Scientists Develop Bizarre Helmet for Brain Scan

A brain-scanning MRI machine at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, November 26, 2014.Credit: Keith Srakocic / AP
A brain-scanning MRI machine at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, November 26, 2014.Credit: Keith Srakocic / AP
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Scientists Develop Bizarre Helmet for Brain Scan

A brain-scanning MRI machine at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, November 26, 2014.Credit: Keith Srakocic / AP
A brain-scanning MRI machine at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, November 26, 2014.Credit: Keith Srakocic / AP

A research team at the University of Boston’s Photonics Center developed an imaging tool that could replace the traditional form of MRI scan and ensure more accurate results and less anxiety.

Usually, patients undergoing such a medical procedure could experience stress and discomfort, however, the new helmet-like tool, which marks a revolution in the field of medical imaging, is characterized with a funny look that alleviates stress. During the study published Feb. 12 in the scientific journal Advanced Material, the researchers reported the metamaterial used in the design, packing in a ton of physics, engineering, and mathematical know-how. The design was overseen by Xin Zhang, professor of mechanical engineering at BU's Photonics Center.

“The metamaterials used in the helmet is a type of engineered structure created from small unit cells that might be unspectacular alone, but when grouped together in a precise way, get new superpowers not found in nature. Metamaterials, for instance, can bend, absorb, or manipulate waves -- such as electromagnetic waves, sound waves, or radio waves. Each unit cell is typically arranged in a repeating pattern in rows and columns; they can be designed in different sizes and shapes, and placed at different orientations, depending on which waves they're designed to influence,” explained Zhang.

The materials used in the helmet include a component that blocks sound without stopping airflow (imagine quieter jet engines and air conditioners) and a magnetic metamaterial that can improve the quality of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines used for medical diagnosis. These materials were deployed in a helmet-like device, which fits over a person's head and can be worn during a brain scan, boosts MRI performance, creating crisper images that can be captured at twice the normal speed. According to Zhang, the helmet makes MRIs less costly and more time efficient for doctors, radiologists, and patients -- all while improving image quality, which will help make the technology more widely available, particularly in the developing countries.



New Zealand Woman Arrested After Travelling with Child in Suitcase

Armed police stand guard in Auckland, New Zealand July 20, 2023. (Reuters)
Armed police stand guard in Auckland, New Zealand July 20, 2023. (Reuters)
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New Zealand Woman Arrested After Travelling with Child in Suitcase

Armed police stand guard in Auckland, New Zealand July 20, 2023. (Reuters)
Armed police stand guard in Auckland, New Zealand July 20, 2023. (Reuters)

A New Zealand woman was arrested on Sunday after travelling on a bus with a two-year-old girl trapped in her luggage.

Detective Inspector Simon Harrison said the woman had been charged with ill-treatment and neglect of a child.

Police were called to a bus depot in Kaiwaka -- 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Auckland -- after the bus driver became concerned about a bag moving during a scheduled stop.

"When the driver opened the suitcase, they discovered the two-year-old girl," Harrison said.

"The little girl was reported to be very hot, but otherwise appeared physically unharmed."

The luggage had been stored beneath the bus passengers, in a separate compartment.

Harrison said the girl is in hospital undergoing an extensive medical assessment.

A 27-year-old woman was arrested.

Harrison said the driver prevented "what could have been a far worse outcome".

He said further charges are possible.

New Zealand's Ministry for Children, Oranga Tamariki, had been notified.