Latest news with #UniversityofGeneva
Euronews
a day ago
- Health
- Euronews
Virtual reality could train our bodies to fight infection, study says
Being around sick people can activate your immune system – even if the sick people aren't real, a new study has found. Your body doesn't wait for illness to strike before gearing up for battle. Just being around sick people can activate your immune system – even if they aren't real, a new study has found. A Swiss research team used virtual reality (VR) in a study, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, to test people's biological responses to potential health threats. They say VR could be a promising complement for other immune-boosting tools, like vaccines. During the experiment, researchers connected 248 healthy young people to machines that measure brain activity, then donned VR headsets that brought them to a virtual world full of sick people. Some of the avatars had visible infections, such as rashes or coughs, while others either looked afraid or had neutral expressions. When the sick avatars got very close to the participants, their brains lit up in ways they didn't when the neutral or fearful faces approached. Specifically, the avatars activated the so-called salience network, or the parts of the brain that mainly detect 'salient stimuli, including threats,' the study found. Blood samples from people exposed to sick avatars also showed a spike in innate lymphoid cell activity, which is a key part of the immune response. These cells are activated by pathogen threats, helping the body to quickly mount a response. The body reacts similarly to a real infection, such as a flu vaccine. 'We were thinking if anything, [the reactions would be] something very mild,' Dr Camilla Jandus, one of the study's authors and an immunologist at the University of Geneva, told Euronews Health. 'To see cell changes within a few hours, we really didn't expect that'. The findings suggest our brains can detect potential threats from infections before we even make contact with a sick person, kicking our immune systems into a defensive mode, the researchers said. 'When the infectious threat is entering our body, the immune system reacts, but often it's too late,' Jandus said. 'We see this detection of something that is virtual as an alerting system that … might trigger, in an anticipatory manner, your immune system'. Researchers don't know exactly how the brain and the immune system work together to combat pathogens, or whether the VR-prompted immune response would be as robust and long-lasting as one elicited by a vaccine. But their findings seem to fit in with previous research suggesting the body acts as a 'smoke detector' that responds to potential health threats that turn out to be false alarms. Anxiety, inflammation, pain, vomiting, cough, and diarrhoea can all be protective responses. The study is among the first of its kind, so researchers on bigger groups would be needed to confirm the findings. Jandus' team is testing whether people's immune systems react differently to VR scenarios that feature the threat of bacteria or viruses. They also want to study whether VR environments might help bolster people's immune response to vaccines, and whether these settings could help serve as a kind of exposure therapy for people with allergies. That way, when people are actually infected with an allergen or virus, 'you have already anticipated and prepared your body to react, with the hope to have better success in the response,' Jandus said.
DW
a day ago
- Health
- DW
Human immune system reacts to the mere sight of infection – DW – 07/28/2025
Researchers monitored brain activity when people were shown images of sick-looking avatars via VR. The brain appeared to spark an immune response. Imagine wearing a virtual reality headset and being shown moving avatars of human-looking faces, some of which appear to be sick with an infection. Would you expect your immune system to kick into action? About 250 people apparently did just that during a study conducted by scientists at the University of Lausanne and University of Geneva in Switzerland. And it appears their immune systems reacted to the mere sight of an infection. The participants were shown artificial images — avatars — some of which had rashes, others had a cough. Some looked healthy. Bear in mind, the participants were not presented with sick people (a person in the same room as them), or even images of sick people, but images. And their immune systems still reacted. "We can conclude that the brain has the capacity to distinguish virtual infectious patterns, become activated, and link this activation to a downstream response, resulting in systemic immunity," wrote Camilla Jandus, co-author of the study paper and head of the Jandus Lab, University of Geneva, in an email to DW. Jandus and colleague Andrea Serino published their paper today in the journal . The researchers monitored participants' brain activity while they looked at the avatars. This allowed them to track reactions to the visuals. For example, they noticed that participants reacted stronger when a sick-looking avatar moved closer to them in the virtual reality. Jandus and Serino took this to mean the brain was sounding an alarm. The researchers checked these reactions with a "control group" of avatars that either stood farther or looked healthy when they appeared to approach a participant. They said this indicates how sensitive the immune system reacts. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video They also took blood samples from participants who had been confronted by sick-looking avatars, and those samples showed increased activity of a type of immune cell called innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). Since ILCs perform a vital role in the early stages of an immune response to infection (they respond to initial signals from damaged or infected cells), the blood results suggest that the brain's reaction to the sick-looking avatars sparked an immune response. And all that before a pathogen had entered the body in reality. The team are considering various applications for their research including using VR stimuli to boost standard vaccination, to modulate immunity in people with autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, or as a non-pharmacological approach to treat people with allergies. "This represents a therapeutic opportunity," said Jandus. "We are testing this idea in allergies, such as bee and wasp allergies, whereby repetitive exposures to virtual bee or wasp stings might lead to desensitization in allergic patients." While there is no experimental evidence to yet confirm whether there was a risk of VR stimuli leading to an overreactive immune system, Jandus said "repetitive exposure to the stimuli, would rather result in a kind of 'tolerance.'"
