Capital "S": 13 April 2010 - Sneaky Brain Cancer Cells, Watery Glue, Monopole Magnets, and Dance-Powered Street Lamps

Heya!

Hope everyone's week is off to a great start! I guess technically it's Wednesday, but does it still count as Tuesday if I've been up all night? ;)

I found a very interesting article regarding glioblastoma today, a very common and deadly brain cancer. The average patient only survives about 15 months past diagnosis, and closer research may show why. The main tumor generally shoots off occasional cells into the surrounding tissue, which then behave very differently from the growth itself. Those cells are not responsive to the same therapies given to the cancer patients alongside removal of the tumor, and will actually spawn new growths later on. As a result, pretty much every patient with glioblastoma relapses after treatment. Now that the cells have been looked at closer and this fact about their resistance revealed, new treatments to target them as well can start to be explored.

Over at the University of Utah, a lab is checking out sea creatures and their construction habits in an effort to uncover new ideas on underwater adhesives. Specifically, they're looking at Phragmatopoma californica, called the "sandcastle worm," which builds little, compartments for itself via tiny drops of glue and sand bits. Other labs around the country are looking at various other sorts of marine animals looking for clues to apply to the goal. Hopefully the methods they're working toward will aid not only in ocean-stuff, but also have first aid and health applications. Apparently they're making progress, although it is still too soon to try it out on people. :)

Not too long ago scientists managed to actually produce a magnet with only one end - a monopole, but it would only work in very, very cold temperatures. Now, however, an artificial version of this "spin ice" has been created that can behave like a monopole in room temperature. The method employs arranging nano-sized magnets into a honeycomb structure, which as a whole behaves as hoped. Very interesting! I believe the applications lie in quantum computing, but I'd be talking out my rear if I tried to go into more detail.

Last for today is just really neat - France has actually installed and tried out eight modules created by Sustainable Dance Floor on the streets. They're these sections installed into the pavement that generate power when walked across. The goal is to reduce waste in powering city public areas (like street lamps), and to change where that power comes from. Check it out: