Category: Technology & Devices
New test for peanut allergy more accurate, safer than current tests
Scientists from Britain’s Medical Research Council (MRC) have developed a new laboratory test to safely diagnose peanut allergy, offering a better way to monitor a significant food hazard. The test has 98 per cent specificity and, unlike current options, it does not run the risk of false-positives or cause allergic reactions such as anaphylactic shock. Current tests, in use for decades, are based on [...]
Gates joins malaria fight; backs gene-altering technologies
Philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder and Bill Gates is joining the fight against malaria by backing up gene-editing technologies that alter mosquitoes’ DNA. He said the technologies could prove critical in the fight against malaria, Bill Gates and ethical concerns should not block progress in such gene-modifying research. Speaking at the Malaria Forum conference in London, [...]
Evonik opens research hub in Singapore; intensifies regenerative medicine research
German specialty chemicals company, Evonik has opened its first research hub for resource efficiency topics in Singapore, internationalising its research in the areas of functional surfaces and additive manufacturing. With the Biopolis-located research hub, Evonik is also expanding its collaboration with public and private research institutions and organisations in Singapore. Evonik has formed a partnership with [...]
Researchers developing new technologies to assist people with limb loss
It is a known fact that when you reach your hand out to grab an object, your brain signals certain muscles to move. Nerves for those muscles then send a message back to the brain about the movement. You don’t have to see your hand to know that you’ve grabbed the object. You can feel [...]
A non-invasive blood test that can detect eight types of cancer
Scientists have developed CancerSEEK, a non-invasive blood test. The test can detect eight types of cancer long before any symptoms of the disease arise. The test can check for cancer of the ovary, liver, stomach, pancreas, oesophagus, colon, lung and breast. Together, these eight forms of cancer are responsible for more than 60% of cancer [...]
Scientists develop new lightweight brain scanner that can be worn as a helmet
British scientists have created a groundbreaking lightweight and highly sensitive brain imaging device that can be worn as a helmet. This device enables patients to stretch, nod and even drink tea or play table tennis while their brain activity was being recorded, millisecond by millisecond, by the magnetoencephalography (MEG) system. Current MEG scanners are cumbersome [...]
Bolivian women weave metal device as patches for holes in hearts
Doctors have observed a team of women in Bolivia who use indigenous Aymara weaving patterns to make devices that can become patches for holes in the heart – a first in the country. The device is woven from a nickel-titanium alloy that can be collapsed and delivered within a catheter to the heart. It is [...]
One step forward towards a universal blood test for cancer
A team at Johns Hopkins University has trialled a method that detects eight common forms of cancer. Their vision is an annual test designed to catch cancer early and save lives. UK experts said it was “enormously exciting”. Tumours release tiny traces of their mutated DNA and proteins they make into the bloodstream. The Cancer [...]
Review for best hearing aids
The best hearing aid delivers pristine sound quality in a subtle design while being comfortable enough for all-day use. We spoke with audiologists and tested nine products for appearance, sound quality, and the ability to filter different frequencies. In the end, we found two over-the-counter amplifiers that clearly stood out from the crowd. Best Overall: [...]
Chocolate makers luring their health-conscious customers with new product innovations
Chocolate giants are cashing on the demand for healthier chocolates, releasing products such as raw chocolate KitKats, Dark Milk, vegan bars with quinoa and now “ruby” chocolate. Sales of mainstream milk chocolate bars have stagnated as consumers worried about obesity and heart disease turn to snacks with less sugar and fat, or hold out for [...]
