Webb’s Camera Captures Its First Photons of Starlight

On February 3, 2022, astronomers saw the first photons of starlight that traveled through the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope and were detected by its Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) instrument.

The detection marks the first of many steps to capture images that are at first unfocused and use them to slowly fine-tune the Webb telescope. This is the beginning of the three-month process of aligning the telescope, but so far the initial results match expectations and simulations.

Article
@EverythingScience

Have you ever seen a telescope take a selfie?

Well now you have!

The James Webb Space Telescope was able to snap this picture of its primary mirror using an engineering camera and a special filter inside its NIRCam instrument as primary mirror alignment tests were performed.

Twitter (haygenwarren)
@EverythingScience

A Key Detail in Your Retina Could Indicate How Healthy Your Brain Is

New research suggests that the thinning of a person's retina – the light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye – in middle age is linked to cognitive performance in their early and adult life. 

While much more research is needed, the team behind this new study says the findings might one day pave the way towards a simple eye test that could help predict a person's risk for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia.

Article
@EverythingScience

Study of LSD microdosing doesn't show a therapeutic effect

Proponents of LSD "microdosing"—taking small amounts of the drug at regular intervals—claim it can improve mood and cognitive function. But new research by the University of Chicago has not found evidence to support those claims.

Harriet de Wit, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at UChicago, noted that the study doesn't disprove microdosing's possible benefits, and that more investigation is needed. The study does show that taking small doses of LSD is safe. De Wit said the findings point to the important role scientists can play in testing the therapeutic claims made about recreational drugs.

Article
@EverythingScience