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The next HomePod could be more like a soundbar according to this Apple patent – and it hints at fixing the HomePod 2’s biggest issue

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The next Apple HomePod might have a much longer and thinner horizontal design than previous models, making it look more like a soundbar, according to an Apple patent spotted by AppleInsider.

The patent details the design of what appears to be a horizontal HomePod with speakers and a central display that reminds us of the design of the JBL Charge 5 speaker or a chunkier soundbar, like the Sonos Ray. Either way, it’s a huge departure from the cylindrical design of the first HomePod or the HomePod Mini’s cute sphere aesthetic. 

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Memories are made by breaking DNA — and fixing it

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When a long-term memory forms, some brain cells experience a rush of electrical activity so strong that it snaps their DNA. Then, an inflammatory response kicks in, repairing this damage and helping to cement the memory, a study in mice shows.

The findings, published on 27 March in Nature1, are “extremely exciting”, says Li-Huei Tsai, a neurobiologist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge who was not involved in the work. They contribute to the picture that forming memories is a “risky business”, she says. Normally, breaks in both strands of the double helix DNA molecule are associated with diseases including cancer. But in this case, the DNA damage-and-repair cycle offers one explanation for how memories might form and last.

It also suggests a tantalizing possibility: this cycle might be faulty in people with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, causing a build-up of errors in a neuron’s DNA, says study co-author Jelena Radulovic, a neuroscientist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.

Inflammatory response

This isn’t the first time that DNA damage has been associated with memory. In 2021, Tsai and her colleagues showed that double-stranded DNA breaks are widespread in the brain, and linked them with learning2.

To better understand the part these DNA breaks play in memory formation, Radulovic and her colleagues trained mice to associate a small electrical shock with a new environment, so that when the animals were once again put into that environment, they would ‘remember’ the experience and show signs of fear, such as freezing in place. Then the researchers examined gene activity in neurons in a brain area key to memory — the hippocampus. They found that some genes responsible for inflammation were active in a set of neurons four days after training. Three weeks after training, the same genes were much less active.

The team pinpointed the cause of the inflammation: a protein called TLR9, which triggers an immune response to DNA fragments floating around the insides of cells. This inflammatory response is similar to one that immune cells use when they defend against genetic material from invading pathogens, Radulovic says. However, in this case, the nerve cells were responding not to invaders, but to their own DNA, the researchers found.

TLR9 was most active in a subset of hippocampal neurons in which DNA breaks resisted repair. In these cells, DNA repair machinery accumulated in an organelle called the centrosome, which is often associated with cell division and differentiation. However, mature neurons don’t divide, Radulovic says, so it is surprising to see centrosomes participating in DNA repair. She wonders whether memories form through a mechanism that is similar to how immune cells become attuned to foreign substances that they encounter. In other words, during damage-and-repair cycles, neurons might encode information about the memory-formation event that triggered the DNA breaks, she says.

When the researchers deleted the gene encoding the TLR9 protein from mice, the animals had trouble recalling long-term memories about their training: they froze much less often when placed into the environment where they had previously been shocked than did mice that had the gene intact. These findings suggest that “we are using our own DNA as a signalling system” to “retain information over a long time”, Radulovic says.

Fitting in

How the team’s findings fit with other discoveries about memory formation is still unclear. For instance, researchers have shown that a subset of hippocampal neurons known as an engram are key to memory formation3. These cells can be thought of as a physical trace of a single memory, and they express certain genes after a learning event. But the group of neurons in which Radulovic and her colleagues observed the memory-related inflammation are mostly different from the engram neurons, the authors say.

Tomás Ryan, an engram neuroscientist at Trinity College Dublin, says the study provides “the best evidence so far that DNA repair is important for memory”. But he questions whether the neurons encode something distinct from the engram — instead, he says, the DNA damage and repair could be a consequence of engram creation. “Forming an engram is a high-impact event; you have to do a lot of housekeeping after,” he says.

Tsai hopes that future research will address how the double-stranded DNA breaks happen and whether they occur in other brain regions, too.

Clara Ortega de San Luis, a neuroscientist who works with Ryan at Trinity College Dublin, says that these results bring much-needed attention to mechanisms of memory formation and persistence inside cells. “We know a lot about connectivity” between neurons “and neural plasticity, but not nearly as much about what happens inside neurons”, she says.

