New Scientist Podcasts
Weekly: Reversing blindness; power beamed from space; animal love languages
Feb 16, 2024
Researchers have found that glaucoma may be reversible, with new optic nerve cells growing in mice. Black holes may be spinning slower than previously thought, with new estimates revealing their history. MIT has successfully converted electricity from a satellite into microwaves, potentially offering a way to generate solar power in space. Apes playfully tease each other, showing similarities to human behavior.
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Quick takeaways
- A cocktail of chemicals injected into the eye of mice successfully regenerated the optic nerve, offering potential for treating blindness caused by conditions like glaucoma.
- New research suggests that black holes may have slower spins than previously believed, with most having a spin of around 0.2 or less due to the depletion of energy caused by gas jets.
Deep dives
Researchers regenerate optic nerve in mice, restoring vision
Researchers have successfully regenerated the optic nerve in mice, partially restoring their vision. By injecting a cocktail of eight chemicals into the eye, support cells around the nerve were persuaded to turn into new nerve cells. The mice showed signs of vision recovery, avoiding drops on a virtual cliff test. While the research is still at an early stage and human trials have not yet been conducted, it shows promising potential for treating blindness caused by conditions like glaucoma.
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