Tiny Backpacks Tap into Dragonflies’ Brains

Scientists are placing computer chip backpacks on dragonflies to record the insects’ brain activity as they fly and capture prey. Researchers hope the data they collect will reveal more about how the brain controls body movement.

Read more about what these tiny backpacks are teaching scientists:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/ne…

VIDEOGRAPHERS: Jason Kurtis and Jeff Hertrick
SENIOR PRODUCER: Jeff Hertrick
EDITOR: Jennifer Murphy

Portable Scanners “Read” Brains on the Go

August 1, 2013—Though EEG (Electroencephalography) has been around for decades, now, new technology allows us to detect and measure brain activity with a lightweight headset and mobile phone. National Geographic Emerging Explorer and entrepreneur Tan Le demonstrates how her company’s EEG headset and software can be used for a variety of research purposes.

Read the article from National Geographic News:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/ne…

SAFER, MORE ACCURATE PRENATAL DOWN SYNDROME TEST

Currently, definitive tests for Down syndrome in fetuses—chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis—are invasive and somewhat risky, carrying a one in 100 risk of miscarriage. Existing non-invasive preliminary tests are somewhat imprecise and call for further testing in 3 to 5 percent of pregnancies. By contrast, a simple new blood test that analyzes fetal DNA in maternal blood can detect whether a fetus has Down syndrome with a high degree of certainty and could reduce the need for these invasive procedures. More… Discuss

Related articles

• New Blood Test Detects Down Syndrome, Less Invasive than Current Methods (natureworldnews.com)
• Early Down’s test ‘more sensitive’ (bbc.co.uk)