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New focus on the moon

The LROC camera system has taken its first images of the Moon, revealing detailed topography and subtle features. The instrument is performing exceptionally well, with a resolution of approximately 1.4-meters/pixel, and will soon begin mapping the lunar surface at 50-cm/pixel.

'Gecko vision': Key to the multifocal contact lens of the future?

Researchers have discovered a series of distinct concentric zones in gecko eyes that enable exceptional night vision, leading to potential advancements in camera technology and multifocal contact lenses. The study, published in the Journal of Vision, also introduces a new method for gathering optical data from live animals without harm.

Scientists produce illusion of body-swapping

Cognitive neuroscientists successfully created an illusion of body-swapping by manipulating sensory impressions, allowing subjects to perceive a mannequin's body as their own. This discovery sheds light on how the brain constructs an internal image of the body and has potential practical uses in VR applications.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 2, 2008

Exploding star in NGC 2397

A team of astronomers from Queen's University Belfast have discovered the nature of five supernova precursor stars using Hubble images. The study reveals that stars with masses as low as seven times the mass of the Sun can explode as supernovae, challenging current understanding of massive star collapse.

New night vision system reduces car accidents

A new electronic system created by researchers from the University of Granada improves driving ability at night using information extracted from night visors. The system makes intelligent cars more sophisticated by informing drivers about obstacles on the road.

SourceUniversity of Granada·JournalIEEE Transactions on Image Processing·DateSep 27, 2007

Learning visual prosthesis at the Hanover Fair

Researchers at Bonn University have developed a software system called the Retina Encoder, which helps the brain interpret signals from retinal implants. The system learns to translate camera signals into a language that the brain understands, allowing blind subjects to perceive contours and orientation.

New wide-angle lens produces pictures without distortion

Researchers designed a low-cost, lightweight wide-angle lens that produces virtually distortion-free images, ideal for security-camera systems and robot navigation. The lens has a field of view of 151 degrees and can be increased to capture even more space, making it suitable for various indoor applications.

SourceOptica·JournalApplied Optics·DateNov 30, 2006

The 'Freakonomics of food'

A study by Cornell Food & Brand Lab shows that we tend to overeat due to cues around us, such as plate size and distractions. By using smaller plates or limiting food options, individuals can make easier changes to control their eating habits.

SourceCornell Food & Brand Lab·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateNov 22, 2006

Nanosecond-scale release of stinging jellyfish nematocysts

Researchers studied nematocyst discharge in Hydra using an electronic framing-streak camera at 1,430,000 frames per second. They found discharges as short as 700 nanoseconds and pressures of up to 7 GPa, allowing the cellular process to release kinetic energy with molecular spring mechanism.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMay 8, 2006

A high-speed camera records turbulence

A research team led by Professor Eberhard Bodenschatz has experimentally tested two theories on how particles separate in strong turbulence. The results, which agree with George Batchelor's predictions but not the Richardson-Obukhov law, suggest that particles move more slowly away from each other than previously assumed.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateMar 6, 2006

Robot set loose to film your insides

A new robot system developed by Dmitry Oleynikov and colleagues enables surgeons to visualize the abdominal cavity using minimal incisions, allowing for less trauma and potentially reducing scars. The device is controlled from a console and can be inserted through small incisions, allowing for more flexibility in surgical procedures.

SourceNew Scientist·JournalThe New Scientist·DateJan 25, 2006

Evidence for more dust than ice in comets

New findings from the Rosetta spacecraft suggest comets are composed primarily of dust held together by ice, contradicting the long-held 'dirty snowball' hypothesis. Cometary nuclei like Comet 9P/Tempel 1 exhibit dynamic and volatile properties, with impacts triggering outbursts of dust and gas.

SourceEuropean Space Agency·JournalNature·DateOct 13, 2005

Robotic gastric bypass surgery shows promise

Researchers report on the first 10 patients to undergo totally robotic laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, achieving comparable surgical times and complication rates with a short learning curve. The study suggests that robotic technology is feasible and safe for this procedure, potentially offering a superior alternative.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Surgery·DateAug 15, 2005