Monthly Archives: September 2013

The Next Step in Killing Cancer

"The protein that Olson is describing is called chlorotoxin. It’s a major component of the venom injected from the sting of a scorpion’s tail. Once it’s infused into the bloodstream, the venom naturally travels to the brain and attaches itself to chloride channels that lay on the surface of cells. And as it turns out, chlorotoxin actually prefers the chloride channels on tumor cells above all other tissues. Upon realizing this fascinating discovery, the Blaze Bioscience team re-engineered chlorotoxin. They tagged it with molecules that literally act like a flashlight for doctors. It’s a fluorescent dye that illuminates the outline of the tumor in its entirety, making it easier for brain surgeons to operate without error." Continue reading →

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Intel turns wine into electricity to power mobile devices

"Demonstrating what is probably the perfect solution for energy conscious winos out there, an Intel Labs researcher talked through the project on stage alongside Bell, showing off a low-power processor and an accelerometer that were powered by a glass of wine. The researcher - we didn't catch his full name - boasted that the computing solutions being worked on in Intel Labs are so low in power that in the future we'll be able to 'power them by the heat of our skin, or the ambilight in the room', or 'something a little more entertaining', he added, pointing at the wine glass hooked up to the accelerometer." Continue reading →

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Top 10 Busiest Airports in the World

"In this modern world, airway is the most convent medium of travel in terms of time and safety and its global presence. The number of people travelling by air is constantly rising every day and so is the number of aircraft and airports. There are more than 40,000 thousands airports around the globe used for civilian and cargo transport. This list is gives the top 10 busiest airports in the world in terms of the total annual passenger transition registered. Naturally this kind of list always changes, what we listed below is as per the data of the year 2012." Continue reading →

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NASA: Voyager 1 becomes first spacecraft to leave our solar system

"NASA’s Voyager 1 probe has now left the solar system and is wandering the galaxy, US scientists said Thursday. The spacecraft was launched in 1977 on a mission to explore the outer planets of our solar system and to possibly journey into the unknown depths of outer space. US space agency scientists now agree that Voyager is officially outside the protective bubble known as the heliosphere that extends at least eight billion miles beyond all the planets in our solar system, and has entered a cold, dark region known as interstellar space. Voyager’s instruments will have to shut down permanently in 2025, Science reported. NASA spends $5 million per year to operate the twin spacecraft." Continue reading →

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Cygnus cargo spacecraft is on its way to the International Space Station

"Orbital’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft is now on its way to becoming the second commercial cargo vehicle to service the International Space Station. The Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus cargo spacecraft lifted off on schedule at 10:58 am EDT (1458 GMT) Wednesday and placed the Cygnus spacecraft into earth orbit. The spacecraft is carrying 700 kilograms of supplies, more than any previous commercial cargo mission to the station, Orbital’s Frank Culbertson said at a post-launch press conference (a subtle dig at SpaceX’s three Dragon flights to the station.)" Continue reading →

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SpaceShipTwo flies a little higher and a little faster

"Virgin officials and investors hailed the flight as bringing the company another step closer to commercial operations. 'We couldn’t be more delighted to have another major supersonic milestone under our belts as we move toward a 2014 start of commercial service,' said Sir Richard Branson. 'The successful completion of all major aspects of the flight mission demonstrates that we are very close to achieving one of Galactic’s key goals: commercializing access to space for the broader public,' said H.E. Khadem Al Qubaisi, chairman of Aabar Investments, a major investor in Virgin Galactic." Continue reading →

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Johns Hopkins researchers reverse Down syndrome in mice

"U.S. researchers said Wednesday they have found a way to reverse Down syndrome in newborn lab mice by injecting an experimental compound that causes the brain to grow normally. The team at Johns Hopkins University used lab mice that were genetically engineered to have extra copies of about half the genes found on human chromosome 21, leading to Down syndrome-like conditions such as smaller brains and difficulty learning to navigate a maze. 'It worked beautifully,' said lead author Roger Reeves of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 'We were able to completely normalize growth of the cerebellum through adulthood with that single injection.'" Continue reading →

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Did You Know That Viruses Are Saving Your Life Right Now?

"Phages are an excellent way to combat antibacterial resistance because they adapt to morphing bacteria, whereas antibiotics don’t. Phage therapy has been used successfully to treat acne, and even MRSA. If phages can be controlled, they may become the ultimate antibacterial weapons against the latest deadly superbugs, such as CRE.The Journal of Infection reported impressive success rates with phage therapy in humans, in the range of 80 to 95 percent. The good news is, you already have this wonderful army living in your body, right where nature put it—it’s built-in!" Continue reading →

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Scientists Take Graphene to the Next Level

"Graphene! Graphene! Miracle of miracles! Savior of technology! At least, that’s been the chatter for the last nine or so years, ever since scientists isolated the single-atom-thick carbon derivative. According to a post today in MIT Technology Review, a group of really smart people appear to have solved a major problem with using graphene in transistors by making it act like a switch. There used to be a lot of hand-wringing that we were running up against the upper limits of Moore’s Law when it came to processing power. If we’re talking about silicon, that may be true. But if this graphene stuff is legit, tomorrow’s processors will make today’s look as they were made by Fisher-Price." Continue reading →

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