Weekend Edition: Laser weapons, gut-brain communication, and alpacas against arthritis

It was a big week for high-energy-laser-based weapons, with news from both the US and Israel on the successful testing of two different systems designed to take down aerial threats using laser beams. Closer to the ground, researchers have discovered a direct line of communication from the gut to the brain, with potential implications for treating metabolic disorders, while another team turned to the alpaca and its unique immune system to develop a promising way to tackle chronic inflammation, opening the door for the treatment of a variety of conditions, including arthritis. This and more in our look back at the week’s top stories! Darren Quick Managing Editor Medical [Alpaca nanobodies target and dissolve root cause of chronic inflammation]( [Alpaca immune systems have some properties that may be very useful to medical science]( By tapping into the unique immune system of alpacas and special nanobodies they produce, scientists have developed a promising technique for tempering chronic inflammation associated with conditions such as arthritis. [Read more]( Special Promotion for New Atlas Readers [There’s never been a better time to apply for term life insurance]( Getting married? Growing your family? Buying a new home? You’re probably ready for term life insurance. Haven Life makes it easy (not to mention affordable, dependable, convenient and, yes, even enjoyable) to apply for term life insurance online. [Read more]( Military [US Navy shoots down drone using all-electric laser for the first time]( [Artist's concept of a ship-mounted laser weapon]( The US Navy has shot down its first drone representing a subsonic cruise missile using an all-electric high-energy laser. At White Sands, the Lockheed Martin Layered Laser Defense (LLD) weapon disabled the engine on a drone, which parachuted to earth. [Read more]( Science [Researchers discover direct gut-brain communication pathway]( [Researchers have discovered neurons in the brain's appetite-control region are directly influenced by bacterial molecules]( New research has discovered a pathway by which bacteria in the gut can directly communicate with neurons in the brain responsible for regulating appetite and body temperature. The novel mechanism adds to our understanding of gut-brain communication. [Read more]( Aircraft [Ultra-light liquid hydrogen tanks promise to make jet fuel obsolete]( [HyPoint and GTL are developing ultra-lightweight cryogenic hydrogen tanks that the partnership promises will radiacally boost the range of clean hydrogen-electric aircraft]( A revolutionary cryogenic tank design promises to radically boost the range of hydrogen-powered aircraft – to the point where clean, fuel cell airliners could fly up to four times farther than comparable planes running on today's dirty jet fuel. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [Large genetic study confirms link between brisk walking and slower aging]( [A new study has added new weight to the idea that a faster walking pace can slow the effects of aging]( Adding to what we know about the benefits of an active lifestyle, scientists at the University of Leicester have used a vast pool of genetic data to demonstrate a clear link between walking pace and biological age. [Read more]( Science [To-go coffee cups shed trillions of plastic particles under normal use]( [A new study has shown that coffee cups lined with a plastic film on the inside can release trillions of particles into boiling water]( A new study has explored the ways everyday products can facilitate the migration of plastic particles into the body, including single-use coffee cups, which were shown to release trillions of microscopic particles when exposed to hot water. [Read more]( Science [Aggressive prostate cancer linked to newly discovered bacteria species]( [Three of the bacterial species linked to aggressive prostate cancer are entirely new to scientists]( A landmark study has identified five types of bacteria associated with aggressive prostate cancer. It's unclear whether the bacteria is causing prostate cancer but it may be possible to develop tests to detect the most aggressive forms of the disease. [Read more]( Military ["Iron Beam" laser weapon counters multiple targets in live fire tests]( [Iron Beam firing]( Rafael has successfully tested its Iron Beam laser weapon in various scenarios against steep-track threats, including UAVs, mortars, rockets, and anti-tank missiles. The weapon is set to complement Israel's famous Iron Dome aerial defense system [Read more]( Aircraft [AirYacht would let passengers cruise both in the air and on the water]( [Plans call for the AirYacht to carry passengers in a detachable gondola, which will double as a seagoing yacht]( Sailing the world's oceans in a yacht is all very well and good, but what if you want to cruise over the land as well as on the water? Well, that's where the AirYacht is designed to come in, as it combines an airship with a yacht. [Read more]( Energy [Breakthrough TPV cell makes more power from heat than a steam turbine]( [MIT researchers have presented a solid-state thermophotovoltaic heat engine that can operate at higher temperatures, and extract more electricity from heat than the average steam turbine]( MIT says its new thermophotovoltaic heat engine can harvest more energy from heat than the average steam turbine, at a fraction of the cost and using no moving parts. Huge implications for future power stations, as well as grid-level energy storage. [Read more]( Drones [Drone Interceptor pops its own props to deploy a drone-catching net]( [The Drone Interceptor is made from racing drone components, and incorporates two cameras – a side-facing one for assessing other drones, and an upward-facing one for positioning itself beneath them]( Over the years, we've seen a number of drones that are designed to capture other drones. One of the latest, aptly named the Drone Interceptor, utilizes detachable net-pulling propellers to get the job done. [Read more]( Photography [Full-color night vision pocket camera turns night into day]( [The Duovox Mate Pro is billed as "the world's most advanced true color night vision camera"]( Startup Duovox has launched a compact night vision camera with a custom Sony sensor and advanced algorithms at its heart that effectively turn night into day, bringing the full color experience to after-dark hikes in the mountains. [Read more]( Materials [Novel NASA alloy offers "remarkable" properties at extreme temperatures]( [More advanced metal alloys could open up new possibilities around sustainable flight]( With a view to constructing more durable components that can withstand the very harsh environments in an around aircraft and jet engines, NASA researchers have developed a novel metal alloy with an impressive set of qualities at extreme temperatures. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [Intermittent fasting no better for weight loss than just counting calories]( [Over a year, a trial saw no significant differences between straightforward calorie restriction and a time-restricted feeding strategy]( In one of the longest trials of its type ever conducted researchers have found limiting food intake to a short period of time every day, known as time-restricted feeding, is no more effective a weight loss strategy than simple calorie counting. [Read more]( You are receiving this email because you signed up for our daily newsletter at [newatlas.com]( (or [gizmag.com]( before August 2016). [Update profile]( | [Unsubscribe]( Copyright New Atlas © 2022