Every year, pollen seasons grow longer and more intense—to the great misery of those suffering from pollen allergies—myself included. There’s only so much one can do with antihistamines or hot towels, and no amount of protective measures—masks, firmly shut windows, you name it—appears to offer any protection from the endless sneezing, runny noses, and itchy […]
Edible Microlasers Could Revolutionize Food Tracking and Safety
In a delicious turn of events, scientists succeeded in taking the optics of olive oil to create the first-ever microlaser made entirely from edible materials. If commercialized, they could offer an easy and safe way to monitor food or medications from inside your body. The technology, introduced earlier this month in the journal Advanced Optical […]
Researchers Tattooed Tardigrades. They Promise It Will Be Useful
Microfabrication is—simply put—the construction of tiny things, including microscopic and nanoscopic objects and patterns. Microfabrication has major potential in medicine and biomedical engineering, in addition to fields like electronics and photonics—but first, researchers need to develop techniques that are biologically compatible. One team of researchers thinks a crucial step toward that goal involves tattooing tardigrades. […]
These Mini-Pigs Just Grew Human-Like Teeth—Here’s Why It Matters
When you lose a baby tooth, an adult one grows in its place. But if you lose an adult tooth, your options are limited to dentures, titanium implants, or a stylish gaping hole. Soon, however, there might be a third option: lab-grown teeth. Researchers at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine have grown a mix […]