Tag

Axon

All articles tagged with #axon

Maine ICE Shooting: Cameras Present, Not Activated Under Axon Contract
law-enforcement1 month ago

Maine ICE Shooting: Cameras Present, Not Activated Under Axon Contract

Four ICE officials say body-worn Motorola SVX devices at the Biddeford shooting scene could record video, but the cameras were not activated and the lenses reportedly kept covered because ICE uses the SVX as radios under an Axon contract; video recording requires a subscription, and DHS plans to spend over $100 million on Axon gear for ICE. Past deadly ICE incidents stopped short of body-cam footage, and following the Maine shooting ICE paused some traffic stops amid scrutiny of camera deployment.

Trump investment in Axon precedes ICE Taser bid, sparks ethics questions
politics2 months ago

Trump investment in Axon precedes ICE Taser bid, sparks ethics questions

President Trump bought between $1 million and $5 million of Axon stock on Feb. 10, weeks before ICE posted a notice seeking a $220 million, five-year Taser contract, prompting ethics experts to caution about potential conflicts of interest. Officials say there’s no evidence of wrongdoing and the procurement is still in process, while Axon’s growing federal footprint—already supplying DHS and offering cloud, evidence, and AI tools—could benefit from any expansion of ICE’s Tasers, potentially deepening ties between the company and federal law enforcement.

Axons Revealed as Pearl-String Cables, Upending Century-Old Neuroscience
science3 months ago

Axons Revealed as Pearl-String Cables, Upending Century-Old Neuroscience

Johns Hopkins researchers report axons may be pearl-like strings rather than smooth tubes, a pattern seen in mouse, worm, and human neurons and persisting in normal tissue. The beads are about 250 nm with 70 nm connectors, influenced by membrane stiffness and cholesterol, and can speed or slow signal transmission. This challenges a century of textbook axon structure and is supported by advanced imaging and living-brain tissue studies, suggesting membrane physics plays a key role in brain signaling.

Unveiling the Dynamic Nature of Neuronal Adaptation
neuroscience2 years ago

Unveiling the Dynamic Nature of Neuronal Adaptation

Researchers have observed nerve plasticity within the axon initial segment (AIS) in real-time, shedding light on the adaptability of axons. The study reveals that the number of sodium channels in the AIS can change rapidly, within an hour, through a process called endocytosis. This adaptability allows for fine-tuning of neural activity and is crucial for learning and memory. The research team used innovative techniques, including live imaging, to observe these changes and identify the molecular mechanisms behind them. This groundbreaking research provides unprecedented insight into the intricate processes of neuroplasticity.