predict: 1️⃣ End of 2024 – Launch of GPT-Next: The most intelligent neural network ever created, poised to surpass all previous models and set new standards in AI. 2️⃣ 2025 – End of Routine Tasks: AI agents will revolutionize daily life by taking over mundane tasks, freeing humans to focus on more creative and complex endeavors. 3️⃣ 2026 – The Year Everything Changes: OpenAI aims to develop an Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) with human-level intelligence. This breakthrough could replace hundreds of professions, marking a significant shift in human dominance on the planet. 4️⃣ 2027 – 70% Chance of ASI: The likelihood of developing Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) becomes high. This advanced AI will begin self-learning and might take over solving global challenges, sidelining human intervention. 5️⃣ 2028 – Eradication of Diseases: ASI will engineer nanorobots capable of eliminating all harmful viruses and microbes, potentially erasing diseases from existence. 6️⃣ 2029 – Rise of Skynet: The advent of superintelligence that controls the world, accelerating progress to unprecedented speeds and possibly ushering in a new era of technological dominance. While these projections might seem like science fiction, the rapid advancements in AI suggest that AGI by 2029 could be within reach. @science

Unexpected Explosion at Yellowstone Sends Steam and Rocks 30 Meters into the Air In a surprising event, an explosion at Yellowstone National Park propelled a cloud of steam and rocks 30 meters into the sky. Visitors captured the dramatic scene on video, providing a firsthand look at the power of nature. @science

Fuel Your Curiosity - Boost Our Science Telegram https://t.me/science?boost

Epic shot of Starship Super Heavy firing tests @science #space

finita la commedia

The real cause of the Windows crash worldwide has been identified

🌞 SunCable: Australia’s Visionary Solar Project Gets the Green Light! We’ve got some electrifying news from Down Under! The ambitious SunCable project, which aims to connect Australia to Asia with a colossal solar power link, has just cleared a significant hurdle. This monumental endeavor is set to revolutionize renewable energy on a global scale. Here’s the lowdown: Project Overview: • Name: Australia-Asia PowerLink (AAPowerLink) • Goal: Transmit solar energy from Australia’s Northern Territory to Singapore • Length: 4,200 kilometers (2,610 miles) of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine cables More info here: https://newatlas.com/energy/suncable-australia-asia-power-link-approval-update/

The Legacy of Johann Friedrich Schmidt’s 1898 Lunar Model In 1898, the renowned selenographer Johann Friedrich Schmidt unveiled a groundbreaking three-dimensional model of the Moon. This extraordinary creation marked a significant milestone in the history of lunar studies, encapsulating Schmidt’s lifelong dedication to mapping the Moon. Schmidt, deeply engrossed in lunar cartography, persuaded the director of the Bonn University Observatory in the 1850s to create a 3D model of the Moon. Constructed from plaster, wood, and metal, this model represented the hemisphere visible from Earth. During his meticulous work, Schmidt conducted over 3,000 measurements of lunar elevations. For enhanced visualization, the relief of craters, seas, and ridges in the model was exaggerated threefold. The Moon model comprised 116 plaster fragments, forming an impressive structure over five meters in diameter. This pioneering model not only advanced lunar science but also inspired future generations of astronomers. Join us on our channel to delve deeper into the fascinating world of lunar exploration and other scientific marvels. @science

Rama V, the King of Thailand, and Nicholas II in a friendly, informal atmosphere in St. Petersburg, Russia, 1897 📷 This pivotal photograph, once published in European newspapers, led France and England to abandon their plans to seize the Kingdom of Siam. #thailand #Russia #history