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The limits of vision: Seeing shadows in the dark

Researchers at Aalto University have discovered a dedicated neural pathway in the retina that can detect even the dimmest shadows possible. This breakthrough could lead to unprecedented resolution in probing visual diseases.

Poor eyesight unfairly mistaken for brain decline

A new study by the University of South Australia found that up to a quarter of people aged over 50 with undiagnosed visual problems like cataracts or AMD are misdiagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. Cognitive tests relying on vision-dependent tasks can skew results.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

How brains form visual maps

Researchers at State University of New York College of Optometry propose a general theory of cortical map formation that explains the diversity of visual maps in nature. The theory suggests that map diversity emerges from variations in thalamic afferent density sampling sensory space, leading to increased cortical areas and sorting of ...

Improving eye health essential to achieving Sustainable Development Goals

A new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health found that improved eye health services are associated with moving closer to achieving seven SDGs. Multiple direct connections were discovered between eye health services and increased productivity, household expenditure, income, education, and equality.

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.

Unfolding the blindness proteins through fly eyes

Scientists have identified a crucial mechanism for Rhodopsin production in fruit flies, which may lead to a better understanding of retinitis pigmentosa and vision loss. The study reveals that the EMC protein complex is essential for the proper folding and insertion of Xport-A, a key chaperone of Rhodopsin.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Burrowing snakes have far worse eyesight than their ancestors

Scientists found that seven genes associated with bright-light vision are absent in burrowing snakes, demonstrating extensive vision gene loss over millions of years. This challenges the hypothesis that all modern snakes evolved from extreme burrowers, suggesting a different evolutionary path for these subterranean snakes.

Efficient coding: How the brain optimizes allocation of resources

A study published in eLife found that rats exhibit efficient coding processes for visual stimuli, similar to those observed in humans. This suggests a universal principle in vision, where the brain adapts to its environment by specializing in the recognition of informative signals, thereby conserving computational resources and energy.

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.

scAAVengr hunt for viruses to cure blindness

A novel computational platform called scAAVengr uses single-cell RNA sequencing to quickly evaluate viral vectors for delivering gene therapies to the retina with maximum efficiency and precision. This approach saves time and resources by identifying suitable candidates that can deliver therapy to affected parts of the retina accurately.

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.

Flies in a VR world reveal how vision affects locomotion

Researchers used fruit flies in a virtual reality setting to show that vision influences body movements by tuning postural adjustments as a preventative measure. Without vision, the limb control systems respond to balance and posture perturbations, but when vision is available, the behavioral goal of walking straight takes precedence.

Batters move their heads to keep their eyes on the ball

Researchers found that batters keep their eye on the ball but move their head to direct their gaze. The study suggests that this movement may help reduce visual calculations needed for accurate bat placement. Further investigation is needed to determine if eye-gaze-based training can improve batting performance.

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Mother's scent triggers face-selective responses in infants

Research using electroencephalography found that exposure to maternal odors facilitates categorization of face-like objects in infants' brains. This study suggests that the right occipitotemporal cortex plays a key role in this process, potentially indicating an earlier emergence of hemisphere advantages for face recognition.

A robot that senses hidden objects

Researchers have developed a robot that combines radio wave sensing with computer vision to locate and grasp occluded objects. RF-Grasp uses radio waves to sense objects even when they're fully blocked from view, enabling efficient fulfillment in warehouses or retrieving lost items.

Women with sensory loss twice as likely to suffer depression

A new study by Anglia Ruskin University found that women with sensory loss are more than twice as likely to report depression and anxiety as men. Women with dual sensory impairment were almost three and a half times more likely to experience depression.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Link between dual sensory loss and depression

People with combined vision and hearing loss are nearly four times more likely to experience depression, while those with both issues suffer chronic anxiety. Researchers found a significant link between sensory loss and mental health problems in a study of over 23,000 adults.

Researchers say we're watching the world go blind

A growing global population is exacerbating the need for eye care services, with no significant reduction in treatable vision loss over the last decade. The study highlights cataracts and refractive errors as major causes of moderate to severe vision impairment.

Older adults who can really smell the roses may face lower likelihood of dementia

A UCSF study found that older adults with retained senses of hearing, vision, and touch have half the risk of developing dementia compared to those with marked sensory decline. The study tracked over 1,800 participants in their seventies for up to 10 years, revealing a stronger association between olfaction and lower dementia risk.

Neural circuits mapped: Now we understand vision better

A study by Aarhus University researchers has discovered the function of nerve cells in the eye that sense visual movement. This knowledge is crucial for developing targeted treatments for diseases like dementia and schizophrenia.

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.

Many older people's glasses of wrong power

A recent study by the University of Gothenburg found that many 70-year-olds in Sweden overestimate their eyesight, but can still see considerably better with glasses or power correction. The study also highlights the importance of regular eye exams to detect visual impairment and age-related diseases.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Fruit bats can transform echoes into images

A new study by Tel Aviv University researchers found that fruit bats integrate vision and echolocation to see and use their eyes as much as they hear and use echolocation. The team trained the bats to land on objects in complete darkness, where they transformed echoes into visual images.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Virtual reality could improve your balance, study finds

A new study by Lund University found that virtual reality can help individuals with long-term dizziness shift their reliance from vision to other senses for better balance. The study showed differences in how men and women are affected by VR, with more women needing additional practice to master this skill.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

New AGS-NIA conference report explores links between senses and cognitive health

Experts discuss the connection between impaired vision, hearing, and cognition, highlighting the need to understand their inter-related processes and develop new tools to measure sensory and cognitive impairments. The report outlines important priorities for future scholarship and clinical practice to address these health concerns.

I hear what you say! Or do I?

A study published in Scientific Reports found that children's susceptibility to the McGurk effect decreases with age, while adults are more likely to be influenced by visual information. The research suggests a shift in sensory dominance across development, with reduced susceptibility in childhood and adult-like levels by 10 years of age.

Vision, sensory and motor testing could predict best batters in baseball

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found players with higher scores on vision and motor tasks completed on large touch-screen machines had better on-base percentages, more walks, and fewer strikeouts. High scores in perception-span task were associated with an increased ability to get on base.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Bird with super senses inspires researchers

The oilbird's unique combination of sharp vision, smell, tactile sensation, and echolocation abilities inspire researchers to create more advanced drones. By studying the bird's sensory system, scientists hope to develop models that can be used in robotics engineering.

Magic helps unmask how the brain works

Researchers at the University of Delaware used a new mirror box illusion to study how the brain processes multiple sensory inputs. The study found that the brain uses biomechanical constraints from the body schema to resolve conflicts between senses, with vision typically ruling but also considering additional information.

Post-concussion, peripheral vision reaction times substantially impaired

Researchers found that concussion patients exhibit significantly slowed central and peripheral vision reaction times, with PVRT being disproportionately prolonged. This study suggests a useful diagnostic method to objectively assess concussion symptoms, providing potential benefits for patient recovery and athlete safety.

Oregon scientists find sight-impaired mice may help vision research

Researchers at the University of Oregon found that mice rely on their vision to catch prey, providing a new model for understanding complex brain-vision interactions. This discovery may also shed light on human conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), where focusing on a single task is challenging.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

How did primate brains get so big?

A new study reconstructs virtual brains from ancient primate skulls, showing that early primates developed larger brains after specialization in vision and neurological functions. The findings suggest that modern primates' large brains are a result of evolutionary adaptations rather than innate traits.

Survey: Vision health a priority

A nationwide poll of 2,044 US adults found that loss of eyesight is the worst ailment respondents could imagine, ranking it alongside losing a limb or hearing. The survey also revealed high awareness of cataracts and glaucoma but low knowledge about other eye conditions.

Small birds' vision: Not so sharp but superfast

Research by Uppsala University and colleagues found that small passerine birds have ultra-rapid vision, with some species able to detect changes at rates of up to 146 Hz, outpacing human vision by 50 Hz. This fast vision is thought to be an evolutionary adaptation for detecting moving insects.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

At the edge of vision: Struggling to make sense of our cluttered world

Scientists discovered that visual crowding hinders our ability to make sense of what we see, particularly in cluttered scenes. They developed a new method to quantify crowding and found that brain processing limits peripheral vision due to degraded resolution and confusion between object details.

The brain perceives motion the same way through both vision and touch

Researchers found that the brain processes motion from both visual and tactile inputs using similar computations, integrating information from individual neurons with a small perspective of the object. This common representation of motion can be seen in experiments using plaid stimuli presented visually or tactilely.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Brain plasticity after vision loss has an 'on-off switch'

Researchers at KU Leuven found a molecular switch that controls how the brain compensates for vision loss, with implications for sensory prosthetics and patient recovery. In adult mice, this cross-modal neuroplasticity is triggered by both eyes and whiskers, but in adolescents, only one eye takes over.

Kiwi bird genome sequenced

The kiwi genome sequencing reveals several genes involved in colour vision are inactivated, while the diversity of odorant receptors is higher than in other birds, indicating a reliance on their sense of smell for foraging. Genetic changes occurred about 35 million years ago, reflecting the kiwi's adaptation to its nocturnal lifestyle.

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.