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.



Labubu Toy Sculpture Sold for $150,000 at China Auction

A human-sized Labubu figurine is displayed before an auction in Beijing, China June 6, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang
A human-sized Labubu figurine is displayed before an auction in Beijing, China June 6, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang
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Labubu Toy Sculpture Sold for $150,000 at China Auction

A human-sized Labubu figurine is displayed before an auction in Beijing, China June 6, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang
A human-sized Labubu figurine is displayed before an auction in Beijing, China June 6, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

A Beijing auction house has sold a four-foot-tall sculpture of a viral plush toy character for more than $150,000, as global demand for the Chinese-designed Labubu dolls reaches fever pitch.

The rabbit-like figures sporting mischievous grins began as a character created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, and are made by Beijing-based toy brand Pop Mart.

They have been endorsed by celebrities such as Rihanna and Dua Lipa, and fans have queued overnight outside stores hoping to snag one, with analysts pointing to the phenomenon as evidence of China's growing soft power, AFP reported.

On Tuesday, a teal sculpture depicting a Labubu character with a furry body and head fetched an eye-watering 1.08 million yuan ($150,260) at an auction held in Beijing, according to the auction house's app.

The sculpture is "the only piece of its kind in the world", according to Yongle International Auction.

It was offered alongside other Labubu paraphernalia including a brown statue that sold for 820,000 yuan.

Pop Mart has over 400 stores globally, including 30 US branches.

The worldwide frenzy has seen people go to desperate lengths to acquire their own Labubu.

Last month a London branch of Pop Mart suspended in-store sales of the toys, fearing violence from would-be buyers who failed to get their hands on the limited-edition Labubus.

In Singapore, CCTV footage captured a family stealing Labubu dolls from a claw machine, according to Singaporean online media outlet AsiaOne.

Burglars broke into a store in California last week and took several Labubu dolls along with electronics and other valuables, American news outlet ABC reported.

In China, the toys have been promised as freebies for new bank customers -- an incentive quickly shut down by local regulators, according to Chinese media reports.

The toys have spawned a booming resale market as well as an online community of fans sharing tips on how to customize their dolls.

Knockoffs -- many of which are also made in China -- have flooded online platforms, dubbed "Lafufus" by social media users.