Pro Nappers | Pee-Bots | Moon Party

Have you seen Asteroid City? I just watched it and they definitely would’ve enjoyed our 3rd story below. Fortunately you’ll have that intel!

-Steve

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Pro Nappers

Survival naps aren’t as lazy passive as we once thought. Scientists recently discovered how tardigrades enter their dormant state, aka tun.

• Tardigrade = micro-animals that survive in extreme environments

• Enter “tun” when facing life-threatening conditions

• Triggered when when cysteine (amino acid) oxidizes

Reversing oxidation acts like an alarm clock, waking tardigrades up when conditions are safe. This finding opens the door for further research into how water bears survive the “impossible”. The epitome of “just sleep it off”.

Just a little micro-tun

Pee-Bots

Your pee can power the fight against bladder cancer. Researchers developed urea powered nanobots to take out tumors.

• Urea = waste substance found in urine

• Propulsion = converting urea into ammonia and CO₂

• Reduced tumor size in mice by 90%

Nanobots gather at the tumor and deliver radioactive treatment in a single dose. Offering a potentially quicker alternative to current treatments requiring multiple hospital visits. Bladder cancer’s #1 opponent.

Dear cancer, urine for a surprise

Moon Party

Japan became the 5th country to land on the moon after their SLIM spacecraft touched down on Friday, 1/19/24.

• SLIM = Smart Lander for Investigating Moon

• Nicknamed “moon sniper” for landing within 330’ of its target

• Problem: Solar panels aren’t working

The mission will end far sooner than its 2 week goal if solar power cannot be restored quickly. Though both lunar rovers seem to be working properly and will send back data for future landings. And likely inspire a heroic animated movie.

The real SLIM shady

Unnatural Selection

Last week: “Which is more fun to throw?”

The somehow sharp AND dull sound of axe throwing success is undefeated. (please throw in a controlled environment with expert supervision!)

st3v on site

Vending Machine

As st3v discovered, tardigrades can also enter tun under extreme deadlines.

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