Injectable Glowing Beads In Bloodstream Can Indicate Glucose Levels
Diabetics may have yet another tool in their blood-sugar management arsenal — an implantable, fluorescent blood-sugar monitor. It involves small hydrogel beads that vary the intensity of emitted light depending on glucose concentration. They’re called Life Beans. The system, developed at the University of Tokyo, could lead to implantable blood-glucose monitors, which could enable 24-7…
Human Trials Next for Darpa’s Mind-Controlled Artificial Arm
Pentagon-backed scientists are getting ready to test thought-controlled prosthetic arms on human subjects, by rewiring their brains to fully integrate the artificial limbs. Already in recent years, we’ve seen very lifelike artificial arms, monkeys nibbling bananas with mind-controlled robotic limbs, and even humans whose muscle fibers have been wired to prosthetic devices. But this is…
8 Incredible Health Innovations That Transform Lives
Each day, the physical capabilities that technology gives us is incredible, and we’re not just talking about texting friends at lightening pace, or the ability to see our energy consumption in real time. We’re talking about the abilities given to us by new tech in the health industry, either to supplement or restore disabilities experienced…
Storied Chair Designer Invents a New Crutch
Jeff Weber spotted a design rarity: The market opportunity is massive, and the products out there are terrible. When Jeff Weber suffered an injury to his left foot five years ago, he was given a set of standard crutches from the hospital. But the crutches were uncomfortable and seemed to only add ergonomic insult to…
Remove HIV’s invisibility cloak to defeat it
Removing a chemical “invisibility cloak” that makes HIV-infected cells look healthy might be the key to ridding people of the virus. Human cells protect themselves against immune attack by displaying proteins on their surface that mark them as “self”. When the immune system detects these proteins, it holds back. One way HIV evades immune attack…