According to a new study from the Graziano Lab at Princeton University, US, there has been a sharp drop in the number of US college students who believe that some form of invisible beams are emitted form peoples’ eyes when they look at something (k.a. extramission). Their research suggests that the figure could now be […]
Tag: eye
Combining e-noses, e-tongues and e-eyes (study)
You might have come across a sensor device called an ‘Electronic Nose’ (also known as an e-nose). ‘Electronic Tongues’ (e-tongues) are also available. And of course there are various types of ‘Electronic Eyes’ (e-eyes). For a rare example of an academic paper which describes the application of all three at the same time, see: ‘Combination […]
Laser beams shooting out of cows’ eyes, in Scotland
“Laser beams shooting out of cows’ eyes could be a step toward better biometric security, less easily forged banknotes, and improved sensors, according to a team of Scottish scientists,” says a report in IEEE Spectrum. Technical details are sprinkled throughout the extent of a paper in the journal Nature Communications. The researchers are at the […]
Bungee cord-induced corneal lacerations correcting for myopic astigmatism
Although bungee jumping has been proved to be responsible for a wide range of medical problems (see previous article) it should not be assumed that use (or misuse) of bungee cords cannot ever have positive medical outcomes. A case is presented in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery which describes a patient who had […]
Egg in Your Eye (podcast 101)
Can the public focus on the medical dangers of egg-throwing at Halloween? A research study explores that very question, and we explore that study, in this week’s Improbable Research podcast. SUBSCRIBE on Play.it, iTunes, or Spotify to get a new episode every week, free. This week, Marc Abrahams discusses a published egg-in-your-eye study. Psychologist Jean Berko Gleason lends her voice, and her scientific expertise, and her opinions —with dramatic readings from a research study you […]
Did His Orgasm Lead to Blindness? (podcast #93)
Can a man’s orgasm cause him to go blind, at least temporarily? A medical report explores that very question, and we explore that medical report, in this week’s Improbable Research podcast. SUBSCRIBE on Play.it, iTunes, or Spotify to get a new episode every week, free. This week, Marc Abrahams discusses a published orgasm/blindess study, with dramatic readings from Yale/MIT/Harvard biomedical researcher Chris Cotsapas. For more info about what we […]
Medical assessment of comedians poking each other in the eye
In many old movies, slapstick comedians would poke other comedians in the eye. A Dutch medical team, writing in a Scottish medical journal, calculated the physical damage this would have done if the eye-poking had been real eye-poking, not just pretend, poking-fun poking: “Eye trauma in Laurel and Hardy movies – another nice mess,” Lara D.A. […]
Cock-Eyed Optimism: Using a Foreskin to Repair Eyelids
This study documents a case of cock-eyed optimism in a German surgical team, and the presumably happy result for the patient: “Cicatricial ectropion in ichthyosis: a novel approach to treatment,” Detlef Uthoff [pictured here], M. Gorney and C. Teichmann, Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, June 1994, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 92-5. The authors, at […]
Hitchcockian Fear-of-Heights Gaze Research
In the tradition of film director Alfred Hitchcock, these researchers watched the way fearful people watched their surroundings whilst walking in fear: “Visual Exploration during Locomotion Limited by Fear of Heights,” Günter Kugler, Doreen Huppert, Maria Eckl, Erich Schneider, Thomas Brandt [pictured here], PLoS ONE, 9(8), 2014, e105906. The authors, at the University of Munich and Brandenburg […]
Artificial eyes – a look back
If the history of ocularistry (artificial eye implementation) is of interest to you, may we recommend an article by retired ocularist Clyde W. Andrews, published in the fall 2005 issue of the Journal of Ophthalmic Prosthetics, My Work as an Eyemaker: The First 55 Years : “I have passed on my favorite (Windsor Newton) brush […]