Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Scientists create illusion of having 3 arms

A team of scientists at Karolinska Institutet has successfully created an illusion of having three arms by using a realistic prosthetic arm. Healthy volunteers were tested and found to experience a third arm as part of their body image, even when it was threatened with harm.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 23, 2011
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Bacterial life on and in humans orchestrates health and disease

The article highlights the significant impact of human microbiome on overall health, with microbes contributing to protection from disease and production of essential vitamins. Researchers are also exploring how the gut microbiome affects body weight and odor.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateDec 15, 2010

New fossil suggests dinosaurs not so fierce after all

A new species of dinosaur, Sarahsaurus, discovered in Arizona suggests that dinosaurs did not spread globally by overpowering other species but instead took advantage of a natural catastrophe. The fossil, which lived around 190 million years ago, shows that sauropodomorphs started out small and later evolved to large size.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·DateOct 5, 2010

Right or left? Brain stimulation can change which hand you favor

New research from UC Berkeley found that magnetic pulses disrupt neurons governing motor skills, increasing left hand use in right-handed volunteers. The study challenges previous assumptions about decision-making and may pave the way for clinical advances in brain injury rehabilitation.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 27, 2010
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Sign language speakers' hands, mouths operate separately

A new study on British Sign Language found that signers make different mistakes in the sign and in mouthing, indicating separate brain processing for hand and lip movements. Researchers suggest that this suggests the signer is processing two languages simultaneously.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateAug 23, 2010

Iranian scholars share Avicenna's medieval medical wisdom

The Canon of Medicine, written by the Persian scholar Avicenna, contains detailed information on respiratory diseases remarkably similar to those used today. The article highlights Avicenna's work on respiratory diseases and conditions, including herbal and non-herbal treatments, which are still valid with modern science.

SourceSAGE Publications UK·JournalTherapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease·DateOct 30, 2009

Perceiving touch and your self outside of your body

A study published in PLOS ONE found that sensations of touch can be felt and mislocalized towards where a virtual body is seen, altering the mapping of touch sensations in space. This research demonstrates the crucial role of brain mechanisms in multisensory processing for conscious experience.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 4, 2009
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

How to text message and avoid pain

A study by Ewa Gustafsson found that young adults with neck, arm, or hand symptoms tend to use their mobile phones differently than healthy controls. They often text message while hunched over and use the single thumb technique, which can lead to increased stress on hands and reduced breaks.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalJournal of Electromyography and Kinesiology·DateJun 23, 2009

Why the thumb of the right hand is on the left hand side

The concentration of Hedgehog determines whether the right hand thumb grows on the left hand side, a mechanism controlled by different concentrations of the molecule. The study found that cells use various molecular mechanisms to interpret different Hedgehog concentrations.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMay 22, 2009

Amputees can experience prosthetic hand as their own

Scientists at Karolinska Institutet have successfully induced people with an amputated arm to experience a prosthetic rubber hand as belonging to their own body. This illusion was achieved by tricking the brain into thinking sensory input was coming from the prosthetic hand.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalBrain·DateDec 11, 2008
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Brain implants may help stroke patients overcome partial paralysis

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a new brain-computer interface (BCI) technology that can detect and decode brain signals associated with hand and arm movements on the same side of the body. This breakthrough may enable patients with partial paralysis to regain mobility in their limbs.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalStroke·DateNov 11, 2008

Psychologist poses new hand-eye relationship

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis found that humans inspect objects more thoroughly when their hands are near them, indicating a new insight into brain wiring that could impact rehabilitative therapy techniques and prosthetic design.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalCognition·DateJul 11, 2008

When using gestures, rules of grammar remain the same

Studies of 40 speakers from four languages show consistent use of subject-object-verb order in gestures, contradicting linguistic assumptions. This natural ordering suggests that humans may shape language through nonverbal thought processes.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 30, 2008

Many doctors don't use patients' names on first visit

A study by Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine found that 78% of survey respondents wanted to be greeted by a doctor's name, while only half addressed the patient by name in first-time visits. The researchers recommend using patients' first and last names for a respectful and comfortable introduction.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateJun 11, 2007

For easy tasks, brain preps and decides together

Researchers discovered that brain regions involved in spatial attention, planning movements, and decision-making activate simultaneously when preparing for a task. This preparation enables the brain to get a 'running start', leading to quicker responses. The study's findings have implications for understanding real-world tasks like dri...

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalBrain Research·DateMar 6, 2007
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Robotic therapy helps restore hand use after stroke

A robotic therapy device called HOWARD has been shown to improve hand function in stroke patients by nearly 10% and manual dexterity by 20%, enabling them to grasp and release objects more effectively. The device, developed by UCI researchers, wraps around the hand and assists patients as they initiate movement.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·DateFeb 8, 2007

In most comprehensive study yet, two-week regimen helps stroke survivors regain arm control

A two-week rehabilitation program using constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) significantly improved function of the affected arm in stroke survivors. CIMT involves training the weakened hand and arm through repetitive exercises while restraining the unaffected hand and arm, forcing patients to use their affected limbs.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke·JournalJAMA·DateOct 31, 2006
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Health-care workers' SARS protective clothing systems

A Queen's University study compares two recommended protective clothing systems for health-care workers and found that one leaves workers prone to contamination at their forearms, wrists, hands, and necks. The more elaborate ensemble offers superior protection but is time-consuming to don and remove without errors.

