The syGlass Scientist
Conversations on syGlass’ Impact and Collaborations
When a Tongue Becomes a Parasite’s Throne
Imagine a creature so sinister it hijacks another's body, not to kill but to replace a part of it. Meet the tongue-eating louse (Cymothoa exigua)—a parasitic isopod that enters a fish's mouth, severs its tongue, and positions itself as a grotesque replacement. Though unsettling, this bizarre relationship allows the fish to survive, albeit at a grisly cost.
Immersive Virtual Reality is a Game Changer for Anatomy Education
While the use of extended reality (XR) within higher education has steadily increased in popularity since the launch of the Oculus Rift headset in 2013, there has been an ongoing debate between virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) as the ideal learning platform. As an early adopter of XR technology at UCSF, I quickly noticed a key metric that seemed important in the efficacy of these tools: immersion. Now, a new meta-analysis of XR anatomy training studies highlights immersion as a dominate factor in improvement of anatomy knowledge scores.
Unlocking the Hidden Beauty of Science with Virtual Reality and Direct Volume Rendering
Lightsheet? microCT? Serial block face electron microscopy? Have you ever heard of these technologies? Very few members of the public know of the silent imaging revolution happening right now in the life sciences. In fact, in 2023 alone, there were 7,000 manuscripts about lightsheet microscopy, and 17,000 manuscripts about microCT—new technologies that can produce stunning high-resolution 3D image volumes.
Building the STEM Continuum: A West Texas Community-Based Approach to Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders
In an age where STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers are increasingly vital, developing a robust pipeline of future talent is essential. Unfortunately, many students face barriers such as limited resources, lack of hands-on experiences, and inconsistent engagement, especially in areas like West Texas.
Entomology Explored: Bridging Research, Education and Outreach with X-ray Computed Microtomography and Virtual Reality
In recent years, technological advancements have opened up new possibilities for understanding the natural world. A prime example of this can be seen in the field of entomology, where researchers are now using X-ray computed microtomography (micro-CT) and virtual reality (VR) to study insects in ways that were previously unimaginable.
Diamondback Energy and syGlass Join Forces to Ignite STEM Education in Midland, Texas
Diamondback Energy has long been a champion of STEM education, recognizing its importance in building a vibrant, innovative future for the Midland, Texas community. In their latest initiative, Diamondback Energy has partnered with syGlass to create the Diamondback STEM Lab powered by syGlass within the Midland ISD school district.
syGlass v2.1.0 Release
At syGlass, we’re constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in virtual reality and scientific visualization. This week, that culminated in the release of syGlass v2.1.0, a major update with a focus on automated and manual volume segmentation routines.
Education & Medicine: Bringing Science to Life with Virtual Reality
Gone are the days of the COVID-19 pandemic- so why are we still asking ourselves where the people are? Shouldn’t they have returned to the workforce over four years after the country shut down? If the shortages are in full force now, how can we work to create a pipeline and cut down the shortages for the future?
Virtual Reality Meets Science: Dr. Benjamin Rein and syGlass Revolutionize Anatomical Visualization
In the ever-evolving landscape of science and technology, a groundbreaking collaboration is making waves. Dr. Benjamin Rein, a Stanford scientist and renowned science communicator, is showcasing the incredible capabilities of syGlass by visualizing the human cadaver dataset of Joseph Paul Jernigan.
Charting the Educational Horizon: High School Ventures into Real-World Research with Advanced Virtual Reality Technology and Post-Secondary Partnerships
In an innovative leap forward for high school education, the St. Vrain Valley Schools Innovation Center in Longmont, Colorado, has successfully integrated cutting-edge neuroscience research into its curriculum through a collaboration with syGlass and the University of South Florida.