Weekly: Antarctica special, brain implant made from living cells, best TV and film of 2024
Dec 6, 2024
auto_awesome
James Woodford, an Australia reporter for New Scientist, covers the urgent Antarctic summit addressing alarming sea ice loss. Jeremy Su, a brain-computer interface expert, shares insights on a groundbreaking brain implant made from living neurons, opening up possibilities for patients with ALS and stroke. Meanwhile, Bethan Ackerley, culture critic, reviews the most exciting science fiction TV and films of 2024, including titles like 'Fallout' and 'Dune Part 2', highlighting their innovative narratives and cultural relevance.
The unprecedented melting of Antarctic sea ice, akin to a once-in-700 billion-year event, poses dire global ecological and climate threats.
A revolutionary brain-computer interface using living neurons could transform treatment for neurological conditions by enabling less invasive connections with the brain.
Deep dives
Alarm Over Antarctic Sea Ice Loss
The significant decline in Antarctic winter sea ice has raised alarm among scientists, particularly during a recent emergency summit that gathered nearly 500 researchers in Hobart, Tasmania. In 2023, the sea ice extent was recorded at 1.55 million square kilometers below expected averages, representing the lowest levels since satellite observation began, an area larger than the United Kingdom. Researchers calculated this drastic decrease as equivalent to an event predicted to occur once every 7.5 million to 700 billion years, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the changes. The consequences extend beyond regional implications, as the loss of sea ice leads to increased ocean heat absorption, alters salinity levels, and affects ecosystem dynamics globally.
Melting Ice Shelves and Rising Sea Levels
Presentations at the summit underscored the alarming rate at which the Denman Shackleton ice shelf is melting, with researchers like Sarah Thompson revealing that warm ocean currents are now penetrating beneath ice shelves at unprecedented rates. If the Denman ice shelf collapses, it could contribute an estimated 1.5 meters to global sea level rise, posing a massive threat to coastal communities worldwide. This vulnerability is compounded by increasingly unstable weather patterns attributable to climate change, indicating that the projections for Antarctic ice loss could lead to accelerated melting and a new normal for ice stability. Scientists expressed disbelief at the rapid change, realizing that previous optimism about recovery might now be unfounded.
Innovations in Brain Computer Interfaces
A breakthrough in brain-computer interface technology has emerged, utilizing living neurons instead of traditional electrodes to establish connections with the brain. This innovative approach allows the implanted neurons to grow and connect naturally with mice brains, offering a less invasive method that minimizes damage to brain tissues. The experimental setup has shown promising results, enabling the mice to respond to light signals that stimulate the implanted neurons, suggesting a significant step towards creating effective interfaces that can read and influence brain activity. The potential applications of this technology may include restoring lost motor functions in individuals with paralysis, opening avenues for future neurological treatments.
Antarctic sea ice is melting at an unprecedented rate. A collapse like the one we’re seeing was given just a 1 in 700 billion year chance of happening, based on climate models - we basically thought it was impossible. Melting ice in Antarctica will have global scale, knock-on ecological and climate consequences. To address the crisis, five hundred researchers met in Australia for an emergency summit for the future of the Antarctic. Sarah Thompson, one of the scientists at the conference, is working in Antarctica right now and shares her experiences assessing the damage in the region. Also hear from Sharon Robinson from the University of Wollongong, who explores how the ecology of the region is changing.
A new type of brain implant technology is being developed that will allow direct access to a patient’s brain in a more intimate way. Most devices place metal electrodes and wires into the brain, but this method is instead using living neurons to form a connection with the brain. Brain-computer interfaces are used to help treat conditions like ALS or stroke, as well as allowing patients to control technology with their mind. Researchers at the Science Corporation in California have tested their new method on mice - but can it be done in humans?
If you’re looking for a great science-based TV series or film to get stuck into this December, our resident TV critic Bethan Ackerley is here with all the highlights of 2024. She discusses everything from the unconventional superhero show ‘Supacell’, to the fabulous ‘3 Body Problem’ and the latest ‘Planet of the Apes’ film. Read Beth’s complete TV and film review here:
