Latest news with #NationalGeographicExplorer
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The neuroscientist working on ‘zapping' away unwanted memories
Think of your happiest memory. A wedding, your child's birth, or maybe just a perfect night out with friends. Sit with it for a moment. Remember the details. What were you wearing? What did it smell like? How did it make you feel? Now do the opposite. Think of a sad memory—the loss of a loved one, getting laid off, or a painful breakup. Sit with this one too. Which would you rather keep? Of course, you want the happy memory, the one that made you feel good and joyful about life. Yet, the painful ones linger for years and sometimes decades, like bruises beneath the surface. If you could choose, would you keep them—or delete them entirely? If this is all starting to sound like something out of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Inception, you wouldn't be too far off—and Steve Ramirez would agree with you. Ramirez is a neuroscientist at Boston University and National Geographic Explorer whose research occurs on the bleeding edge of memory science. He's perhaps best known for studies he helped conduct that showed that it was possible to implant a false memory in mice. The findings were published in the journal Science in 2013 and the Royal Society in 2014. His research is built on a central truth: Memory is fickle. It changes and morphs every time we recall it. Ramirez compares it to hitting 'Save As' on a Word document. Everytime we retrieve a memory, we change it slightly. Ramirez is exploring whether we can harness that 'Save As' process—intentionally rewriting our memories instead of letting them change by accident. So far, he's figured out how to do something even more surprising: not destroy a bad memory, but create a new one. 'We know memories are malleable, and susceptible to modification,' says Ramirez. 'Every time they're recalled, they're being saved and edited with bits and pieces. We wanted to see if we could do that in the lab. Because if we could do that directly in the lab and brain, then we can really get a higher resolution snapshot of how memories work when they're being warped or when they're being modified.' The team's foundational study came in a 2012 paper published in Nature where they identified and activated a cluster of neurons in mice brains that encoded a fear memory—specifically, a mild foot shock. To do so, the researchers genetically engineered the mice so that memory-related neurons become light sensitive. The creatures were then placed into a box and received a foot shock—resulting in the memory of that shock becoming encoded in the light-sensitive brain cells. The team then surgically implanted a tiny fiber-optic cable into the skull of each mouse that they could use to shine a laser into its brain. When they turned it on, it activated the bad memory on command like flipping a switch. Next they wanted to see if they could create a false memory. For this, they put a mouse in a safe box and let it explore. The next day, they placed the mouse in a different box, triggered the memory of the safe box by shooting a laser over its brain, and simultaneously gave it a foot shock. When they later returned the mouse in the first box, it froze in fear—even though it never received a shock in that box. The team had, in effect, implanted a false memory in the mice. 'The key thing with that experiment was that we showed that we could artificially activate a memory while the animal was experiencing something. Later, that new, updated version was the animal's last recorded version of that memory,' he explains. 'The mouse was scared in an environment where, technically, nothing bad happened.' Between the lasers, false memories, and shocking experiments, you'd be forgiven if you thought this was getting pretty sci-fi. Ramirez embraces the comparison as his work often brushes up against science fiction in big ways. 'I think science fiction and science reality are in lockstep, often influencing each other in surprising and unpredictable ways,' Ramirez says. 'What sci-fi can get 'wrong' sometimes is inevitable, but the work it inspires and the dreams and visions sci-fi can conjure up in people is practically limitless, and I love it for that very reason.' Still, it can seem scary, especially when you consider the potential applications to humans. But Ramirez says that memory manipulation would take a decidedly less invasive approach for people—no brain lasers required. Instead, if you want to activate a happy memory in another person, all you have to do is ask them about it. (Remember the beginning of the story—or did you forget?) 'We can update a seemingly safe memory into something negative,' he says, referring to the foot shock test. 'But what about the opposite: Can we turn a negative memory into a positive memory?' Despite the pop-culture comparisons to Inception or Eternal Sunshine, Ramirez's real-world applications are far less cinematic—and arguably more profound. Instead, his work is laying the groundwork for helping people with PTSD process harmful memories, or those with neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and dementia live longer, better lives. In a forthcoming paper currently under peer review, his team claims they were able to identify where exactly a memory will form in the brain days before it even happens. It's like being able to predict where lightning is about to strike before the storm even gathers. This might allow future clinicians to anticipate the effects of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia before they occur. 