Welcome back. Remember Boston Dynamics? You may know them as the crazy geniuses that make robotic dogs and humanoids that do parkour. Well, they unveiled a new robot this week, and as is usually the case, people instantly starting freaking out. Are the videos real? Are the robots taking over? Are the contestants of American Ninja Warrior in danger of losing their jobs? Check out the latest here.

And there was plenty more action in the world of science this week, let’s check out what went down:

BIOLOGY

This tiny tropical fish can regenerate damaged heart tissue

Heart attacks can leave a permanent scar on the human heart, but some other animals can clear scar tissue and regrow damaged muscle as adults. To better understand how this process works, scientists compared two fish species: a zebrafish, which can regenerate its heart, and a medaka, which cannot.

How’d the experiment work?

The scientists used a device called a cryoprobe to injure the fish hearts in ways that mimic heart attacks in humans, then extracted the hearts after certain time frames to learn how the two species responded differently.

What did they find?

They discovered that zebrafish had a different immune system response, called an interferon response, which was completely absent in the medaka. This resulted in the formation of a transient scar, rather than a rigid, calcified scar – that then gets replaced with healthy heart tissue. The researchers hope that further research in this area could help advance medical treatments for human cardiac patients.

Read more: http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/bio.060156

GEOLOGY

Major cities in China are sinking because of human activity

Using satellite data, researchers have tracked land subsidence, or sinking, in China. They found that a third of the country’s urban population is at-risk, with roughly 270 million residents estimated to be affected.

How is this happening?

Scientists say that the subsidence is mainly caused by human activity in cities. Groundwater withdrawal is considered the largest driver of this gradual sinking, combined with the region’s geology and the heavy weight of buildings, along with traffic vibration and tunneling. Hotspots of the subsidence include major cities like Beijing and Tianjin, and with nearly 70 million residents experiencing relatively rapid sinking of 10mm a year or more, researchers say national response is necessary.

Read more: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado9986

NEUROSCIENCE

Scientists identify a new potential cause of neurodegenerative diseases

Researchers have discovered why proteins collect abnormally in neurons, which is a feature of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. They used fruit flies to show that depleted numbers of mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell!) can directly lead to protein accumulation.

How’d they do it?

They used genetic modification to suppress the production of Milton, a protein that helps transport mitochondria along axons, which are the long appendages that stretch out of neurons. Without the mitochondria transported along the axon, they found that abnormal levels of protein built up in fruit fly neurons.

What does this discovery mean?

This study reveals that the inhibition of the Milton protein, and its downstream effects, may be the cause of diseases like Alzheimer’s. Neurodegenerative conditions are becoming increasingly prevalent in aging populations, and these findings may help in the development of new therapies.

Read more: https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.95576.1

PHYSICS

Researchers uncover the mystery behind gold’s glow

Luminescence, or the emission of photons by a substance exposed to light, can tell researchers a lot about the properties of a material. All metals luminesce to some degree, but the underlying cause was a mystery, until now.

How was the mystery solved?

A team of physicists focused laser beams at extremely thin gold films and then analyzed the resulting faint glow. Then, they applied methods of quantum mechanics to determine that gold has photoluminescence, which is a specific way that electrons and their oppositely charged counterparts behave in response to light.

Now what?

This discovery allowed them to produce the first complete model of this phenomenon in gold, which can now be applied to any metal. The team believes their findings will help better understand chemical reactions involving metals, while also advancing energy research in the production of solar fuels and batteries.

Read more: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41377-024-01408-2

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Toxic chemicals from microplastics can be absorbed through the skin

New research shows that toxic chemicals used to flame-proof plastic materials can leach into human sweat, and then be absorbed through the skin, into the bloodstream. Many of these chemicals have already been banned due to health concerns, but they’re still present in older electronics, furniture, carpets, and building materials.

How’d we find this out?

In their experiments, scientists used 3D human skin models as alternatives to laboratory animals and human tissues. The models were exposed over a 24-hour period to two common forms of microplastics containing polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a chemical group commonly used to flame-proof plastics. The results showed that as much as 8% of the chemical could be taken up by the skin, with more hydrated, or “sweatier” skin absorbing higher levels.

What’s the impact?

We know that microplastics are everywhere in the environment, but we don’t know much about the health problems that they can cause. This research shows that they play a role as “carriers” of potentially harmful chemicals, which can get into our bloodstream through the skin.

Read more: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2024.108635

TOP HEADLINES

Science in the News

• A new robotic suction cup has been invented, inspired by octopus tentacles

• Scientists have uncovered 95 regions of the human genome linked to PTSD.

• Paleontologists recently discovered a new ancient giant snake in India.

• Astronomers unexpectedly detected methane emissions on a distant, cold brown dwarf planet.

• A new energy-efficient computer has been developed.

• Researchers have developed a new way to safely boost immune cells to fight cancer.

• A laboratory has successfully triggered a miniature earthquake using a new simulation model.

• Signs of multiple sclerosis show up in blood years before symptoms, according to a new study.

CHECK THIS OUT

The unique evolution of carnivorous plants

Enjoying Lab Report? Follow us on X and LinkedIn to never miss an update.

Reading online? Be sure to subscribe to get Lab Report in your inbox every Monday morning!