All posts tagged: light

Edison may have unknowingly created graphene with his 1879 light bulb

Edison may have unknowingly created graphene with his 1879 light bulb

Published by Jenni Sidey

According to new research from Rice University, while Edison’s goal was simply to create a longer-lasting electric lamp, the extreme conditions created inside Edison’s carbon filament bulbs in those early light bulbs may have inadvertently produced the same conditions needed to create graphene. The study by James Tour and his former graduate student Lucas Eddy, who was the lead researcher, shows that when the authors recreated Edison’s original incandescent light bulb, they also discovered that the same electrical heating caused by the filament could convert the carbon filament into turbostratic graphene, the name for a type of graphene with loosely stacked atomic layers. Graphene is a single layer of carbon arranged in a two-dimensional honeycomb shape. It is incredibly strong, highly conductive, and transparent. While P.R. Wallace, a physicist in the 1940s, had proposed the theoretical existence of graphene, it was not until the early 2000s that graphene was isolated and characterized by Konstantin Novoselov and Andre Geim, who won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on graphene. Edison’s Filaments And Extreme …

JWST confirmed the most distant galaxy ever observed at 13.5 billion light years away

JWST confirmed the most distant galaxy ever observed at 13.5 billion light years away

Published by Jenni Sidey

With James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), NASA has confirmed its sightings of the farthest known galaxy to date, providing an unprecedented look back into the early universe about 280 million years after the Big Bang. The discovery of MoM-z14 was accomplished by a joint effort of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Geneva, and many others. The results were published in the Open Journal of Astrophysics and provide additional evidence supporting scientists’ previous beliefs that the early universe’s brightness and activity levels were higher than expected. The team determined MoM-z14’s redshift of 14.44 using JWST’s Near Infrared Spectrography (NIRSpec). Light emitted from MoM-z14 has been travelling for nearly 13.5 billion years to reach Earth due to cosmic expansion. Therefore, MoM-z14 represents the closest object observed back to what is known as the cosmic dawn, when the universe began to form. “Using JWST has enabled us to see much farther back into the ancient past than we are capable of doing here on Earth, and yet what we see does not correspond to anything …

HigherDose Red Light Hat Review: Scalp Savior (2026)

HigherDose Red Light Hat Review: Scalp Savior (2026)

Published by skeptic

It’s similar to how red-light face masks work. These masks are usually worn for about 10 minutes and always have a light wavelength level in the 600-nm range (usually 630 to 660), like the HigherDose hat does, but you’ll also see masks with higher infrared-light levels that promise healing and reduced inflammation. The hat delivers only the main red-light therapy level and features 120 medical-grade LED bulbs arranged in a half circle for easy wear around your head. The technology is FDA-cleared, meaning the FDA has determined that this device is substantially equivalent to an existing legally marketed device. HigherDose specifically states that the hat uses “FDA-cleared technology known to stimulate hair growth and improve scalp health,” but this is not the same as FDA-approved, which goes under much more rigorous testing. FDA-cleared is the only status we’ve really seen with red-light devices, though, and it’s the same status you’ll see on our red-light mask recommendations. Photograph: Nena Farrell It’s fun that the HigherDose hat really does look like an actual hat. There are other …

Parliament Act can be used to pass Assisted Dying Bill in light of Lords’ filibuster – Humanists UK

Parliament Act can be used to pass Assisted Dying Bill in light of Lords’ filibuster – Humanists UK

Published by Sam Flores

Lord Falconer and Kim Leadbeater MP, the sponsors of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, have said they have received legal and constitutional advice that the Parliament Act can be used to bypass the Lords and enact the Bill. Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision welcome this, and hope it encourages the House of Lords to stop filibustering, scrutinise the Bill, and respect the democratic will of the Commons.  Richy Thompson, Director of Human Rights and Advocacy at Humanists UK, said: ‘We hope that the clarity around the Parliament Act will focus the House of Lords on getting the Assisted Dying Bill across the line. The people have spoken, MPs have spoken, and a small group of peers vehemently opposed to the Bill shouldn’t be able to overturn that. That shouldn’t be how our democracy works. ‘The filibustering reflects badly on the House of Lords and our politics in general. If the Bill fails, the Government should make sure that Parliament decides on assisted dying – sooner rather than later.’ Dave Sowry, …

New Footage Appears To Show Alex Pretti Spit At ICE, Break SUV Tail Light In Prior Minneapolis Confrontation

New Footage Appears To Show Alex Pretti Spit At ICE, Break SUV Tail Light In Prior Minneapolis Confrontation