'Imagine being able to make a Google Maps for memory, but with the level of individual brain cells,' he says. 'You could say, 'This is a positive memory in the brain. It's located here in this 3D web of activity. We can zoom into it here and it looks like something is misfiring, and that might be the remnants of some kind of cognitive decline or memory loss, or amnesia, or Alzheimer's.'' We're still a long way away from a Google Maps for memory. However, Ramirez is quick to point out that his field of research is still in its infancy. He puts it this way: the study of neuroscience is roughly 100 years old—whereas physics is more than 2,000 years old. 'Relative to physics, neuroscience is still in its Pythagorean Theorem stage,' he jokes. There's still a lot we don't know about the brain and, as a result, how memory works. But Ramirez and neuroscientists like him are turning science fiction into science reality, which may allow us to one day edit and manipulate our own experiences. More importantly, their research helps us understand the profound ways that memory shapes us—and how we might begin to shape it right back. This article is part of Your Memory, Rewired, a National Geographic exploration into the fuzzy, fascinating frontiers of memory science—including advice on how to make your own memory more powerful. Learn more. The nonprofit National Geographic Society, committed to illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world, funded National Geographic Explorer Steve Ramirez's work. Learn more about the Society's support of Explorers.
National Geographic
4 days ago
- Health
- National Geographic
The neuroscientist working on ‘zapping' away unwanted memories
Think of your happiest memory. A wedding, your child's birth, or maybe just a perfect night out with friends. Sit with it for a moment. Remember the details. What were you wearing? What did it smell like? How did it make you feel? Now do the opposite. Think of a sad memory—the loss of a loved one, getting laid off, or a painful breakup. Sit with this one too. Which would you rather keep? Of course, you want the happy memory, the one that made you feel good and joyful about life. Yet, the painful ones linger for years and sometimes decades, like bruises beneath the surface. If you could choose, would you keep them—or delete them entirely? If this is all starting to sound like something out of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Inception, you wouldn't be too far off—and Steve Ramirez would agree with you. Ramirez is a neuroscientist at Boston University and National Geographic Explorer whose research occurs on the bleeding edge of memory science. He's perhaps best known for studies he helped conduct that showed that it was possible to implant a false memory in mice. The findings were published in the journal Science in 2013 and the Royal Society in 2014. His research is built on a central truth: Memory is fickle. It changes and morphs every time we recall it. Ramirez compares it to hitting 'Save As' on a Word document. Everytime we retrieve a memory, we change it slightly. Ramirez is exploring whether we can harness that 'Save As' process—intentionally rewriting our memories instead of letting them change by accident. So far, he's figured out how to do something even more surprising: not destroy a bad memory, but create a new one. The science of remembering what never happened 'We know memories are malleable, and susceptible to modification,' says Ramirez. 'Every time they're recalled, they're being saved and edited with bits and pieces. We wanted to see if we could do that in the lab. Because if we could do that directly in the lab and brain, then we can really get a higher resolution snapshot of how memories work when they're being warped or when they're being modified.' The team's foundational study came in a 2012 paper published in Nature where they identified and activated a cluster of neurons in mice brains that encoded a fear memory—specifically, a mild foot shock. To do so, the researchers genetically engineered the mice so that memory-related neurons become light sensitive. The creatures were then placed into a box and received a foot shock—resulting in the memory of that shock becoming encoded in the light-sensitive brain cells. The team then surgically implanted a tiny fiber-optic cable into the skull of each mouse that they could use to shine a laser into its brain. When they turned it on, it activated the bad memory on command like flipping a switch. Next they wanted to see if they could create a false memory. For this, they put a mouse in a safe box and let it explore. The next day, they placed the mouse in a different box, triggered the memory of the safe box by shooting a laser over its brain, and simultaneously gave it a foot shock. When they later returned the mouse in the first box, it froze in fear—even though it never received a shock in that box. The team had, in effect, implanted a false memory in the mice. 'The key thing with that experiment was that we showed that we could artificially activate a memory while the animal was experiencing something. Later, that new, updated version was the animal's last recorded version of that memory,' he explains. 'The mouse was scared in an environment where, technically, nothing bad happened.' Inside the brain's editing room Between the lasers, false memories, and shocking experiments, you'd be forgiven if you thought this was getting pretty sci-fi. Ramirez embraces the comparison as his work often brushes up against science fiction in big ways. 'I think science fiction and science reality are in lockstep, often influencing each other in surprising and unpredictable ways,' Ramirez says. 