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From Bugs to Band-Aids: Insect Blood Could Revolutionize Wound Care
STEM Snacks
Steve Burgess
April 17, 2024
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Bug Blood
Insects are really good at stopping bleeding. Their hemolymph clots rapidly thanks to its viscoelastic properties.
Hemolymph = invertebrate blood
Viscoelastic = sharing properties of liquids and solids
Clots in 60-90 seconds, scabs in 3 minutes
Instead of human blood's red blood cells and platelets, hemolymph has hemocytes, acting similar to white blood cells. Though we aren’t bugs, further studies could lead to human wound healing improvements. Just don’t tell the San-Ti.
AI (yai yai)
ChatGPT tries stand-up comedy. How do you think it did?
Researchers found that insect blood clots super fast. It's so efficient, mosquitoes are considering a side hustle as emergency paramedics!
Last week’s science in sweatpants
Catch-up here: 🔬Flower Spider | Eyeball Energy | Bug Blood
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