Lifeboat Foundation

Neurotech startup Motif says it has built a pea-sized brain chip that can treat mental illnesses, including depression, without the side effects of conventional drugs. Watch Posthuman with Emily Chang to learn more about the power of brain-computer interfaces.

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Biomedical engineers from the University of Melbourne have invented a 3D printing system, or bioprinter, capable of fabricating structures that closely mimic the diverse tissues in the human body, from soft brain tissue to harder materials like cartilage and bone.

This cutting-edge technology offers cancer researchers an advanced tool for replicating specific organs and tissues, significantly improving the potential to predict and develop new pharmaceutical therapies. This would pave the way for more advanced and ethical drug discovery by reducing the need for animal testing.

Head of the Collins BioMicrosystems Laboratory at the University of Melbourne, Associate Professor David Collins said: In addition to drastically improving print speed, our approach enables a degree of cell positioning within printed tissues. Incorrect cell positioning is a big reason most 3D bioprinters fail to produce structures that accurately represent human tissue.

Summary: Researchers have demonstrated how brain activity can predict behavior in urban environments, providing a roadmap for improving urban planning. Using functional MRI scans, the study identified activity in the brain’s reward system, specifically the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, as a key predictor of why people visit certain urban areas.

Participants rated photos of Lisbon’s urban spaces, and their brain responses were linked to visitation patterns, showing that people are drawn to areas of perceived value. This research suggests urban design can prioritize environments that align with cognitive and emotional well-being.

Neurourbanism, the emerging field behind this study, offers tools to design cities that enhance livability and sustainability. By focusing on human-centered approaches, cities can improve efficiency, mobility, and resident happiness.

Bioelectronics research and development of implants made of electrically conductive materials for disease treatment is advancing rapidly. However, bioelectronic treatment is not without complications. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have taken another step forward by developing a refined method to create detailed and tissue-friendly bioelectronics.

In a study published in Advanced Science, the researchers describe how they can use light to create electrically conductive materials directly in the body, showing promising results in animal trials.

Bioelectronics is successfully used for treating heart arrhythmia, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, to name a few. However, it’s well known that today’s bioelectrodes and implantation methods require the tissue to adapt to the electrodes, rather than the other way around. This can lead to complications.

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Continue reading “Why We Die: The New Science of Aging and the Quest for Immortality (Audio Summary)” »

Communication and coordination among different cells are fundamental aspects that regulate many functions in our body. This process, known as paracrine signaling, involves the release of signaling molecules by a cell into its extracellular matrix (ECM) or surroundings to communicate changes in its cellular processes or the local environment. These signaling molecules are then detected by neighboring cells, leading to various cellular responses.

For instance, during cell/tissue injury, the paracrine signaling process releases growth factors that signal nearby stem cells to assist in tissue repair in the form of scar tissue formation or blood clotting. Similar processes occur in the regulation of other vital functions, such as digestion, respiration, and reproduction. Additionally, paracrine signals influence the expression and activity of enzymes involved in drug metabolism and play a role in drug–drug interactions.

The signaling molecules, which may contain proteins and genetic material, are transported within tiny vesicles called exosomes. These vesicles serve as valuable biomarkers for various diseases and can even be engineered to carry drugs, making them a highly effective targeted drug delivery system. Notably, the hormone oxytocin and the neurotransmitter dopamine are paracrine messengers.

A multi-institutional team of researchers, led by Georgia Tech’s Francesca Storici, has discovered a previously unknown role for RNA. Their insights could lead to improved treatments for diseases like cancer and neurodegenerative disorders while changing our understanding of genetic health and evolution.

A new “toolkit” to repair damaged DNA that can lead to aging, cancer and motor neuron disease (MND) has been discovered by scientists at the Universities of Sheffield and Oxford.

Published in Nature Communications, the research shows that a protein called TEX264, together with other enzymes, is able to recognize and “eat” toxic proteins that can stick to DNA and cause it to become damaged. An accumulation of broken, damaged DNA can cause cellular aging, cancer and neurological diseases such as MND.

Until now, ways of repairing this sort of DNA damage have been poorly understood, but scientists hope to exploit this novel repair toolkit of proteins to protect us from aging, cancer and neurological disease.