Published by Jenni Sidey

The killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last Saturday sparked national outrage – particularly when it comes to the 2nd Amendment and his right to carry while protesting. The incident resulted in two federal agents involved in the shooting being placed on leave, and the ouster of US border patrol chief Gregory Bovino as the face of the Trump administration’s mass deportation drive. While the circumstances of his death are still under investigation – many believe this  gun went off after an agent took it off his body, spooking the shooter or shooters – he was known to federal authorities, and had suffered a broken rib during a violent confrontation with agents about a week before his death, CNN reported Tuesday. Now, new footage appears to show Pretti armed and spitting at ICE agents before he smashes the taillights of their black SUV during a wild confrontation roughly a week before his death.  Screenshot via The News Movement The video, verified by the BBC, captures what appears to be Pretti screaming at federal agents while they were driving away during a Jan. …

Scientists shed new light on the brain’s role in heart attack : NPR

Scientists shed new light on the brain’s role in heart attack : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Shidlovski/iStockphoto/Getty Images Scientists at the University of California San Diego have discovered a path between the brain and the immune system that could potentially lead to new ways to ease heart attacks. They showed that disabling specific parts of that circuit could profoundly improve outcomes in mice with experimentally induced heart attacks. “The injury almost disappears,” says UCSD neuroscientist Vineet Augustine, who led the new study appearing Tuesday in the journal Cell. While it may not seem obvious how neuroimmune crosstalk relates to heart disease, links between the nervous and immune systems have captivated researchers for decades. Some researchers have focused on the vagus nerve, a huge bundle of fibers that carries signals between the brain and other organs to control breathing, blood pressure, digestion and other involuntary functions. A key discovery came in 2000 when researchers at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research on Long Island, New York, showed that electrically stimulating the vagus nerve in rats curbed production of an immune protein that drives inflammation. Last July, an implantable vagus nerve stimulator developed …

The Smart Light Bulbs Worth Buying in 2026: Cync, Meross, Tapo

The Smart Light Bulbs Worth Buying in 2026: Cync, Meross, Tapo

Published by skeptic

In every home I’ve had in the past decade, I’ve installed smart light bulbs. Over and over again, between four different apartments and one townhouse, I was impressed by how easy smart lights were to use and how handy they were around the house, especially when key lights are plugged into outlets without a switch. No more switch-hunting; I just ask my smart speaker to turn the lights off for me. After my latest round of testing nine different bulbs, my favorite remains the GE Cync Dynamic Effects Smart Bulb ($36 for two). The app is pretty and comes with cool extras, including fun light shows and even music shows. Because yes, this bulb can react to music and sound around it thanks to a built-in microphone. If you’re an Apple user, the Meross Smart Wi-Fi LED Bulb ($29 for two) connects easily to your Apple HomeKit setup without needing a separate app to control it. Looking to get more bulbs without spending more? Check out the TP-Link Tapo Smart Light Bulbs ($32 for four). …

Spectrum Visualize Radio Signals with a 64-filament LED Light Build

Spectrum Visualize Radio Signals with a 64-filament LED Light Build

Published by skeptic

Have you ever wondered what the invisible world of radio waves might look like if you could actually see it? Rootkid explains how his project, the Spectrum Slit, transforms the unseen chaos of wireless communication into a stunning, real-time light display. By combining advanced hardware, custom software, and a touch of artistic ingenuity, this creation translates the electromagnetic spectrum into something you can experience visually, and even audibly. The result is a mesmerizing window into the hidden forces that power your modern, connected life, offering a rare glimpse at the constant “storm” of signals from Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other technologies. It’s a reminder of just how much activity surrounds us, unnoticed, every second of every day. Uncover the fascinating process behind building the Spectrum Slit, from hacking hardware to modifying LED filaments for dynamic light patterns. You’ll also explore how the project bridges the gap between abstract science and human perception, making the electromagnetic spectrum not just visible but deeply engaging. Whether you’re curious about the intricate design, the technical challenges, or the surprising auditory …

Is it true that … red light therapy masks prevent wrinkles? | Life and style

Is it true that … red light therapy masks prevent wrinkles? | Life and style

Published by Sam Flores

‘Red light therapy, where LED lights are shone on your skin, has been around for a while,” says Afshin Mosahebi, a professor in plastic surgery at University College London. But what was once an expensive treatment you’d go to a professional to receive is now becoming widely available in the form of light-up masks you can wear at home. “Reasonable reports show that the treatment is good for wound-healing,” says Mosahebi. This is why it is recommended for inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, dermatitis and psoriasis, as it increases circulation, decreases inflammation, and improves cell regeneration. When it comes to preventing wrinkles though, there’s less proof. “One of the things we know that happens as we age is the fibroblast cells become a little bit sleepy. The theory is the light will stimulate them into action to produce collagen, which is something we need for thicker, plumper, less wrinkly skin.” But there’s no substantial evidence to back this up, he says. And if it does work, professional sessions are far more likely to be effective as they’re …