A NEW research project has been launched which could unlock the secrets of the universe - including extraterrestrial life forms - as well as helping with modern medicine techniques.
A team of astrophysicists, engineers and computer scientists from Heriot-Watt University and University College London (UCL) will lead the study, which looks at imaging techniques.
The team has been awarded £2 million over three years from UK research councils to develop a new generation of techniques which could help to solve some of the biggest challenges in astronomy.
A monster telescope planned for 2023 will collect so much data in a single day that it would take nearly two million years to playback on an iPod. The new techniques will also be able to be used in many other fields of science and technology, including MRI scans. They will hopefully provide faster scans and new diagnostic methodologies for neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
The project team has already gained worldwide recognition in the field.
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