Boy Given 1% Survival Chance Walks 5K

Daily Upsider on September 17, 2024

A boy who was shot in the head as a baby and nearly died is preparing to walk a 5k for the hospital that saved his life.

Harry Studley was 18 months old in 2016 when a 24-year-old neighbor, while cleaning his air rifle, aimed it at the crying toddler, thinking it was unloaded. The pellet lodged in Harry’s brain, causing a displaced skull fracture, swelling, and bleeding.

Harry was given a one percent chance of survival but beat the odds. However, he still deals with epilepsy, partial blindness, weakness, and some cognitive challenges. Now nine, Harry and his father, Ed, will participate in the Grand Walk for the Grand Appeal on Sunday, September 15th, to raise money for Bristol Royal Hospital for Children in England.

The family has created a JustGiving page for donations.

Little Harry Studley being reunited with the paramedics who saved him – SWNS

Hubble Telescope, Still Hard at Work

Daily Upsider on September 17, 2024

The Hubble Space Telescope recently captured an image of the Triangulum Galaxy (M33), proving it remains relevant despite the James Webb Telescope’s advanced infrared capabilities.

M33, located in the constellation Triangulum, is about half the size of the Milky Way and is the third-largest galaxy in the Local Group after Andromeda (M31) and the Milky Way. Known for its rapid star formation, M33 forms stars at a rate 10 times higher than Andromeda, thanks to its abundant gas, dust, and ionized hydrogen clouds (H-II regions). Interestingly, its well-ordered spiral arms show little evidence of interaction with other galaxies, suggesting its star formation isn’t driven by galactic collisions, as is common elsewhere. Instead, high-mass stars seem to form from molecular cloud collisions within M33.

The image reveals reddish clouds of ionized hydrogen and dark dust lanes. The graininess is due to swarms of stars—M33 is one of the few galaxies close enough for Hubble to resolve individual stars. Unlike most spiral galaxies, M33 lacks a central bulge or a supermassive black hole, making it a “pure disk galaxy,” a structure found in about 15-18% of galaxies.

Despite its current stability, M33 may collide with both Andromeda and the Milky Way in the future. This image is part of a survey aimed at refining theories on the interstellar medium, star formation, and stellar evolution.

If you want to see another fantastic image, check out this image from NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day.

San Diego Zoo Welcomes Rare Sumatran Tiger Cub

Daily Upsider on September 16, 2024

The San Diego Zoo recently welcomed the birth of a Sumatran tiger cub, a critically endangered subspecies with only around 600 remaining in the wild. The cub was born on August 23rd to first-time mother Jillian. This marks a significant step in the zoo’s ongoing conservation efforts for Sumatran tigers.

Wildlife care specialists report that Jillian is adapting well to motherhood, displaying all the expected maternal behaviors, and the cub has been active and vocal while bonding with her. Lisa Peterson, the senior vice president of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, emphasized the importance of this birth, noting that it adds vital genetic diversity to the Sumatran tiger population.

Sumatran tigers are the smallest and most endangered of the tiger subspecies, and they face numerous threats, including habitat loss and poaching. Conservationists encourage the public to help protect these animals by avoiding products made with unsustainable palm oil and refusing to buy items made from endangered species.

Jillian and her cub will remain in their den for several weeks to bond before moving to a specially designed habitat. This period is crucial for the cub’s development. Globally, there are 375 Sumatran tigers in zoos, as part of efforts to ensure the survival of this subspecies.

Sound Waves Treating Pain and Depression

Daily Upsider on September 16, 2024

A new device, called the Diadem, has shown promising results in relieving pain and depression during clinical trials. It uses sound waves to target specific areas of the brain with millimeter accuracy. While non-drug treatments like this can raise skepticism, especially given the widespread use of SSRIs for depression, the research team is enthusiastic.

Lead author Tom Riis, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Utah’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, reports significant improvements in patients after just one 40-minute session.

“Not every participant saw drastic changes, but for those who did, the results were remarkable,” said Riis. “In some cases, you could see the difference immediately—their mood and behavior had completely shifted.”

The device is in phase 2 trials, and the team is eager to move forward. Of 20 participants, 60% reported a 33% reduction in pain right after treatment. For those with depression, 10 of 14 reported remission a week later after just one session.

The Diadem sends ultrasonic frequencies to areas of the brain involved in pain and emotion regulation, like the anterior cingulate cortex. The device’s precision allows it to reach the target areas through the skull.

One patient described the experience as their brain “waking up,” while another reported feeling unusually clear-headed while walking through a grocery store. The team is now recruiting participants for phase 3 trials and can be contacted at diademclinicaltrials@gmail.com.

Wind Turbine ‘Virtual Factory’

Daily Upsider on September 15, 2024

Offshore wind turbine maintenance is about to improve with the new ‘Jack-up on Jack-up’ concept introduced by Danish naval engineering firm Knud E Hansen. This design creates a “virtual factory” around turbine blades, allowing technicians to work continuously, regardless of weather.

If successful, this concept could greatly enhance the efficiency and reliability of offshore turbine maintenance, pushing the industry towards more operational stability. The design centers around a four-legged platform with a 49.2-foot-wide (15-meter) work area that can be raised to the height of the nacelle (the housing at the top of the turbine). It also features a telescopic weather cover, which provides a controlled environment for technicians to work on blades in almost any weather, day or night.

Knud E Hansen highlights this as a key benefit, noting that traditional methods, reliant on favorable weather for vessel and rope access, often face delays. This new platform allows for a more dependable maintenance schedule, reducing turbine downtime and enabling continuous power production.

A standout feature of the ‘Jack-up on Jack-up’ design is its onboard workshop—a large, air-conditioned workspace at the platform’s rear. This allows technicians to perform complex repairs on-site, eliminating the need to transport damaged blades to shore. The platform also includes a “cherry picker” for easy access to the nacelle, streamlining repairs and reducing logistical challenges. It is designed to handle even the largest turbines, up to 20 megawatts, and operate in water depths of up to 262 feet (80 meters).

Capable of maintaining blades up to 426 feet (130 meters) long and replacing nacelles weighing up to 1,000 tons, this platform is built to meet the demands of current and future offshore turbines.