The Sun
5 days ago
- Science
- The Sun
Mystery over 2,000-year-old shipwreck with ‘world's oldest computer' that inspired Indiana Jones as boat finally raised
THE mystery deepens around the famous shipwreck that held the 2,000-year-old relic dubbed the "world's first computer". The Antikythera wreck sank in the first century BC off the Greek island that gave it its name, carrying a trove of treasure. 7 7 7 Among the precious artefacts was the Antikythera Mechanism - an unusual device whose purpose long been debated and which even inspired "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny". But researchers studying the shipwreck are now facing a new mystery after part of the wreck was recovered for the first time since 1976. The newly recovered timbers do not match those found in the 1970s - they differ in both size and construction. This has led scientists to consider the possibility that the Antikythera site may actually contain the remains of two separate shipwrecks - not just one. Lorenz Baumer of the University of Geneva in Switzerland, who directed this year's expedition, said: 'The measures are different. 'The thickness of the planks found by Cousteau is around 10 centimetres, the ones we have measure around five - that's quite a difference. 'Now we have to find an explanation – is it another part of the ship? It's possible that they've been using thinner planks in upper parts, but that's pure speculation for now. 'Or is it – and for me this could be a possibility – a skiff. 'You see many of those merchant ships had smaller boats with them.' The Antikythera wreck was discovered in 1900 by Captain Dimitrios Kondos and his crew of sponge divers from the island of Symi. 7 Greek island offers to pay thousands to move there & you'll even get land Shortly after, over 300 other artefacts, including the Antikythera Mechanism, statues, coins and pieces of jewellery, were retrieved. For over a century, the mysterious device has left scientists scratching their heads. The conventional theory is that it was an ancient analogue device used to track the cycles of the Moon, Sun and planets and predict solar and lunar eclipses. Author Jo Marchant, who has written a book about the device, said it was 'probably the most exciting artefact that we have from the ancient world'. 7 A fictional version of the device, renamed the Archimedes Dial, drives the plot in Harrison Ford's hit film, where Indiana Jones is shown diving at the Antikythera wreck. Dr Baumer said: 'It's total nonsense, but I was very well entertained I have to say.' But the theory that the ship carrying the mechanism was accompanied by a second ship has historical precedent. A technical drawing of two vessels - one towing the other - was found in Pompeii, inside the House of the Ship Europa, Dr Baumer said. He said: 'It's very detailed and very precise, so this drawing has been done by somebody who knows ships and also the technical parts. 'You see on the back of the Europa is hanging a smaller second ship.' He also mentioned the Biblical tale - when Paul the Apostle was shipwrecked off Malta, a lifeboat was launched from the main vessel. 'We have two wreck sites,' he said. 'Close to 200 meters southwards there is a huge field – it is all covered with amphorae. 'Chronologically the two sites go together so maybe these ships have been sailing together.' He added: 'We cannot tell if they sank one after the other, or if there was a couple of years, weeks, or days between them. 'But we see we are in about the same period.' The newly-recovered timbers have also revealed that the Antikythera wreck was already old when it sank. Analysis of the wood, which is elm and oak, dates it back to around 235 BC, whereas the ship didn't sink until around 80 BC. This year's expedition also uncovered a fragment of a sculpture depicting a nude male. Some believe the ship was doomed by the weight of the sculptures it carried. Dr Baumer said: 'It sunk very, very quickly because it was, in my opinion, totally overloaded. 'Whenever there's a storm in Antikythera, you're happy that you're not on board a ship, even a modern one. 'It is a very rocky coast, it's impossible to land, and you simply get broken up. There's no chance. 'Even now when the waves are too heavy, the ferry boats do not land on Antikythera – it's too dangerous.' What is the Antikythera Mechanism? The Antikythera Mechanism is a 2,000-year-old Greek device, often called the world's first analogue computer. Discovered in a shipwreck in 1901, the object is thought to have been used to predict astronomical events, like eclipses, moon phases and possibly the movements of planets. It consists of at least 29 gears of various sizes that were made to move simultaneously via a handle. Key parts:
Daily Mirror
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Groundbreaking movie with 100% rating is 'has warning for us all'
