Raman Research Institute develops device to scan brain signals anywhere
This innovation in future could offer a quieter, portable, and more affordable alternative to MRI-like scans, especially in smaller clinics, mobile units, or rural healthcare settings.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) works by detecting tiny magnetic signals from inside the human body, especially the brain. These signals are incredibly weak, which is why MRI machines need heavy shielding and 'ultra silent' rooms to function.
But the new device does not need any of that. It's a fully optical, shield-free magnetometer — a small, light-based tool that can sense magnetic fields in noisy, real-world settings like clinics, outdoor sites, or even spacecraft.
Magnetometers, in general, are used to measure magnetic fields and have applications in navigation, geology, medical imaging, physics, and space research. But the most accurate types — like Optically Pumped Atomic Magnetometers (OPAMs) and Spin Exchange Relaxation-Free (SERF) magnetometers- come with limitations.
While they are extremely sensitive to weak magnetic fields, they only work well in shielded, stable environments and have a narrow dynamic range, meaning they can't handle magnetic fields that are too strong.
What did the RRI do differently?
RRI researchers developed -- Raman-Driven Spin Noise Spectroscopy (RDSNS) technique which works by using laser beams to 'listen' to the natural quantum jitters — known as spin noise — in rubidium atoms. These atoms behave like tiny bar magnets.
When they're exposed to a magnetic field, their spin noise patterns change slightly. By analysing these changes with laser light, the RRI team is able to measure the strength of the surrounding magnetic field without touching or disturbing the atoms. This all-optical method is fully immune to common sources of interference like electricity, vibration, and radio signals.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
a day ago
- News18
Research On Origins Of Life On Earth, Mars May Pick Up Steam From Ladakh's Hot Springs
Last Updated: A team of Indian scientists has made a pivotal observation linking Puga Valley's unique geothermal activity to the chemistry of early life In the stark, icy high-altitude environment of Ladakh, a natural hot spring located in the Puga Valley is facilitating potentially groundbreaking scientific discoveries. These discoveries could significantly alter our understanding of life's origins on Earth and help in detecting biosignatures on other planets like Mars. A team of Indian scientists from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has made a pivotal observation linking the valley's unique geothermal activity to the chemistry of early life. Traditional theories regarding the origin of life on Earth often focus on silica-based environments. However, the Indian team, led by Dr Amritpal Singh Chaddha, Dr Sunil Kumar Shukla, and Dr Anupam Sharma, has shifted focus to the role of carbonates, especially calcium. They noted rapid carbonate precipitation in the Puga Valley's extreme hot spring environment. Their interdisciplinary study, published in the prestigious journal ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, presents empirical evidence that natural travertine (calcium carbonate deposits) from the Puga Hot Spring can trap and preserve prebiotic organic molecules. The scientists analysed the high-altitude hot spring travertine using advanced techniques such as microscopy, GC-MS-MS, Raman, XRD, IR, and stable isotope geochemistry. They discovered preserved amino acid derivatives, formamide, sulphur compounds, and fatty acids encapsulated within calcite. These findings are crucial because they suggest that calcium carbonate acted as a 'potential natural template for origin-of-life chemistry under extreme Earth-like conditions", effectively concentrating and stabilising organic precursors essential for life. The extreme environment of Puga Valley, with its unique geothermal activity and high UV radiation, is hypothesised to have acted as a real-world 'prebiotic reactor and preservation site". This provides tangible, real-world evidence for phenomena previously explored only in laboratory settings. The insights gained from Puga are not limited to Earth's early history; they have significant implications for astrobiology. Conditions in Puga are thought to be similar to those on early Mars, where comparable hot springs and hydrothermal systems might have supported nascent life. This research, conducted under BSIP's newly formed Earth and Planetary Exploration Group (EPEG), will significantly aid future planetary exploration missions, including those by ISRO, in identifying true biosignatures. By enhancing the understanding of natural biomolecule preservation mechanisms, it also influences the development of new materials and life-detection technologies crucial for astrobiology and synthetic biology, potentially rewriting the playbook for the search for extraterrestrial life. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
3 days ago
- NDTV
COVID-19 May Trigger Alzheimer's-Like Protein Buildup In Brain And Eyes, Study Finds
