Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a valuable medical imaging technique, yet it is often inaccessible in developing countries due to the high cost of the technology. To make this tool more widely available, researchers have been working to develop a smaller, portable alternative. One such machine is the Swoop®, a portable scanner that is much …
Pigs Could Solve the Organ Transplant Crisis
2022 held a number of significant breakthroughs in researchers’ ongoing efforts to solve the organ transplant crisis. Many of those breakthroughs were in xenotransplantation, or the use of animal organs in humans, and most of that research has looked specifically at using genetically modified pig organs in humans. As research continues and scientists’ understanding grows, …
A Breakthrough in Converting Brain Waves to Speech
A new pilot study conducted by Chang Lab at UC San Francisco has demonstrated the ability to use new neurotechnology to enable paralyzed individuals to speak whole words using only their thoughts. This groundbreaking study marks the first time that a person with severe speech impairments has been able to use an implant to translate …
Can Nasal Vaccines Confer Sterilizing Immunity?
A COVID-19 vaccine that provides sterilizing immunity may be in our future – and with it, a potential light at the end of the coronavirus tunnel. At least, that’s what the dozens of research groups currently working on new vaccination delivery methods – such as nasal sprays or drops – are working towards. And while …
Robotic Jumper Scales Tall Buildings in a Single Bound
Not unlike a superhero leaping into the air to protect humanity, a new jumping robot can reach a height of 30 meters (100 feet), the highest achieved by any known natural or engineered jumper. The robot, designed by researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, uses a mechanical advantage over known biological systems. Although …
Study Finds Norovirus Could Spread Through Saliva
Norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis, causing an estimated 685 million cases each year. The virus can lead to severe illness and contributes to an estimated 50,000 child deaths on an annual basis, mostly in developing countries. Until now, medical researchers assumed that norovirus was only spread via the fecal-oral route – …
Freeze-Dried Mouse Sperm: A Revolution for In Vitro Fertilization?
When you think of a scientific laboratory, you might picture high-tech equipment, high-powered centrifuges, and bubbling vats of mysterious chemicals. However, the inner workings of the scientific community are often a bit more mundane. Take, for example, a group of researchers in Japan who were at their wits’ end as they tried to transport bottles …
Lab-Grown Fish: Swimming into Sustainability
It seems impossible to discuss the fishing industry without also discussing the harm caused by overfishing, overburdened waterways, and concerns about mercury contamination. But while some experts are busy evaluating the possibilities for less harmful fishing practices, others are examining another kind of seafood: edible lab-grown fish that require no fishing at all. An article …
New AstraZeneca Drug for HER2-Low Breast Cancer Aces Phase III Trial
Not all cancer cases are created equal. As the medical community hones in on better, less invasive cancer treatments, differentiating between different types of cases is key. Breast cancer is an example of a cancer that manifests in several different ways, requiring different treatment regimens. The presence of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, or …
Meet the Xenobots, Living Robots That Can Reproduce
“Life finds a way.” Those were the prophetic words of Dr. Ian Malcolm in Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster Jurassic Park. Now, as researchers discover that reconfigurable organisms, or xenobots as some like to call them, can now reproduce, those words are ringing true. Scientists first reported in 2020 how they created the reconfigurable organisms from skin …