'What sci-fi can get 'wrong' sometimes is inevitable, but the work it inspires and the dreams and visions sci-fi can conjure up in people is practically limitless, and I love it for that very reason.' Still, it can seem scary, especially when you consider the potential applications to humans. But Ramirez says that memory manipulation would take a decidedly less invasive approach for people—no brain lasers required. Instead, if you want to activate a happy memory in another person, all you have to do is ask them about it. (Remember the beginning of the story—or did you forget?) 'We can update a seemingly safe memory into something negative,' he says, referring to the foot shock test. 'But what about the opposite: Can we turn a negative memory into a positive memory?' Despite the pop-culture comparisons to Inception or Eternal Sunshine, Ramirez's real-world applications are far less cinematic—and arguably more profound. Instead, his work is laying the groundwork for helping people with PTSD process harmful memories, or those with neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and dementia live longer, better lives. In a forthcoming paper currently under peer review, his team claims they were able to identify where exactly a memory will form in the brain days before it even happens. It's like being able to predict where lightning is about to strike before the storm even gathers. This might allow future clinicians to anticipate the effects of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia before they occur. 'Imagine being able to make a Google Maps for memory, but with the level of individual brain cells,' he says. 'You could say, 'This is a positive memory in the brain. It's located here in this 3D web of activity. We can zoom into it here and it looks like something is misfiring, and that might be the remnants of some kind of cognitive decline or memory loss, or amnesia, or Alzheimer's.'' We're still a long way away from a Google Maps for memory. However, Ramirez is quick to point out that his field of research is still in its infancy. He puts it this way: the study of neuroscience is roughly 100 years old—whereas physics is more than 2,000 years old. 'Relative to physics, neuroscience is still in its Pythagorean Theorem stage,' he jokes. There's still a lot we don't know about the brain and, as a result, how memory works. But Ramirez and neuroscientists like him are turning science fiction into science reality, which may allow us to one day edit and manipulate our own experiences. More importantly, their research helps us understand the profound ways that memory shapes us—and how we might begin to shape it right back. This article is part of Your Memory, Rewired, a National Geographic exploration into the fuzzy, fascinating frontiers of memory science—including advice on how to make your own memory more powerful. Learn more. The nonprofit National Geographic Society, committed to illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world, funded National Geographic Explorer Steve Ramirez's work. Learn more about the Society's support of Explorers.
_16x9.jpg%3Fw%3D1200&w=3840&q=100)
National Geographic
09-06-2025
- Science
- National Geographic
Anya Brown is investigating microbes' critical role in coral reefs
'So the clue was, 'This temperate coral undergoes quiescence in the winter. Another word for this is … ?'' Anya Brown has spent most of her adult life around coral reef systems. Her brother, meanwhile, has cultivated a career as a writer on the American quiz show, 'Jeopardy!' He once consulted her for a marine science question idea, which aired on season 39 (episode 8924) of the series. 'The word was 'hibernation,'' Brown reveals, and it had formed the basis of her post-doctoral research assessing how corals go dormant, and what happens to their microbial communities when they do. She's devoted her career to investigating how microbes influence ecology and the evolution of macroscopic species. 'So, I go from the teeny tiny, to the large,' says Brown, a marine biologist, ecologist, National Geographic Explorer and assistant professor at the University of California, Davis. Since 2022, Brown has been a lead scientist on the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Ocean Expedition in Rarotonga, the most populous of the Cook Islands. In close collaboration with the Cook Rarotonga nonprofit organization Kōrero O Te 'Ōrau , local partners Teina Rongo, Jackie Rongo and Siana Whatarau, and fellow UC Davis professor Dr. Rachael Bay, Brown has planted and monitored a coral nursery to better understand the nuances of coral bleaching — the loss of the coral's nutrient supply via two important types of microbes: symbiotic bacteria and algae (also called zooxanthellae), which live in coral tissues. The team is examining the role of microbes and coral genetics in heat tolerance and bleaching resistance . 'It turns out some coral species are far more resistant to bleaching, meaning they don't respond to the heat stress, than others,' explains Brown. The team's findings could hold promising implications for the recovery of dwindling marine life as rising ocean temperatures have caused more frequent, longer-lasting bleaching events in recent years. Moreover, 'It's possible that some species that don't bleach under heat stress, are rescuing coral types that do.' This would be consistent with Brown's research in Little Cayman, Cayman Islands, which found that nursery corals organized with different genotypes decreased disease. But to say with more certainty whether this is the case in Rarotonga, the team needs to start by examining coral DNA.