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A Guide to Fixing the iPhone Black Screen

iPhone Black Screen

This guide is designed to show you how to fix the black screen problem on your iPhone, we cover a wide range of things that you can try to resolve the issue on the iPhone. Apple’s iPhones are marvels of modern technology, but even they aren’t immune to occasional glitches.

One of the most disconcerting issues iPhone users can encounter is the dreaded “black screen of death.” Your phone might seem completely unresponsive, leaving you in the dark about the cause and potential solutions. Fear not! This guide will delve into the common reasons behind an unresponsive iPhone screen and provide a well-structured troubleshooting process to help you revive your device.

Understanding the Causes

A black screen on your iPhone could be triggered by various factors.

Here are the most common culprits:

  • Software Crash: Apps can occasionally malfunction and freeze, causing your iPhone’s display to go black.
  • A system-wide software glitch can also be at play.
  • Hardware Issues: Problems with your phone’s display, battery, or other hardware components can lead to a black screen.
  • Drained Battery: A completely drained battery can mimic a black screen with no visible signs of life.
  • Outdated iOS: An outdated operating system can have bugs and compatibility issues that might cause unexpected behavior, sometimes including display problems.

Troubleshooting Steps: Your Path to Reviving Your iPhone

Let’s walk through a step-by-step approach designed to address all the potential causes systematically:

1. Basic Check: Is Your iPhone On?

  • Double-check by pressing the Side (or Power) button. Do you hear any sounds or feel vibrations? If you do, your screen is likely the issue. If there are no signs of life, proceed to the next step.

2. Charge Your Battery

  • A fully drained battery is a basic but surprisingly common reason behind an unresponsive iPhone.
  • Connect your iPhone to a charger and let it charge for at least 30 minutes.

3. Force Restart

  • A force restart is often the cure for minor software glitches.

The instructions vary depending on your iPhone model:

  • iPhone 8 and later (including SE 2nd and 3rd gen): Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, then the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
  • iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Press and hold both the Volume Down and the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
  • iPhone 6s and earlier: Press and hold the Home and the Side (or Top) button until the Apple logo appears.

4. Connect to a Computer and Check for Updates

  • Connect your iPhone to a computer and open iTunes (on older macOS versions) or Finder (on newer macOS versions).
  • Check if it recognizes your iPhone.
  • If it’s recognized, see if there are any available iOS updates. If there are, update your iPhone.

5. Recovery Mode

If the previous steps haven’t resolved the issue, try putting your iPhone into Recovery Mode and restoring it. Keep in mind this will erase all data on your iPhone:

  • Connect your device to a computer and open iTunes/Finder.
  • While connected, follow the force restart steps for your iPhone model. However, don’t release the buttons when the Apple logo appears. Keep holding them until you see the Recovery Mode screen.
  • You will be presented with the option to “Update” or “Restore.” Try “Update” first, as this preserves your data. If that fails, you may need to choose “Restore.”

6. DFU Mode (Last Resort)

  • Device Firmware Update (DFU) Mode is a deeper restore option than Recovery Mode.

Use this with caution as it also erases your data. Instructions are complex and model-specific.

  • You can find detailed DFU instructions on Apple’s support website.

Seeking Professional Help

If none of the above solutions work, it’s likely a hardware issue. At this point, your best bet is to contact Apple Support or visit an authorized Apple Service Provider to diagnose and potentially repair your iPhone.

Prevention is Better than Cure

Here are a few things you can do to reduce the chances of the black screen issue reoccurring:

  • Keep iOS Updated: Update your iPhone regularly to benefit from bug fixes and security patches.
  • Manage Apps: Avoid running too many apps simultaneously, and force close those you’re not using to free up system resources.
  • Protective Gear: Use a sturdy phone case and screen protector to safeguard your iPhone from physical damage.

Summary

While the iPhone black screen can be a frustrating experience, the provided troubleshooting steps offer a high likelihood of resolving the issue for most users. Remember, starting with the basic solutions and progressing through the more advanced ones is the most effective strategy. If all else fails, don’t hesitate to seek assistance from Apple Support or an authorized service provider.

Image Credit: Mateusz Dach

Filed Under: Apple, Apple iPhone, Guides





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