Reading the minds of jellyfish. Free Technical Library News

NEWS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, NOVELTY IN ELECTRONICS
Free technical library / timeline

Reading the minds of jellyfish

03.12.2021

Understanding the exact patterns of brain cells that govern all of our daily behavior is an incredibly difficult puzzle for neuroscientists. But now fundamental questions in the neuroscience of behavior can be answered with a new and much simpler model of the organism: tiny jellyfish.

Caltech researchers have developed a kind of genetic toolkit designed to work with Clytia hemisphaerica, a type of jellyfish about 1cm in diameter, when it is fully grown. With this toolkit, the tiny creatures have been genetically modified so that their neurons individually glow with fluorescent light when activated.

Because the jellyfish is transparent, researchers can observe the glow of the animal's neural activity as it behaves naturally. In other words, the team can read the jellyfish's mind as it feeds, swims, evades predators, etc. to understand how the animal's relatively simple brain coordinates its behavior.

When it comes to model organisms used in laboratories, jellyfish are the exception. Worms, flies, fish and mice - some of the most commonly used laboratory model organisms - are genetically more closely related to each other than to jellyfish. In fact, worms are evolutionarily closer to humans than to jellyfish.

Jellyfish are an important point of comparison because they are so distantly related to each other. They allow us to ask questions such as: Are there principles of neuroscience that are common to all nervous systems? Or what the first nervous system might have looked like? By studying nature more broadly, we can also discover useful biological innovations.

Many jellyfish are small and transparent, making them exciting platforms for systems neuroscience. This is because there are amazing new tools to visualize and control neural activity with light, and you can put an entire live jellyfish under a microscope and have access to the entire nervous system.

<< Back: Radeon RX 6600 XT graphics accelerator 03.12.2021

>> Forward: Hybrid crossover BMW Concept XM 02.12.2021

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

Traffic noise delays the growth of chicks 06.05.2024

The sounds that surround us in modern cities are becoming increasingly piercing. However, few people think about how this noise affects the animal world, especially such delicate creatures as chicks that have not yet hatched from their eggs. Recent research is shedding light on this issue, indicating serious consequences for their development and survival. Scientists have found that exposure of zebra diamondback chicks to traffic noise can cause serious disruption to their development. Experiments have shown that noise pollution can significantly delay their hatching, and those chicks that do emerge face a number of health-promoting problems. The researchers also found that the negative effects of noise pollution extend into the adult birds. Reduced chances of reproduction and decreased fertility indicate the long-term effects that traffic noise has on wildlife. The study results highlight the need ... >>

Wireless speaker Samsung Music Frame HW-LS60D 06.05.2024

In the world of modern audio technology, manufacturers strive not only for impeccable sound quality, but also for combining functionality with aesthetics. One of the latest innovative steps in this direction is the new Samsung Music Frame HW-LS60D wireless speaker system, presented at the 2024 World of Samsung event. The Samsung HW-LS60D is more than just a speaker system, it's the art of frame-style sound. The combination of a 6-speaker system with Dolby Atmos support and a stylish photo frame design makes this product the perfect addition to any interior. The new Samsung Music Frame features advanced technologies including Adaptive Audio that delivers clear dialogue at any volume level, and automatic room optimization for rich audio reproduction. With support for Spotify, Tidal Hi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2 connections, as well as smart assistant integration, this speaker is ready to satisfy your ... >>

A New Way to Control and Manipulate Optical Signals 05.05.2024

The modern world of science and technology is developing rapidly, and every day new methods and technologies appear that open up new prospects for us in various fields. One such innovation is the development by German scientists of a new way to control optical signals, which could lead to significant progress in the field of photonics. Recent research has allowed German scientists to create a tunable waveplate inside a fused silica waveguide. This method, based on the use of a liquid crystal layer, allows one to effectively change the polarization of light passing through a waveguide. This technological breakthrough opens up new prospects for the development of compact and efficient photonic devices capable of processing large volumes of data. The electro-optical control of polarization provided by the new method could provide the basis for a new class of integrated photonic devices. This opens up great opportunities for ... >>

Primium Seneca keyboard 05.05.2024

Keyboards are an integral part of our daily computer work. However, one of the main problems that users face is noise, especially in the case of premium models. But with the new Seneca keyboard from Norbauer & Co, that may change. Seneca is not just a keyboard, it is the result of five years of development work to create the ideal device. Every aspect of this keyboard, from acoustic properties to mechanical characteristics, has been carefully considered and balanced. One of the key features of Seneca is its silent stabilizers, which solve the noise problem common to many keyboards. In addition, the keyboard supports various key widths, making it convenient for any user. Although Seneca is not yet available for purchase, it is scheduled for release in late summer. Norbauer & Co's Seneca represents new standards in keyboard design. Her ... >>

The world's tallest astronomical observatory opened 04.05.2024

Exploring space and its mysteries is a task that attracts the attention of astronomers from all over the world. In the fresh air of the high mountains, far from city light pollution, the stars and planets reveal their secrets with greater clarity. A new page is opening in the history of astronomy with the opening of the world's highest astronomical observatory - the Atacama Observatory of the University of Tokyo. The Atacama Observatory, located at an altitude of 5640 meters above sea level, opens up new opportunities for astronomers in the study of space. This site has become the highest location for a ground-based telescope, providing researchers with a unique tool for studying infrared waves in the Universe. Although the high altitude location provides clearer skies and less interference from the atmosphere, building an observatory on a high mountain poses enormous difficulties and challenges. However, despite the difficulties, the new observatory opens up broad research prospects for astronomers. ... >>

Random news from the Archive

The laser cools the molecules 05.09.2017

Very cold molecules with almost no thermal motion are needed by physicists for a variety of studies, from studying the properties of the molecules themselves to creating quantum computers. It is believed that in this case, various reactions should also slow down, which will make it possible to study the ongoing processes. However, on the way to achieving ultra-low temperatures, nature has established a number of barriers.

The authors of the record achievement from the Center for Cold Matter at Imperial College London used the most common method of laser cooling of molecules - Doppler.

To understand its mechanism, remember that an atom absorbs and emits photons with an energy equal to the difference between its energy levels. In this method, the frequency of laser radiation is chosen somewhat less than necessary for absorption. But because of the Doppler effect, an atom moving towards a photon "sees" that it has a higher frequency and absorption still occurs.

Then the excited atom spontaneously emits a photon, but of a higher frequency. Therefore, with each such absorption-radiation cycle, it loses part of its kinetic energy, and, therefore, cools down. The atom does not react to the overtaking laser beam, since the Doppler effect for it lowers the frequency even more, making absorption impossible.

Several laser beams, going in different directions, slow down the atoms in any direction of their movement. It seems that the atoms are moving in a viscous liquid like honey or molasses. This method of cooling is called "optical molasses".

However, in this way it is impossible to cool molecules and atoms to temperatures lower than several hundred microkelvins. The fact is that due to the uncertainty relation, photons are absorbed not of one frequency, but of a whole range of frequencies. Physicists say that a spectral line has a width. But then, at low velocities of atoms, photons from both directions will be absorbed, and the method will stop working. The temperature at which this occurs is called the Doppler limit.

See full Archive of science and technology news, new electronics

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews