Citizen science can be used for big-data projects
A team of scientists from the University of New South Wales has discovered 4,581 new neuron types in the brains of fruit flies, a discovery that could lead to new directions in research. The team used a computer model to train the artificial intelligence model to create a wiring diagram of millions of sphinxes and thousands of neurons.
As Iran launches an attack, Israel’s next move may determine the war’s course
Iran launched at least 200 missiles at targets in Israel on Wednesday, according to the Israeli military. The missiles were fired in response to Israel’s launch of an air-defence system against Iran’s nuclear facilities. The attack was Iran’s second in six months and comes amid rising tensions between the two countries over Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme.
The largest brain map shows fruit fly’s neurons in detail
A study has found that neurological neurons enter the brain through left or right nerve. Researchers who analysed 200 neuronal data from an experiment described it as ‘left–right co-clustering’. The researchers identified more types of neuron than they had expected. To assign cell types to the remaining neurons, they ran a double-hemisphere co-clustering.
There’s no link between the glows and TGFs
US Naval Research Laboratory and the Spanish Ministry of Environment and Environment have collaborated to help the European Union (EU) and Norway in the development of a project that aims to better understand the role of lightning in weather events. The project, called ‘AAT’, uses low-frequency and VHF interferometer data from various sensors to assist in the prediction of lightning events.
Predicting visual function is possible by interpreting a wiring diagram
The matrix PAB is the fraction of inputs synapses to cell type B that come from cell type A. For a given cell, we define ‘is connected to input type t’ as meaning that the cell receives at least one connection from some cell of type t. Similarly, the attribute ‘is connected to output type t’ means that the cell makes at least one connection onto some cell of type t.
Israel is sending troops to Lebanon as it vows to respond harshly to Iran’s missiles
US Ambassador to Israel Austin Austin said the US supports Israel’s ground incursion in Lebanon but is warning Israel about “mission creep”. The US has not restricted the duration of Israel’s incursion but that it’s concerned about a regional escalation. Israeli troops on Tuesday launched an operation targeting Hezbollah military compounds close to the border.
How to watch the debate between the two vice presidents
US Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday said that if he was in office today, he wouldn’t have certified the election like former Vice President Mike Pence did in 2021. “I would’ve told state governors that we needed to have…multiple slates of electors,” he said. Notably, Pence had certified President Donald Trump’s re-election in 2020 after a recount in several states.
The VP debate stage talked about ‘agree’ despite the candidates’ differences
During the vice presidential debate, Democratic candidate Tim Walz said that JD Vance had called Haitian immigrants living in Ohio “rabid animals”. Walz also accused Vance of speaking about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. Vance had earlier said that immigrants were responsible for the housing crisis in the US, adding, “A lot of people will go home if they can’t work for less than minimum wage.”
Retaliation by Israel was thought to be in the offing after the Iranian Missile Attack
Iran on Sunday fired missiles towards Israel, the country’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said. “Iran will continue to take all necessary steps to defend its territory from Israeli aggression…We call upon Israel to restraint,” he added. Earlier, Zarif said that Iran could respond to Israel’s attack on Lebanon’s Hezbollah with a missile strike against Israel.
The death toll has gone up, as millions remain without power
Hurricane Helene has left at least 91 people dead in US’ North Carolina, according to the state’s Emergency Management Agency (EDMA). At least 600 people are still missing in Buncombe County alone, EDMA said. The hurricane struck on Friday night as a Category 4 storm, making it the most powerful to hit the state in over 30 years.