Hadron Collider & Neurovalens

2024 Large Hadron Collider Beams

There have been rumors that the CERN Large Hadron Collider will activate during the solar eclipse to open a portal. While this is false, the particle collider has recently made some advancements. According to CERN (the European Council for Nuclear Research), The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has begun its third year of Run 3, with stable beams announced on April 5. According to them, this marks the start of the 2024 physics data-taking season, featuring higher luminosity proton collisions. The process includes injecting beams into the LHC (Large Hadron Collider), ramping up energy, achieving consistency, and squeezing beams for stable collisions. With this, experiments concerning the LHC are now ready to collect data.

Neurovalens Anxiety Treatment

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 19.1% of adults in the U.S. have had any type of anxiety disorder during the past year. That's close to one in five people. Now, according to TechCrunch, Neurovalens, a neurotech startup, has obtained FDA clearance for its noninvasive anxiety treatment device. The company's technology, which targets the brain and nervous system with electrical stimulation, has been approved for insomnia treatment. Unlike other wellness-focused startups, Neurovalens emphasizes medical claims backed by clinical trials. Their approach involves stimulating the vestibular nerve behind the ear to regulate brain functions related to stress and metabolism.

New Causes for Asthma

According to the BBC, UK scientists at King's College London have discovered that during asthma attacks, airway cells are squeezed, leading to long-term damage and inflammation. This previously overlooked damage could be a key factor in asthma's progression. They suggest that preventing this damage may be more effective than current Asthma treatments. Now, scientists are exploring a potential treatment called gadolinium, but further research is needed. According to the same article, Dr. Samantha Walker, the director of UK Asthma and Lung research, emphasizes the importance of using prescribed medications correctly and supports ongoing research for better treatments.

New NASA Contracts for Moon Rovers

According to The Washington Post, NASA has recently awarded contracts to three companies, Venturi Astrolab, Intuitive Machines, and Lunar Outpost, to develop autonomous moon rovers for exploration. These rovers will assist astronauts in exploring the lunar surface, especially in areas like the South Pole. Operating in partnership with NASA, the companies will pursue commercial opportunities with the rovers. According to the same article, this initiative is part of NASA's Artemis program, aiming to establish a sustainable lunar presence. The rovers will allow for more exploration and autonomous operations, further advancing lunar exploration capabilities.

Geoengineering More Clouds

With global warming being an evermore prevalent issue in everyday life, several measures are being tested to limit its effects. According to Scientific American, the launch of the nation's first outdoor test for solar geoengineering has just recently been conducted. Its goal is to mitigate global warming by increasing cloud cover. Conducted from a decommissioned aircraft carrier in San Francisco Bay, the experiment involves spraying microscopic salt particles into the air to enhance the reflectivity of clouds. The project, known as the Coastal Atmospheric Aerosol Research and Engagement (CAARE) project, aims to assess the potential of this method. Despite general positivity, some critics emphasize the potential risks, which include ecological impacts and the possibility of altering weather patterns.