A small brain sample was broken down into 5,000 pieces and reassembled using artificial intelligence. The discoveries even surprised experts. The map is freely accessible on the Neuroglancer platform.

An atlas of the human brain is neuroscience’s dream. Scientists from Harvard and Google have now come a little closer to this. They created a nanoscale 3D map of a single cubic millimeter of the human brain. Although this only covers a fraction of the organ – a whole brain is a million times larger – this piece alone contains around 57,000 cells, 230 millimeters of blood vessels and around 150 million synapses. It is the highest resolution image of the human brain to date.

To create such a detailed map, the team cut a tissue sample into 5,000 slices and scanned them with a high-speed electron microscope. A machine learning model was then used to electronically reassemble and “label” the sections. The raw data set alone took up 1.4 petabytes. “This is probably the most computationally intensive work in all of neuroscience,” says Michael Hawrylycz, a neuroscientist at the Allen Institute for Brain Science who was not involved in the research. “It’s a herculean task.”

All previous brain atlases contain data with much lower resolution. On the nanoscale, however, researchers can trace the wiring of the brain neuron by neuron right down to the synapses, the places where they connect. “To truly understand how the human brain works, how it processes information and stores memories, we ultimately need a map with this resolution,” says Viren Jain, a senior researcher at Google and co-author of the paper published in the journal Science . The data set itself appeared in 2021.

NASA has now managed to create an interactive video that allows each of us to experience the feeling of getting very close to one. “Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly into a black hole?” This is the question that starts an interactive video that NASA has published – and that brings us closer to the fascination of black holes.

NASA has now managed to create an interactive video that allows each of us to experience the feeling of getting very close to one of their most fascinating missions. This groundbreaking video uses advanced virtual reality (VR) and 360-degree imaging technologies to immerse viewers in a simulated space environment. Users can navigate through the intricate details of spacecraft, explore celestial bodies, and even feel as though they are part of the crew on a space mission. This innovation not only enhances public engagement and education about space exploration but also provides a unique perspective on the complexities and wonders of NASA’s work. So he simulated two different scenarios: one in which a camera replacing an astronaut narrowly misses the black hole and shoots back out, and one in which it crosses the border and falls into it.

In order to create such impressive videos, special basics are required. Schnittman and his colleagues used the Discover supercomputer at the NASA Center for Climate Simulation . The project generated around ten terabytes of data, which the supercomputer worked on for around five days, according to a NASA statement . For comparison: According to NASA, this work would have taken more than a decade with a normal laptop .

There are now the first electric cars that boast a range of over 1,000 kilometers. But is this milestone really that significant? While impressive, the necessity of such an extensive range is debatable, as many drivers rarely require such long distances on a single charge. Factors like charging infrastructure, battery efficiency, and overall vehicle cost might play a more crucial role in the adoption of electric vehicles.

A few weeks ago, the Chinese electric car manufacturer Nio announced that it would begin series production of its first battery with semi-solid-state cells on June 1st. The new battery will first be used in the ET7 luxury sedan and will have a capacity of 150 kWh. This means that a range of more than 1,000 kilometers would no longer be a problem – provided that the ET7 also has the corresponding efficiency. When and whether the new battery will come to Germany is still unclear. Until then, the Mercedes-Benz EQS remains the range king, reaching 822 kilometers with a 118 kWh battery after its update at the beginning of April. The question remains: Does it still matter when making a purchase decision whether an electric car can travel 600, 800 or 1,000 kilometers on a single battery charge?

Mid-range cars now have a practical range of 350 to 400 kilometers, while in the upper class we range between 500 and 600 kilometers. In just two years there will be 100 kilometers more. At the same time, charging performance is also increasing rapidly. Models like the Kia EV6 or the Hyundai Ioniq 5 already need just 18 minutes to go from 10 to 80 percent state of charge (SoC).

Realistically, this combination of range and charging power already meets the needs of 95 percent of all drivers. But at the end of the day, that’s not what it’s about. Even with the Nio ET7 with a range of 1,000 kilometers, there will be people for whom that is not enough. Or they push the charging infrastructure forward. Or the towing capacity. Or, or, or.

If you don’t want to, you can always find a reason. And that’s exactly why electromobility sometimes fails in Germany: people believe that there are problems where there are none. As long as there is no rethinking in this regard, a range of 2,000 kilometers will not change the acceptance of electric cars.