SourceQueen's University·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateJul 31, 2006

How does the brain know what the right hand is doing?

A recent study published in The Journal of Physiology reveals that the brain relies on outflow signals to predict limb movement, even when sensory inputs from receptors are blocked. This finding sheds light on how our brains learn to move accurately and provides insight into phantom limb sensations.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalThe Journal of Physiology·DateMar 22, 2006

Where the brain combines what's heard and felt

Scientists from Max Planck Institute discovered that the auditory cortex integrates sensory information from multiple sources simultaneously, strengthening activity with tactile stimulation. This finding suggests that the brain processes sensory data early to prevent false perceptions.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNeuron·DateOct 19, 2005
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Stimuli and desire linked to help stroke patients

Researchers developed a treatment using a neuroprosthesis that stimulates muscles with electrical pulses, enabling stroke patients to reconnect damaged neuronal connections and restore hand function. After 16 weeks of training, 85% of the treatment group showed progress in reaching and grasping functions.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalNeuromodulation Technology at the Neural Interface·DateFeb 14, 2005

Workers with carpal tunnel find relief with night-time splinting

A study by U-M researchers found that night-time splinting can effectively improve hand and wrist discomfort for active workers with early symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. The results showed significant improvement in symptoms for half of the splinted group after six weeks.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalArchives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation·DateJan 5, 2005

Stanford cooling tool may improve performance of athletes, soldiers

The Stanford cooling tool uses a local subatmospheric pressure environment to cool the body from the inside out, reducing recovery time after anesthesia. By extending endurance in hot environments, the device has significant implications for athletes, military personnel, and factory workers.

SourceStanford University·DateOct 4, 2004
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Studying the biomechanics of the human thumb

Francisco Valero-Cuevas is awarded a research grant to study the biomechanics of the human thumb, aiming to improve surgical procedures for hand injuries. He will use cadaver hands and a dynamometer to measure the force of the thumb in various directions.

SourceCornell University·DateSep 18, 2001

Babies' hands move to the rhythm of language

Researchers found that babies exposed to signed language produce distinct hand movements with low-frequency rhythmic activity, indicating an innate sensitivity to linguistic patterns. This discovery suggests that parents' sing-song way of speaking and playful rhyming games can aid the language learning process.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalNature·DateSep 5, 2001

Spherical motor allows 3D movement for robots, other uses

Engineers at Johns Hopkins University invented a globe-shaped motor that can rotate in any direction, giving robotic arms greater flexibility and precision. The device could also be used to create a computer mouse that interacts with the user, or as a three-dimensional wheel with omnidimensional characteristics.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·DateJan 11, 2001
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Computerized map responds to speech and gestures

Researchers developed a system that enables users to interact with a computer-controlled map using natural speech and hand gestures. The system recognizes spoken words and gestures, allowing users to locate buildings and parking lots on the Penn State campus.

SourcePenn State·DateAug 19, 1999

MIT Touch Lab Research Explores The Hand

The MIT Touch Lab researches the hand's intricate mechanisms, aiming to enhance hand impairments diagnosis and virtual reality experiences. Advanced technologies, such as ultrasound microscopes and haptic interfaces, are being developed to study human perception and touch.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateMar 18, 1999

Robots Take The First Step Towards Learning By Imitation

Researchers created a computer simulation to help robots learn by imitation, using virtual android Adonis to teach the macarena dance. The system demonstrates that imitation can make robots more flexible and effective in learning any task.

SourceNew Scientist·JournalThe New Scientist·DateJul 15, 1998

Pitt, Carnegie Mellon Researchers Shed Light On 'The Nature Of The Self'

Researchers Matthew Botvinick and Jonathan Cohen found that the brain uses intersensory matches to identify the body as its own, leading to a sense of ownership and self-awareness. This study's findings could have implications for understanding clinical conditions such as phantom limb and alienation phenomenon.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center·JournalNature·DateFeb 19, 1998
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

FDA Panel Recommends Approving System To Aid Paralyzed

A neural prosthetic system has been recommended for FDA approval, allowing paralyzed people to grasp objects without assistance. The system, developed over 25 years, enables users to regain hand function and perform routine activities with greater independence.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·DateNov 4, 1996

Chair-Mounted Split Keyboard Helps Reduce Typing Risks

A Cornell University study found that a chair-mounted split keyboard can reduce typing risks for carpal tunnel syndrome by improving upper body posture. The 'floating arms' keyboard (FAK) is the only design that attaches to a chair, reducing deviated postures and wrist movements.

SourceCornell University·DateJun 18, 1996