Associated Press
29-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
The National Geographic Society and Cengage Group Celebrate Expanded Partnership with the Announcement of a New Interactive Student Experience at the Museum of Exploration
$15 million gift from Cengage Group will fund the National Geographic Learning Launchpad, a new educational experience at the National Geographic Museum of Exploration WASHINGTON, May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Geographic Society and Cengage Group have expanded their long-term partnership with a $15 million gift in support of the National Geographic Museum of Exploration, opening in 2026. The National Geographic Learning Launchpad, powered by the Cengage Group, is an extraordinary interactive space that will inspire young people to connect with the concept of geographic thinking and to apply what they learn to their own lives. The National Geographic Learning Launchpad will be the first stop for the student groups visiting the Museum of Exploration at National Geographic Base Camp in Washington, D.C., setting the scene for their experience at the museum. The space — which includes an introductory corridor, interactive activity room and immersive projection room — presents geography as a way of thinking, understanding and interacting with the world. Visitors will learn to ask questions and seek knowledge, think critically and creatively to solve the world's most pressing problems and to understand the Explorer Mindset — a series of attributes, shared values and commitments that define what it means to be a National Geographic Explorer. 'Curiosity is at the heart of exploration, and education is how we nurture that spark,' said Jill Tiefenthaler, chief executive officer of the National Geographic Society. 'Thanks to the generosity of our partners at Cengage, we're able to create innovative, hands-on learning experiences like the National Geographic Learning Launchpad — bringing the fieldwork and projects of Explorers straight to students and inspiring the Explorer in everyone.' The dynamic partnership between National Geographic Society and Cengage launched in 2011, when the organizations came together to establish the National Geographic Learning brand and business. This strategic partnership provides Cengage the exclusive rights to develop and deliver National Geographic-branded learning products that engage tens of millions of learners around the world each year. National Geographic Learning products, which support learners and educators in both the English Language Teaching and Secondary education markets worldwide, immerse students in a range of subject areas, including science, social studies, language arts and math, featuring information from the unique viewpoint of Explorers and their multifaceted work. National Geographic Learning content reaches approximately 20 million students each year with Explorer-centered educational content across 109 countries, with over 600 individual Explorers featured in materials. These learning products highlight the Explorer's work in connection to the subject matter in ways that uniquely engage students and provide cross-cultural connections to other subject areas in an authentic, relevant way. In 2024, National Geographic and Cengage extended their National Geographic Learning partnership through 2040 to continue bringing the world to the classroom and the classroom to life with rich content and experiences. 'We are proud that our partnership with the National Geographic Society is expanding further as we explore all the ways we can change the typical classroom experience together and provide a window to the world for students,' said Michael Hansen, chief executive officer of Cengage Group. 'Our mission at Cengage Group is to provide education for employment – empowering learners with the skills and experiences they need to achieve their education and career goals. Our partnership with National Geographic helps us realize this ambition; by leveraging the insights, experiences and imagery of National Geographic Explorers we are able to better develop engaging and impactful educational experiences that prepare students to lead fulfilling lives in the real world. The opportunity to get students out of the classroom and into the world of an Explorer through the National Geographic Learning Launchpad is a remarkable next step for this collaboration.' The National Geographic Museum of Exploration, where the National Geographic Learning Launchpad will be housed, is currently under construction and will open in 2026. To find out more information and updates on Base Camp, visit us here. PRESS KIT About National Geographic Society The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 15,000 grants for work across all seven continents, reaching 3 million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature experiences, stories and content. To