Three Colours: Red is the final film in the critically acclaimed Three Colours trilogy, which explores the core values of the French Revolution - Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity The concluding chapter of a captivating trilogy, this film has left an indelible mark on audiences, exploring powerful themes of politics, social matters and human connections. Three Colours: Red serves as the finale to the Three Colours trilogy, following Blue and White, with each examining the fundamental principles of the French Revolution - Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. Released in 1994, this groundbreaking psychological mystery represents the work of a single creative vision, written, directed and produced by filmmaker Krzysztof Kieślowski. Admirers of arthouse cinema have been thoroughly captivated by the feature, awarding it a perfect 100 per cent rating on review platform Rotten Tomatoes. The film's exploration of intimate bonds and the way people's destinies become intricately woven together has resonated deeply with audiences, who have penned glowing testimonials, reports the Express. One viewer declared: "The greatest accomplishment in cinema of the 1990s. You must see all three films in the trilogy: White, Blue, then Red, and watch them in that order. They are amazing, the masterwork of a genius who died shortly after completing the trilogy." The visual palette of each instalment reflects its titular hue, enhancing the artistic brilliance of this exceptional cinema, as numerous critics have observed. Another review proclaimed: "This is a gorgeously shot film. The story is very different and unique in its tone and characters, so well written and acted by some amazing performers. This is a must-see." Another commented: "It is a warning of what may come if we isolate ourselves from others and cut off communication." Since its debut, Three Colours: Red has been hailed as the crowning achievement of the trilogy, earning its place among the finest French language films ever crafted. The film garnered industry-wide acclaim, securing three prestigious Academy Award nominations, including Best Director for the late Kielowski. The narrative follows Valentine, a University of Geneva student who moonlights as a model and finds herself trapped in a controlling relationship with her boyfriend. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she accidentally injures a dog belonging to a retired judge, leading to an unlikely friendship despite their apparent differences. Red delves into themes of destiny, interconnectedness, and the intricate web of human relationships. One review praised: "The cinematography and camera angles used were very intriguing, and the use of colour was interesting. The colour red was used to signify the important characters in the movie and to highlight important things. What a great movie and what a lovely actress. Very cute and charming." Join our Shopping & Deals WhatsApp for the best bargains and fashion news WHATSAPP: Get the best deals and exclusive discount codes straight to your phone via our WhatsApp group. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Some of these articles will contain affiliate links where we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from them. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Serving as the concluding chapter of the series, Red represents the final piece of Kielowski's cinematic puzzle. Following this film, Kielowski declared his departure from the world of filmmaking. Tragically, just two years later, he passed away unexpectedly, leaving Red as a testament to his remarkable cinematic legacy.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
James Webb telescope reveals 'Sleeping Beauty' galaxies in the early universe — snoozing where they weren't supposed to exist
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Astronomers have discovered over a dozen "dormant" galaxies that paused their star formation within the first billion years after the Big Bang. The discovery, made with data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), illuminates a fascinating phase in the lives of early galaxies and could provide more clues about how galaxies evolve. There are several reasons why galaxies may stop forming new stars. One is the presence of supermassive black holes at their centers. These behemoths emit intense radiation that heats and depletes cold gas, the most important ingredient for star formation. Additionally, larger neighboring galaxies can strip away this cold gas or heat it, leading to a halt in star formation. As a result, these galaxies may remain dormant indefinitely, or become "quenched." Another reason galaxies become inactive is stellar feedback. That's when the gas in the galaxy gets