Brain Harvest | Sugar Scans | Moon Business

I recently rediscovered my fascination with Richard Feynman and his quirky genius.

Now you can, too, with the first Clickables link below!

-Steve

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Brain Harvest

A new way to grow brain cells just in time for your next exam! Researchers “coached” stem cells into specific types of brain cells.

• 6 hydrogels positively charged to varying degrees

• Mimicked neural cell environments

• Creating neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes on command

Controlling neural stem cell evolution could lead to breakthrough treatments for brain injuries. Further development will produce targeted hydrogels for filling brain tissue cavities after injury. Bonus: synthetic snacks for zombies!

Braaaaaains 

Sugar Scans

Sugar can help detect diseases, as long as it’s radioactive fructose. A new modified fructose tracer, [18F]4-FDF, improves PET scan disease detection compared to prior glucose tracers.

• PET = Positron Emission Tomography

• Fructose is mostly metabolized in the liver or kidneys

• Accumulation anywhere else indicates an issue

Injecting [18F]4-FDF into mice with cancer and inflammation showed fructose accumulation in diseased areas, and minimal absorption in healthy tissue. Offering early disease detection potential, especially those affecting the heart and brain.

Sweet success

Moon Business

The moon welcomed its first privately owned lander this week. Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus made history on Thursday after a suspenseful descent.

• Odysseus’ laser rangefinders malfunctioned prior to landing

• Repurposed a payload device’s LIDAR to navigate

• Landed ~190 miles from lunar south pole

The landing marks a milestone in NASA’s attempt to lower expenses for moon research by using private launch and landing contracts. Odysseus’ payload devices will send back valuable data on plume-surface and space weather interactions. Aaand cheese content.

Classic Odysseus, overcoming navigation issues

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Unnatural Selection

Last week: “Which rice should they make next?”

Could you imagine cooking rice on a grill?

st3v on site

Ocheesyus Lander

Sneaking onto the Odysseus lander was easy. Now st3v needs to finally find evidence of moon cheese.

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