New research suggests that COVID-19 can lead to protein build-up similar to that seen in Alzheimer's patients, not just in the brain but also in the eyes. Elevated amyloid beta levels were found in the retinal tissue of people who had COVID-19, similar to Alzheimer's-like retinal conditions. Notably, Amyloid beta buildup is associated with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers analysed two proteins, neuropilin-1 (NRP1) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The NRP1 protein may serve as an entry point for viruses into human eyes and brains. Researchers found that introducing an NRP1 inhibitor countered the amyloid beta increase caused by COVID-19's spike protein. The study, led by Yale University and published in Science Advances, sheds light on COVID-19 brain fog, which was a commonly reported symptom following infection. The researchers believe that amyloid beta may act as a bodyguard for the brain, indicating underlying danger. "There is growing evidence linking COVID-19 and brain fog, a commonly reported symptom following infection," senior author Brian Hafler, ophthalmologist at Yale School of Medicine, said as quoted by Science Alert. "While the mechanisms of brain fog after COVID-19 are not fully understood, scientists have found that SARS-CoV-2 can induce amyloid beta accumulation in the central nervous system." The research team is conducting clinical studies to determine if COVID-19 increases the long-term risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, to explore NRP1 inhibitors as potential therapeutics. The involvement of NRP1 in amyloid beta aggregation provides a specific molecular target for future investigation. Other viruses may trigger similar amyloid beta buildups, as there's a need for further research. This study contributes to understanding the complex relationship between COVID-19 and neurological health. "Our study showed that exposure to SARS-CoV-2, in particular spike protein, can lead to the formation of amyloid beta aggregates in both human retinal tissue and retinal organoids," Hafler says.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Neuro scans of adults in UK reveal faster ageing of brain post-pandemic
New Delhi: Experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic may have accelerated brain ageing by five and a half months, regardless of one's infection status, according to a new study, which researchers said point to the indirect effects of aspects such as isolation and uncertainty. The researchers, led by those from the University of Nottingham, analysed brain scans of adults in the UK taken before and after the pandemic. They found that changes were most noticeable among the brains of older individuals, men, and people from disadvantaged backgrounds, such as those unemployed and having lower incomes or education. However, brain ageing was found to impact cognitive function, with 'brain fog' and difficulty in focussing being common symptoms, only in those who were infected with COVID-19, suggesting that brain ageing alone may not necessarily produce symptoms. The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, highlight "how much the experience of the pandemic itself, everything from isolation to uncertainty, may have affected our brain health," said lead researcher Ali-Reza Mohammadi-Nejad, research fellow at the university's faculty of medicine and health sciences. "What surprised me most was that even people who hadn't had Covid showed significant increases in brain ageing rates," Mohammadi-Nejad added. According to the authors, the pandemic-related brain ageing "may be at least partially reversible", but being strongly linked with socio-economic deprivation, the policies addressing inequalities are urgently needed, given that existing gaps widened during this time. AI-powered models which were used for predicting brain age were first trained on magnetic resonance image (MRI) brain scans of over 15,000 healthy people from the UK Biobank. The models thus learnt to measure the 'brain age gap' i.e. how much one's brain age differed from their actual age. The models were then employed to analyse two scans of the brains of 996 healthy participants, in 564 people (controls) both the scans were taken before the pandemic, while in the 'Pandemic' group consisting of 432 individuals, one scan was taken before and one after. "The 'Pandemic' group shows on average (a) 5.5-month higher deviation of brain age gap at the second time point, compared with controls," the authors wrote. They also found that "accelerated brain ageing is more pronounced in males and those from deprived socio-demographic backgrounds and these deviations exist regardless of SARS-CoV-2 (virus that causes COVID-19) infection." Further, cognitive tests taken at the time of both scans revealed that an "accelerated brain ageing correlates with reduced cognitive performance only in COVID-infected participants." Senior author Dorothee Auer, professor of neuroimaging at the University of Nottingham, said "This study reminds us that brain health is shaped not only by illness, but by our everyday environment." "The pandemic put a strain on people's lives, especially those already facing disadvantage. We can't yet test whether the changes we saw will reverse, but it's certainly possible, and that's an encouraging thought," Auer said.
