Lab notes: tuning in to a dwarf galaxy 3bn light years away

A nice kick-off to the New Year as a mysterious type of radio wave from deep space has been traced to a precise source for the first time. So-called fast radio bursts picked up in 2016 by a telescope in New Mexico likely emanated from a dwarf galaxy some 3bn light years from Earth. The new discovery will not settle the issue of exactly what's causing the pulses, but it definitively eliminates several theories. Oh the excitement - it's like Contact, but real! Space excitements aside, concerns are growing about the impact of air pollution on health. A study in the Lancet this week, which tracked 6.6 million people, estimates one in 10 cases of Alzheimer's among those living by busy roads could be linked to air and noise pollution. It's by no means conclusive, but does link to other work on the impact of pollution on the brain and its processes. Don't despair though, there's some happier brain news with the surprise discovery that the tissues responsible for facial recognition keep growing into adulthood - unlike other areas which are fully formed in early life. It's hoped that the finding will help scientists understand some aspects of the ageing process, but also what happens in disorders that make it hard for people to spot familiar faces.