under the microscope
A fire-retardant lithium-ion battery that’s 80% lighter
“The new batteries could revolutionize charging. They also increase energy density by 16-26%.” | learn more
Category: under the microscope
under the microscope
Human evolution in plain sight?
“Some are born with three arteries in their forearm, and a new study is suggesting more and more people are holding onto this temporary embryonic artery into adulthood, which the researchers believe could be natural selection at work.” | learn more
under the microscope
Gene-editing a specific part of your brain
“A new delivery mechanism for gene-editing enzymes allows doctors to target specific kinds of cells or regions of the brain.” | learn more
under the microscope
New bioplastic made from waste can biodegrade in 12 months
“Two of the problems with traditional plastics are the facts that they’re made from non-renewable petroleum, and they stick around for centuries once discarded. A new alternative, however, is made from existing waste, and should biodegrade in a year.” | learn more
under the microscope
The most common pain relief drug in the world induces risky behavior
“Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol and sold widely under the brand names Tylenol and Panadol, also increases risk-taking, according to a new study that measured changes in people’s behaviour when under the influence of the common over-the-counter medication.” | learn more
under the microscope
Transparent solar panels & quantum dots
“in august 2020, a team led by university of michigan researchers set a new efficiency record for color-neutral, transparent solar cells. the team achieved 8.1% efficiency and 43.3% transparency with an organic, or carbon-based, design rather than conventional silicon.” I […]
under the microscope
Claims of aging ‘reversal’ with hyperbaric oxygen treatment study
A new study published in peer-reviewed journal Aging finds improvements in both general cognitive function and cerebral blood flow. “The main improvements include attention, information processing speed and executive functions, which normally decline with aging.” The study used a control group, but […]
under the microscope
Battery-free Game Boy runs forever
This is the “first-ever battery-free, energy-harvesting, interactive device. The research offers a sustainable alternative to batteries, which end up in landfills.” | learn more
under the microscope
A clinical blood test for Alzheimer’s disease diagnoses?
“Researchers disclosed a potentially useful biomarker for Alzheimer’s Disease at a major conference this summer. The good news for clinical laboratories is that the biomarker is found in blood. If further research confirms these early findings, medical laboratories could one […]
under the microscope
Using yeast to produce psilocybin (the magic in magic mushrooms)
Extracting psilocybin from mushrooms is expensive, so the alternative is to simply grow it. “In yeast, the scientists prove that psilocybin can be produced de novo, which means that you can produce the molecule by simply growing the yeast with […]