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Disco Mouse | Sleepy Seals | Sticker Meds

Disco Mouse | Sleepy Seals | Sticker Meds

TCK #98

Steve Burgess
April 29, 2023

Happy belated Arbor Day! Yesterday celebrated trees and their importance to our daily lives.

Back in 2011, two Oregonians planted their appreciation as happy trees. The massive emoji is visible every autumn when their design turns yellow.

-Steve

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transparent mouse with color coded insides

photo from biorxiv preprint

Disco Mouse

Color by number, but with dead mice. Researchers used wildDISCO to create transparent rodent corpses that highlight various antibodies as a map. (featured image above)

wild = works on normal mice
DISCO = 3D Imaging of Solvent-Cleared Organs
30+ types of antibodies can be used as markers

Highlighting various body parts alongside 3D imaging creates a virtual fly-through map. Researchers are working on tracking the lymphatic system to learn more about how cancer spreads. Now we just need a Spotify playlist.

Disco lofi - beats to study disease to

Sleepy Seals

To prevent snoring, try holding your breath deep under water. Warning: only works for elephant seals.

Sleep 2 hours a day outside of breeding season (10h/day)
8 months per year is spent at sea, surrounded by predators
So they take 10 minute naps while descending in a spiral drift

Researchers used EEG electrodes and custom swim caps to discover this. These deep-sea snoozes occur below predator depths and ensure productive power naps. Coming soon: elephant seal sleep masks!

Drifting off to zzz

Sticker Meds

Medication may soon be administered via stickers. MIT scientists developed cUSP to deliver medication with ultrasound.

cUSP = Conformable Ultrasound Sonophoresis Patch
Patches contain 4 electrical transducers
Bubble-powered microjets shoot meds through the skin

Many non-invasive drug applications require large doses and can be indirect. cUSP aims to provide a more effective alternative for people suffering from a variety of skin conditions. Bonus points if they come with cartoon characters.

Patch notes

Similar: “Medicated Poof” from TCK #94

Clickables

Is this a torpedo or a dolphin?
Bouncing penguins try to catch a butterfly
a-parrot-ly, video calls are for the birds
30 insect sting ratings including “why did I start this list?”
Garden games - botanical garden’s take on Mario Party

Rec Check

Check out Kurzgesagt for learning, stick around for the birbs.

“Animation videos explaining things with optimistic nihilism since 12,013.”

Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell

We’re a team of illustrators, animators, number crunchers and one dog who aim to spark curiosity about science and the world we live in. To us nothing is boring if you tell a good story.