learn more, visit or follow us on Instagram and Facebook. About Cengage Group Cengage Group, a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education. Visit us at or find us on LinkedIn or X. About National Geographic Learning National Geographic Learning (NGL), part of Cengage Group, provides quality learning products for the K-12 and English Language Teaching education markets worldwide. NGL seeks to transform teaching and learning by bringing the world to the classroom and the classroom to life. We provide relevant content to inspire teachers and impact learners, including exclusive access to the insights, experiences and imagery of more than 600 National Geographic Explorers through our close partnership with the National Geographic Society. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE National Geographic Society
New York Post
09-05-2025
- Science
- New York Post
Over 99% of the deep ocean seafloor remains a mystery, study finds
Explorers know that the Earth's oceans are vast, covering about 71% of the surface of the globe. According to a new study, just 0.001% of the deep seafloor has been visually observed. The deep ocean seafloor is defined as depths of 200 meters or more below Earth's surface, where oxygen levels are low and sunlight is virtually nonexistent. The study, published in Science Advances, equates the area seen by human eyes to being even smaller than the state of Rhode Island. 'As we face accelerated threats to the deep ocean—from climate change to potential mining and resource exploitation—this limited exploration of such a vast region becomes a critical problem for both science and policy,' Katy Croff Bell, Ph.D., president of Ocean Discovery League, National Geographic Explorer and lead author of the study, said in a statement. Researchers said they arrived at the surprising figure based on a review of data from approximately 44,000 deep-sea dives conducted since 1958. 7 According to a new study, just 0.001% of the deep seafloor has been visually observed. Ocean Discovery League 7 The study, published in Science Advances, equates the area seen by human eyes to being even smaller than the state of Rhode Island. Ocean Discovery League While scientists note that not all dive records are publicly accessible, even if their estimates were off by a factor of ten, it would still mean that less than one-hundredth of 1% of the deep ocean floor has ever been visually documented. Due to the costs and the technology needed to explore at vast depths, only a few countries are equipped to scan the ocean floor. These countries include the United States, Japan, New Zealand, France, and Germany. 7 Due to the costs and the technology needed to explore at vast depths, only a few countries are equipped to scan the ocean floor. NOAA Ocean Exploration What's it like down there? In the deepest trenches, it is void of life, according to scientists. Organisms such as sea spiders and some crustaceans can be found among hydrothermal vents. Water pressure is so immense that animals unsuited to the punishing environment would be killed. Because of the lack of sunlight, organisms must rely on senses other than sight to get around. 7 In the deepest trenches, it is void of life, according to scientists. NOAA Ocean Exploration 7 Because of the lack of sunlight, organisms must rely on senses other than sight to get around. NOAA Ocean Exploration The limited knowledge of the oceans means entire ecosystems may remain undiscovered, and countless species are not well understood. 'There is so much of our ocean that remains a mystery,' said Ian Miller, Ph.D., chief science and innovation officer at the National Geographic Society. 'Deep-sea exploration led by scientists and local communities is crucial to better understanding the planet's largest ecosystem. Dr. Bell's goals to equip global coastal communities with cutting-edge research and technology will ensure a more representative analysis of the deep sea. If we have a better understanding of our ocean, we are better able to conserve and protect it.' 7 Previous studies have suggested that potentially millions of plants and animals remain undiscovered simply due to the sheer size and inaccessibility of the oceans. NOAA Ocean Exploration 7 The limited knowledge of the oceans means entire ecosystems may remain undiscovered, and countless species are not well understood. NOAA Ocean Exploration Previous studies have suggested that potentially millions of plants and animals remain undiscovered simply due to the sheer size and inaccessibility of the oceans. The study's authors argue that as technology advances and becomes more cost-effective, expanding efforts to explore the vast ecosystem become increasingly feasible and necessary. By investing in emerging tools and strategies, researchers believe the world can gain a much deeper understanding of Earth's most critical and least known ecosystem.
