Lifeboat Foundation

It turns out that the universe’s speed limit is pretty conservative.

A new antibiotic developed by a Flinders University researcher is being heralded as a breakthrough in the war against a drug resistant superbug. Bacteria are winning the fight against antibiotics as they evolve to fight off traditional treatments, threatening decades of advancements in modern medicine, with predictions they will kill over 10 million people by 2050. The scientific development of new, effective and safe antibiotics is crucial in addressing the ever-growing threat posed by drug resistant bacteria around the world.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a potentially deadly infection in the large intestine most common in people who need to take antibiotics for a long period of time, particularly in Australia’s ageing population. Dr Ramiz Boulos, adjunct research associate at Flinders University and CEO of Boulos & Cooper Pharmaceuticsals, says the fact CDI is becoming resistant to traditional antibiotics is alarming and highlights the need to develop more effective treatments.

“Cases of CDI disease are rising and the strains are becoming more lethal. If there is an imbalance in your intestines it can begin to grow and release toxins that attack the lining of the intestines which leads to symptoms,” says Dr Boulos. Over the past ten years, various strains of C. difficile have emerged, and are associated with outbreaks of severe infections worldwide. One particular strain is easily transmitted between people and has been responsible for large outbreaks in hospitals in the United States and Europe. “It’s concerning when you consider CDI is one of the most common infections acquired during hospital visits in the Western hemisphere, and the most likely cause of diarrhea for patients and staff in hospitals.”

Continue reading “Fighting Deadly Drug Resistant Bacteria in Intestines with New Antibiotic” »

A company called Ambrosia is charging $8,000 for the procedure and accepting PayPal payments. But there’s little to no evidence that it would work.

Genetic errors can lead to serious health problems, but repairing the genome can be dangerous and challenging. RNA offers another option. | Videos.

When a company reaches the top of the ladder, they typically kick it away so that others cannot climb up on it. The aim? To prevent competition. When this happens in the pharmaceutical world, in terms of patents, companies quickly apply for broad protection of their products, which can last decades, and, in doing so, they fence off entire research areas for others.

In this video, Tahir Amin an attorney Tahir Amin who specializes in patent law, explains how this “skewed” system hurts everyday people.

Half of patients with aggressive brain cancer glioblastoma die within 14 months of diagnosis. A new treatment could give them more time.

The flexible needles could help doctors deliver stem cells to broader areas of the brain with fewer injections. Such therapies are being investigated for Parkinson’s disease, stroke and other neurodegenerative disorders.

• By Monya Baker, Nature magazine on March 5, 2013

Caterpillar, along with Pon Equipment, has unveiled an all-electric 26-ton excavator with a giant 300 kWh battery pack in an effort to electrify construction equipment.

They built a prototype in Gjelleråsen, Norway for construction company Veidekke who plan to use 8 of them.

The company expects that the machine will result in a better experience for its employee by reducing air and noise pollution at construction sites.

Continue reading “Caterpillar unveils an all-electric 26-ton excavator with a giant 300 kWh battery pack” »

I had an amazing time on the podcast with David Sinclair today! He dropped some amazing knowledge about the current state of the science of longevity!