warmed and expelled due to stellar processes like supernovas, intense stellar winds, or the pressure associated with starlight. The galaxy thus goes through a temporary "quiet" period. "This is usually a temporary phase, which usually lasts about 25 million years," Alba Covelo Paz, a doctoral student at the University of Geneva and the lead author of a new study describing the findings, told Live Science in an email. Over millions of years, the gas that was pushed out falls back in, and the warm gas cools again. Once there is enough cold gas again, the galaxy can start forming new stars. While the dormant phase is commonly observed in nearby galaxies, astronomers have found only four dormant galaxies in the first billion years of the universe. Of those, three had masses below a billion solar masses and one had a mass above 10 billion solar masses. The limited observations and scattered properties of dormant galaxies were not sufficient to get a clear picture of early star formation. Related: 'Previously unimaginable': James Webb telescope breaks its own record again, discovering farthest known galaxy in the universe But using JWST's sensitive spectroscopic data, an international team of astronomers discovered 14 dormant galaxies with a wide range of masses in the early universe, showing that dormant galaxies are not limited to low or very high mass ranges. The findings were uploaded to the preprint database arXiv on June 27 and have not been peer-reviewed yet. Taking a breather Researchers didn't expect to see dormant galaxies in the early universe. Because these galaxies are young, they should be vigorously forming many new stars, astronomers thought. But in a 2024 paper, researchers described the first discovery of a dormant galaxy in the early universe. "The first discovery of a dormant galaxy in the early universe was such a shock because that galaxy had been observed before with Hubble, but we could not know it was dormant until JWST," Paz said. That's because, unlike the Hubble Space Telescope, JWST's NIRSpec instrument can both see light from these galaxies that has been redshifted to near-infrared wavelengths, and also provide spectroscopic details about it. Astronomers were curious to know why early galaxies stopped forming stars and whether this was common among a wide range of stellar masses. One hypothesis was that the galaxies had bursts of star formation and then quiet periods, before starting again. Paz and her team looked for the galaxies that were in between bursts of star formation. They used publicly available galaxy data in the DAWN JWST Archive. They examined the light of about 1,600 galaxies, looking for signs of new stars not forming. They also focused on clear signatures of middle-aged or old stars in the galaxies' light. The team found 14 galaxies, ranging from about 40 million to 30 billion solar masses, that had paused star formation. "We now found 14 sources supporting this burstiness process, and we found that all of them have halted star formation between 10 [million] and 25 million years before we observed them," Paz explained. That means these 14 galaxies were found to follow a stop-and-go fashion of star formation rather than continuously forming stars, and they have been quiet for at least 10 million to 25 million years. This relatively short snooze hints that stellar feedback, such as supernovas or stellar winds, caused them to go quiet and that they may eventually restart their stellar factories, Paz said. However, there is still uncertainty, she added. "We cannot confirm it for sure because we don't know how long they will remain dormant, and if they happen to stay dormant for another 50 million years, this would mean the cause of their quenching is different," Paz explained. RELATED STORIES —Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS transforms into a giant 'cosmic rainbow' in trippy new telescope image —'Ice cube' clouds discovered at the galaxy's center shouldn't exist — and they hint at a recent black hole explosion —Behold, 'The Beast': Gigantic animal-like plasma plume 13 times wider than Earth hovers over the sun This scenario would suggest that the galaxies are dead. Nevertheless, the current properties of these galaxies support a cycle of fits and starts. Because dormant galaxies are so rare, much about them remains mysterious. However, astronomers hope future observations will help shed light on these snoozing star factories. An upcoming JWST program called "Sleeping Beauties" will be dedicated to discovering dormant galaxies in the early universe, Paz said. This program will allow astronomers to estimate how long a galaxy remains in this quiet phase and help them understand the bursty star formation process. "There are still many unknowns for us, but we are one step closer to unravelling this process," Paz said.
