![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_1125868862-1024x988.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\nPOTENTIAL PROTECTION AGAINST ALZHEIMER\u2019S<\/h5>\n\n
Scientists at the University of Virginia have found a molecule in the brain that\u2019s responsible for regulating the immune system\u2019s response to Alzheimer\u2019s and other neurodegenerative diseases. The molecule, spleen tyrosine kinase, controls the process of clearing the characteristic brain plaques seen in Alzheimer\u2019s, and the brain debris buildup that causes multiple sclerosis. The scientists think it may be possible to supercharge this molecule to enhance the body\u2019s \u2018brain-cleaning\u2019 ability. <\/p>\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\nMEDICINAL FUNGUS GROWN ON INSECTS<\/h5>\n\n
In nature, the Cordyceps <\/em>fungus infects invertebrates, with the fruiting body eventually erupting from the animal\u2019s body, killing it in the process. But despite its ghoulish life history, Cordyceps <\/em>is of interest to scientists as it contains the bioactive substance cordycepin, which could be used for antiviral medications and cancer drugs. The problem is, obtaining it in the wild is difficult, and cultivating the fungus in the lab results in poor yields. Now, however, scientists at Chungbuk National University in South Korea have found that by growing the fungus on edible insects such as crickets, silkworm pupae and rhinoceros beetles, the cordycepin content is increased. <\/p>\n\n CODE-AE, an AI model developed by computer scientists at the City University of New York, is said to be capable of screening new drugs and accurately predicting their efficacy in humans. It could be used to rapidly investigate the early potential of novel medicines, rather than relying on cell or tissue samples, which don\u2019t always serve as an accurate proxy for people. <\/p>\n\n Hydrogen gas has potential as a clean alternative to fossil fuel but storing large quantities of it is difficult and dangerous. Now, a new method of converting it into hydrogen salt has been found that makes the fuel easier to handle and transport. Hydrogen salt isn\u2019t a new development, but the conversion process currently relies on materials that release CO2<\/sub>. The new conversion process captures the CO2 <\/sub>it produces. <\/p>\n\n Research led by scientists at Finland\u2019s Aalto University has led to the creation of a powerful, ultra-tiny spectrometer that fits on a microchip and is operated using artificial intelligence. Used to measure and analyse light, spectrometers are used in various fields from astronomy to geology, but the devices are typically bulky and expensive. The new, scaled-down spectrometer could be integrated into smartphones, enabling it to do some clever medical tests or even scan the conditions of the environment around it. <\/p>\n\n More revelatory images of deep space could soon be on the way thanks to a new technique for making high-precision, ultra-thin mirrors using brief pulses of laser beams measured in trillionths of a second. Such mirrors can be installed in X-ray telescopes orbiting Earth to capture high-energy cosmic events involved in forming new stars and supermassive black holes. The MIT team behind the technique says it overcomes the problems of the current fabrication method, which can bend and deform the thin material more than is needed. <\/p>\n\n Musical pillows could reduce sensations of pain and anxiety in patients awaiting emergency surgery, according to a small study in Denmark. Listening to music on MP3 players connected to pillows in emergency room beds improved patients\u2019 feelings of wellbeing and relaxation as they waited for surgeries to deal with acute conditions including appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, and abscess or inflammation of the gall bladder. <\/p>\n\n An analysis of over 22,000 studies and 241 sites has found that marine protected areas not only protect the plants and animals that live within them, but that the benefits spread further afield. The authors of the analysis found that carbon sequestration increased significantly in protected areas where sediment wasn\u2019t trawled. They also noted that while the protected areas had greater food security, the fish stocks in adjacent waters also swelled. <\/p>\n\n As a remedy for all the bad news out there, let us prescribe you a small dose of feel-good science. Each issue, we\u2019ll give you a rundown of the latest breakthroughs that aim to solve humanity\u2019s biggest problems. From clean fuels to pain-reducing pillows, here you\u2019ll find many reasons to feel hopeful for our future\u2026 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":19387,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"26","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"26","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_26-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_26-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"November-2022","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"November-2022","purple_external_id":"November-2022-26-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"November-2022-26-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000089660||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000089660||","purple_android_product":"com.focus.magazine.issue384","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.focus.magazine.issue384","purple_ios_product":"com.focus.magazine.issue384","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.focus.magazine.issue384","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"0f422ad1-c939-476d-9f82-a410052ad4c3","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2022-11-08T11:39:15Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"7f6cd97a-19c5-4b78-99a1-101eac361d7d","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2022-11-09T10:13:59Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAw==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/Af2zZehnFS3iZoRAerDYdfQ","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[25],"tags":[15],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_1125868862-scaled.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"4","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_1125868862-scaled.jpg",2560,2469,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_1125868862-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_1125868862-300x289.jpg",300,289,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_1125868862-768x741.jpg",768,741,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_1125868862-1024x988.jpg",800,772,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_1125868862-1536x1481.jpg",1536,1481,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_1125868862-2048x1975.jpg",2048,1975,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"As a remedy for all the bad news out there, let us prescribe you a small dose of feel-good science. Each issue, we\u2019ll give you a rundown of the latest breakthroughs that aim to solve humanity\u2019s biggest problems. From clean fuels to pain-reducing pillows, here you\u2019ll find many reasons to feel hopeful for our future\u2026","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19052"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19052"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19052\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19731,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19052\/revisions\/19731"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19052"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19052"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19052"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_85559135-584x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\nAI COULD ACCELERATE DRUG-APPROVAL PROCESS <\/h5>\n\n
\n\nYears to go: 20-10<\/span><\/h4>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_858377524-1024x932.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\nA CLEANER WAY TO GET CLEAN FUEL<\/h5>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/unnamed-file.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\nA SPECTROMETER FOR YOUR PHONE<\/h5>\n\n
\n\nYears to go: 10-0<\/span><\/h4>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/IXOFlyby1Large-1024x556.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\nJAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE, WATCH OUT! <\/h5>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/IMG_0028-698x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\nPAIN-REDUCING PILLOWS<\/h5>\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_589422017-1024x759.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\nSAVING THE SEAS SAVES THE PLANET <\/h5>\n\n