Cell death in photoreceptor cells is reversible, study finds

Photoreceptors are specialized cells in the eye that convert light energy into neural signals. Several diseases that cause irreversible vision loss, including age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and retinal detachment, are associated with dying photoreceptors. While there are many molecular pathways that result in cell death, there are also many that try to keep the…

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Autonomous firefighting robot can drive straight into a 1,000 degree blaze

Autonomous firefighting robot can drive straight into a 1,000 degree blaze

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Firefighters in South Korea will soon start deploying alongside a massive, six-wheeled, self-cooling autonomous robot that could help keep them safe. Hyundai recently revealed the new, driverless ground drone, built atop a chassis initially intended for military use and…

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Fetuses likely have more ‘forever chemicals’ in blood than thought – report | Health

Fetuses likely have more ‘forever chemicals’ in blood than thought – report | Health

New peer-reviewed research shows fetuses likely have much higher levels of Pfas “forever chemicals” in their blood than previously thought. Testing of umbilical cord blood typically looks for a small number of common Pfas compounds, like Pfoa and Pfos. However, thousands of Pfas exist, and a new Mount Sinai study tested 120 umbilical blood cord…

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Bacteria that generate electricity: How a shellfish-based gel could monitor wastewater and food

Microbial bioelectronic sensors use living bacteria that can create an electrical signal in response to the presence of a target substance, or analyte. These types of sensors offer many advantages over other types of biosensors based on proteins and enzymes: The bacteria can perform multiple functions, survive in a variety of environments and even grow…

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Can you see Earth’s shadow?

Wherever there’s light and an object, there’s a shadow. By blocking sunlight, Earth casts a shadow, too. But can you see Earth’s shadow? Astronomers told Live Science that yes, you can see it cast on several objects. In fact, under the right conditions, you may even spot Earth’s shadow every day. Shadow on the moon…

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