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Scents of Science

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myfusimotors

Why is a science blog named after a motor neuron? Fair question. If you landed here expecting car parts or motor repairs, I'm sorry...and also, stay. You might find something more interesting. Fusimotor neurons are a type of nerve cell in your body right now, quietly doing one of the most elegant jobs in neuroscience. They don't move your muscles directly. Instead, they adjust the sensitivity of your muscle spindles — the tiny stretch receptors embedded in your muscle fibers. In plain terms: they set the dial on how aware your nervous system is of its own body. They are the hidden calibrators of human movement, and almost nobody knows they exist. That's exactly why I named this blog after them. The best science isn't always the most famous science. Some of the most fascinating things happening inside the human body — inside your body — are invisible, unnamed, and completely overlooked. This blog exists to change that. I am a collection of water, calcium and organic molecules, but not a single one of the cells that compose me knows who I am, or cares...So why should you? Maybe because the story of what we are is more interesting than the story of who we are. That's what this blog is about. New posts go up every Tuesday and Friday. No newsletters, no algorithms — just good science writing, when you come looking for it. If you're curious about a topic, feel free to reach out. Some of my best posts have started with a reader's question. Welcome to myfusimotors. The hidden calibrators sent me. Corina.

Nothingness

Nothingness is often perceived as an absence, an empty void without meaning or substance. Yet, in the realm of human nature, nothingness holds profound significance. It is in the face of nothingness that we seek meaning, purpose, and identity. The... Continue Reading →

Black holes: not endings, but beginnings? New research could revolutionise our understanding of the universe

Our understanding of black holes, time and the mysterious dark energy that dominates the universe could be revolutionised, as new University of Sheffield research helps unravel the mysteries of the cosmos. Black holes – areas of space where gravity is... Continue Reading →

Venus and the Triply Ultraviolet Sun

This was a very unusual type of solar eclipse. Typically, it is the Earth's Moon that eclipses the Sun. In 2012, though, the planet Venus took a turn. Like a solar eclipse by the Moon, the phase of Venus became a continually thinner crescent as Venus became increasingly better aligned with the Sun. Eventually... Continue Reading →

The Protostars within Lynds 483

Two protostars are hidden in a single pixel near the center of a striking hourglass-shaped nebula in this near-infrared image from the James Webb Space Telescope. The actively forming star system lies in a dusty molecular cloud cataloged as Lynds 483, some 650... Continue Reading →

Repeated exposure to deepfakes makes you more likely to believe it, study finds

According to a false video generated using artificial intelligence (AI) that went viral on social media, American media personality Kim Kardashian manipulates people online for money, and you are more likely to believe this if you come across the same... Continue Reading →

Dancer of Souls

She was a dancer of souls, moving through life with grace and an open heart. Youthful and full of dreams, she longed for love—not just any love, but one that felt safe, warm, and real. She wanted to be cherished,... Continue Reading →

NGC 1672: Barred Spiral Galaxy from Hubble

Many spiral galaxies have bars across their centers. Even our own Milky Way Galaxy is thought to have a modest central bar. Prominently barred spiral galaxy NGC 1672, featured here, was captured in spectacular detail in an image taken by the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope.... Continue Reading →

Blue Ghost on the Moon

There's a new lander on the Moon. Yesterday Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost executed the first-ever successful commercial lunar landing. During its planned 60-day mission, Blue Ghost will deploy several NASA-commissioned scientific instruments, including PlanetVac which captures lunar dust after creating a small whirlwind of gas. Blue Ghost will also host the telescope LEXI that captures... Continue Reading →

Firefly Blue Ghost Mission 1 Lunar Landing

Firefly Aerospace's robotic Blue Ghost lander is scheduled to land on the moon on Sunday no earlier than 3:34 a.m. EST (0834 GMT) when it touches down on the vast Sea of Crises (or Mare Crisium). Watch it live here: https://plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-video/firefly-blue-ghost-mission-1-lunar-landing/ The $93.3 million Blue... Continue Reading →

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