The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) has returned after a three-year upgrade and could now detect the signals of colliding black holes every few days, compared to once a week in its previous run. Scientists hope to use LIGO to detect the gravitational signal of a collapsing star before it manifests as a supernova explosion. Meanwhile, a paralysed man has been able to walk using his thoughts thanks to brain and spinal implants. The implants detect brain activity and transmit the signal to a backpack computer which activates a spinal pulse generator. A component in mother’s milk has also been found to trigger a diet switch in baby mice’s heart cells.
Hello Nature readers, would you like to get this Briefing in your inbox free every day? Sign up here.
LIGO can detect gravitational waves that are generated when two black holes collide.Credit: The SXS Project
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is back after a three-year hiatus and a multimillion-dollar upgrade. The first detection of gravitational waves — ripples in space–time from colliding black holes and other cosmic cataclysms — was made at LIGO in 2015. Improvements to the detectors’ sensitivity mean that LIGO could pick up signals of colliding black holes every few days, compared with once a week during its previous run. Scientists hope to detect the gravitational signal of a collapsing star before it manifests as a supernova explosion, as well as the continuous gravitational waves produced by a pulsar.
The latest report by Nature states that the LIGO is back after a three-year hiatus and has undergone a multimillion-dollar upgrade. The first detection of gravitational waves was made at LIGO in 2015, which proved the existence of ripples in space-time due to colliding black holes and other cosmic cataclysms. With the advancements in the detectors’ sensitivity, LIGO can now pick up signals of colliding black holes every few days, compared to once a week during its previous run. Scientists hope that with this enhanced sensitivity, they can detect the gravitational signal of a collapsing star before it manifests as a supernova explosion. Additionally, they aim to detect the continuous gravitational waves produced by a pulsar. ()
A wireless connection between the brain and the spinal cord allows a paralysed man to walk using his thoughts. Gert-Jan Oskam, whose legs were paralysed after a cycling accident, received a spinal implant in 2018 that generated robotic movement through pre-programmed electrical stimulation. He has now received head implants that detect brain activity and transmit the signal to a backpack computer, which decodes the information and activates the spinal pulse generator. This brain–spine interface gives Oskam full control over the stimulation, so he can walk and climb stairs. “The stimulation before was controlling me and now I am controlling stimulation by my thought,” he says.
Reference: Nature paper
A component in their mother’s milk triggers a diet switch in baby mice’s heart cells. Mouse embryos’ heart-muscle cells burn sugar and lactic acid, but within 24 hours of birth, they shift to fatty acids as their fuel. After seven years of experiments, some of which involved milking mice by hand, researchers now zeroed in on ɣ-linolenic acid as a key compound that drives the switch, and identified the receptor and genes involved. Human breast milk also contains ɣ-linolenic acid, and a precursor is found in baby formula, although it’s unclear whether it has the same role in humans.
The latest report by Nature highlights the findings that a component in mother’s milk triggers a diet switch in baby mice’s heart cells. Mouse embryos’ heart-muscle cells burn sugar and lactic acid, but within 24 hours of birth, they shift to fatty acids as their fuel. Researchers have now identified ɣ-linolenic acid as a key compound that drives the switch, and identified the receptor and genes involved after seven years of experiments, some of which involved milking mice by hand. Although human breast milk also contains ɣ-linolenic acid, it is unclear whether it has the same role in humans. ()
Go deeper with an analysis by heart development experts in the Nature News & Views article (6 min read, Nature paywall)
Reference: Nature paper
China’s new data restrictions have strengthened privacy but are concerning researchers…
