Science

Brain found to store three copies of every memory

Like a computer system with built-in redundancies, a study has revealed that brains use three different sets of neurons to store a single memory. The finding could one day help soften painful memories in people who've suffered trauma.

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“Hidden consciousness” may be present in 25% of unresponsive patients

A severe brain injury can leave patients unresponsive to stimuli, but they may be more aware than we realize. A new study of brain activity has shown that up to a quarter of unresponsive patients may exhibit “hidden consciousness.”

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Levitating nanodiamonds spin at 1.2 billion rpm in a vacuum

Physicists have levitated nanoscale diamonds, hit them with lasers to make them flash and spun them at an incredible 1.2 billion rpm. The experiments aren’t just about creating the “world’s smallest disco” but could help the study of quantum physics.

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A dash of gallium may make for stabler hip and knee implants

While titanium hip and knee implants do restore mobility to a great many people, they're still subject to failure. A new alloy could help change that, simply by adding a smidge of bendy, bacteria-killing gallium to the mix.

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Spaceship tech slashes energy usage of existing AC systems by 50%

Helix Earth Technologies has repurposed a technology originally developed to filter air on spacecraft to develop a system that can be retrofitted to existing commercial air conditioning units and slash their energy usage.

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Giant dual-rotor wind turbine takes to the seas

The world's largest single-capacity floating wind platform has set to sea and the builder released images of the operation. Mingyang’s OceanX is set to travel 191 nm (220 miles, 354 km) over the next three days to its final offshore destination.

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Optical device forgoes lenses for better detection of tainted water

It's ironic that in places where drinking water needs to be checked for microbes the most, labs that can perform the analysis are least likely to be present. A new "lensless" device could help, as it uses light to detect harmful microorganisms.

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Gluten reaction trigger identified, could lead to new celiac treatments

Scientists have made a breakthrough that could lead to new treatment options for celiac patients. The team identified how and where the gluten response begins, with certain cells playing a bigger role than thought.

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Trashed circuit boards prove a literal gold mine for The Royal Mint

Using a proprietary chemical process pioneered by Canadian firm Excir, England's The Royal Mint has begun mining old circuit boards from electronic devices for gold and converting what's harvested into attractive, if pricey, jewelry.

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Rapidly regrowing cartilage with ‘dancing molecules’ and ‘rubbery goo’

Two innovative new developments have demonstrated that degraded cartilage can be regrown, first with 'dancing molecules' that target the protein needed for tissue regeneration, secondly with a hybrid biomaterial that stimulates cartilage growth.

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