Robo-Doc | Grand Theft Combo | Disco Mouse

Our disco mouse from issue #98 is making headlines in cancer research again. So I brought back the original for you this week.

Now we can tell all our friends we were into transparent mouse research before it was cool!

-Steve

Get the weekly email that explains science in sweatpants. Stay smart for free.

Robo-Doc

A robo-surgeon completed its first liver transplant. Washington University surgeons controlled the procedure at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

• Surgeons used joysticks and 3D imaging

• Liver transplants traditionally require a 12-16” incision for removal

• Robo-assist only requires 6”

Smaller incisions reduces bleeding, recovery time, and scarring. The hospital is expanding its robotic surgery team and mentoring 30+ transplant centers on similar programs. No word on if the bot has a PhD.

Paging Dr. Robot

Grand Theft Combo

Keyless entry is sooo last year, we use cheat-codes now. Battery Sleuth allows car owners to set passcodes reminiscent of video game combos to prevent theft.

• US car thefts are up ~25% since 2019

• Many thieves hack key fobs to break-in

• Battery Sleuth counters by measuring voltage fluctuations

Those fluctuations turn every button and switch in your car into a keypad. So a thief would have to know your brake + brake + wipers + seat warmers combo in order to drive away. Not sure mechanics will like this though…

Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A

Disco Mouse

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

• 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

Unnatural Selection

Last week: “Best milk flavor?”

Pro tip: double down on greatness with coffee milk + coffee 🤯 

st3v on site

Coffee Syrup

Anticipating a win in “Unnatural Selection”, st3v pre-ordered coffee syrup to get a jump on the local market. Buzzness is booming!

Forward to a friend!

Get the weekly email that explains science in sweatpants. Stay smart for free.

Missed last week’s science in sweatpants?

Catch-up here: 🔬Moo #2 | Nest Armor | Ladder Ants

I'd love to hear from you!

Reply to this email or reach out on Twitter @_steveburgess. I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!