Sensory

“We are going in hard,” Rou Reynolds declares during …Meltdown, ushering in gut-rattling bass wobbles that make this cavernous arena feel more like the deepest belly of a warehouse rave. Enter Shikari are a rock band in the broadest sense – moshpits break out instantly – but their trademark is a zealous fusion of dubstep, emo and electro tied up in sociopolitical commentary of varying efficacy.The St Albans quartet have a catalogue that varies so liberally that, for every song you swerve, there’s another that might be…

A family of Thescelosaurus emerges from safety to forage in the forests of the Hell Creek Formation, 66 million years ago. Credit: Anthony HutchingsA CT scan of a lesser-known, herbivorous dinosaur’s skull shows that although it might not have been particularly “brainy,” it possessed a distinctive set of characteristics similar to those seen in present-day animals that live partially underground, including a super sense of smell and outstanding balance. The work is the first to link a specific sensory fingerprint with…

When Renita Adams puts a pot on the stove in her Virginia home, she also puts a rubber band around her wrist. The 62-year-old retiree prefers a tight band that squeezes a little bit, so she won’t forget it’s there–usually one of the colorful, stretchy rings that come wrapped around produce bundles. Her years as a nurse left her a perennial multitasker. Sometimes, when she goes to boil water or stick a meal in the oven, it just makes sense to get the laundry going, too, while she waits. But the rubber band is a critical…

When landing on the surface of the Moon, astronauts can become spatially disoriented, which is when they lose sense of their orientation (meaning they might not be able to tell which way is up). This disorientation can lead to fatal accidents.Even on Earth, between 1993 and 2013 spatial disorientation led to the loss of 65 aircraft, $2.32 billion of damages, and 101 deaths in the U.S.Could wearable technology augment the senses of astronauts, allowing them to overcome the limitations of their biological sensors? And what…

Scientists have mapped neurotransmitter receptors in macaque brains, discovering key organizational principles that help distinguish internal thoughts from external influences. The data, made publicly available, could provide valuable insights into brain activity, behavior, and drug interactions, and potentially guide the development of new treatments targeting specific brain functions.Receptor patterns define key organizational principles in the brain, scientists have discovered. An international team of researchers,…

Arthrogryposis, also known as joint contractures, is a condition that results in multiple joint deformities. It is characterized by the inability to move a joint, resulting in a fixed, bent position. This can affect any joint in the body but is most commonly seen in the arms, legs, and spine.According to a recent study, an overabundance of mechanosensation in the neurons responsible for our sense of limb position in space can disrupt musculoskeletal development and cause joint deformities such as arthrogryposis.The…

Scientists at Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute and two partner institutions have identified previously unknown starting points in the neurobiological pathways related to pleasurable, sexual, and rewarding social touch in mouse studies. They were able to identify a full pathway that starts in the skin’s neurons responding to gentle stroking and ends in the pleasure centers of the brain.Researchers uncover neuronal circuitry tuned to rewarding forms of social touch, opening leads for harnessing touch as a treatment…

Ever wondered why kissing feels better than holding hands? The tongue is a pretty incredible piece of kit, though notoriously difficult to study, due to its position inside the mouth.  Obviously, it gives us access to the wonderful world of taste, but more than that, it has greater sensitivity to touch than the fingertip. Without it, we aren't able to speak, sing, breathe efficiently, or swallow delicious beverages.So why don't we use it even more?My new study investigates how to make the most of this strange organ –…

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Why sounds and smells are as vital to cities as the sights When David Howes thinks of his home city of Montreal, he thinks of the harmonious tones of carillon bells and the smell of bagels being cooked over wood fires. But when he stopped in at his local tourism office to ask where they recommend that visitors go to smell, taste, and listen to the city, he just…