☕️ Historic First: Star imaged in detail outside the Milky Way for the 1st time

Good morning. That’s a wrap for the Dark Matter Particle Physics Centre’s 2024 Conference. The coolest talk was definitely one given by Professor Jeremy Mould about whether Primordial Black holes could destroy planets and how often they’d flyby stars and their planets. I can’t say why he was looking into primordial black holes so closely just yet… Could be a cool announcement on the horizon from my Uni’s awesome astrophysicists 👀

—Dylan J. Dance

SCIENCE

🌌Historic First: Star Imaged in Detail Outside the Milky Way for the 1st Time. Astronomers have captured a zoomed-in image of WOH G64, a red supergiant located 160,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud. “For the first time, we have succeeded in taking a zoomed-in image of a dying star in a galaxy outside our own Milky Way,” said team leader Keiichi Ohnaka, highlighting the technological achievement of using the Very Large Telescope Interferometer to reveal this distant behemoth's structure.

🗻 New Grand Canyon Discovery Could Rewrite Geology Textbooks. A recent study has uncovered new insights into the Cambrian explosion by examining the sedimentary layers of the Grand Canyon's Tonto Group. Researchers found that the deposition of sediments involved a mix of marine and non-marine environments, suggesting that the Cambrian transition was much more dynamic than previously believed. "Our findings refine the classic model of marine transgression and show the importance of episodic deposition in understanding early animal life," said Karl Karlstrom, Distinguished Professor at UNM.

💥 Quantum Upgrade: Scientists May Have Just Solved Fusion’s Biggest Problem. Scientists from Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have developed a method to optimize fusion fuel efficiency through spin polarization. This innovation could significantly reduce tritium usage, allowing for smaller and safer fusion reactors. "It was surprising how big the improvement was," said physicist Jason Parisi, emphasizing the potential of this approach to bring fusion closer to becoming a practical energy source.

TECH

🚗 Quantum Computing Could Make Self-Driving Cars More Efficient Than Ever. Research from the University of Kent suggests that quantum computing could dramatically improve the efficiency of autonomous devices like self-driving cars by enabling shared quantum information without direct communication. "Our findings provide a route towards practical applications of quantum computing for real-world impact," said Josh Tucker, lead researcher.

🔬 Unlocking the Nano Universe: A Quantum Leap in Magnetic Imaging. Researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg have developed a groundbreaking technique using the anomalous Nernst effect to achieve magnetic imaging with a resolution of 70 nanometers, surpassing the 500-nanometer limit of conventional microscopes. "This method provides new possibilities for spintronic imaging and could benefit future electronics research," said Professor Georg Woltersdorf.

🩺 Revolutionary Microscope Unveils the Brain’s Deepest Secrets. Cornell researchers have developed DEEPscope, an advanced imaging technology that combines two-photon and three-photon microscopy to capture brain activity in unprecedented detail. "For the first time, we can visualize complex neural circuits in living animals at such a large scale and depth," said lead author Aaron Mok, emphasizing its potential for neurological research.

HEALTH

🧠 Brain Development Continues Far Beyond Birth, Study Finds. New research led by the University of Pittsburgh shows that the human brain continues to develop long after birth, with significant neuron migration into the entorhinal cortex until 2-3 years of age. "We were incredibly excited to learn that large-scale neuronal migration continues into toddlerhood," said Professor Shawn Sorrells, highlighting the implications for learning and memory development.

🩺 Vitamin B3 Could Revolutionize COPD Treatment: New Study Offers Hope for Millions. A new study from the University of Copenhagen suggests that nicotinamide riboside (a form of vitamin B3) could reduce lung inflammation in COPD patients. “We found that vitamin B3 significantly reduces lung inflammation and may even slow aging in COPD patients,” said Associate Professor Morten Scheibye-Knudsen. The study offers new hope for millions suffering from this chronic respiratory disease.

⚖️ Your Body “Remembers” Being Fat, and According to Scientists, It Could Make It Harder To Lose Weight. ETH Zurich researchers found that obesity creates lasting epigenetic changes in fat cells, making it easier to regain weight after dieting. "Fat cells remember the overweight state and can return to this state more easily," explained Professor Ferdinand von Meyenn, highlighting the importance of preventing obesity from an early age.

SPACE

🚀 Deep-Space Thrusters Ignite Hera’s Journey to Didymos. ESA's Hera mission has successfully executed critical maneuvers to align with the Didymos binary asteroid system, utilizing a Mars gravity assist to shorten travel time. "Deep-space maneuvers are often split into parts," explained Sylvain Lodiot, Hera Spacecraft Operations Manager, as the team prepares for Hera’s scheduled arrival in 2026 to analyze the aftermath of NASA's DART mission on Dimorphos.

🪐 “Red Monsters” of the Cosmic Dawn: Webb Finds Massive Early Galaxies That Defy Expectations. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers have discovered three ultra-massive galaxies that formed within the first billion years after the Big Bang. These galaxies are almost as massive as the Milky Way, challenging current models of star formation. "These results indicate that galaxies in the early Universe could form stars with unexpected efficiency," said Dr. Mengyuan Xiao, reshaping our understanding of early galaxy evolution.

CLIMATE

🌊 Greenland's Meltwater Will Slow Atlantic Circulation, Climate Model Suggests. A new study predicts that freshwater input from Greenland's snowmelts into the Irminger Sea Basin will significantly impact the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). "The AMOC plays a major role in global climate, and our findings suggest that Greenland's meltwater is poised to slow it down considerably," said lead researcher Qiyun Ma, pointing to potentially drastic consequences for European weather systems.

WORLD

🌍 Goodbye Microplastics: New Recyclable Plastic Breaks Down Safely in Seawater. Researchers at RIKEN have developed a new plastic that breaks down in seawater, addressing the critical issue of microplastic pollution. “This innovative material is strong, stable, and importantly, biodegradable in marine environments,” said lead researcher Takuzo Aida. The plastic dissolves in saltwater, ensuring that it doesn’t accumulate in oceans and soils, thus reducing its ecological footprint.

💣 Putin’s Nuclear Threat: Designed to Trigger New Wave of Panic Across the West. Vladimir Putin has warned Western countries that Russia could target military facilities in response to weapon supplies to Ukraine. Kim Jong Un also issued a nuclear warning, reinforcing the ongoing tensions in the geopolitical landscape. “Putin’s sabre-rattling is reaching a new, dangerous level,” said a military analyst, assessing the potential impact of such threats.

🫁 Woman Gets First Double Lung Transplant Done by Robot. Cheryl Mehrkar received the world’s first fully robotic double lung transplant at NYU Langone Health. “This innovative procedure builds on minimally invasive surgeries and aims to speed up recovery,” said lead surgeon Dr. Justin Aru. Mehrkar, who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is expected to be discharged shortly after the successful operation, highlighting the potential for robotics in complex surgeries.

Thanks for reading!