There are rare cells in the gut called enteroendocrine cells (EECs) that could be manipulated in a variety of ways to detect or treat disease.
The trillions of microbes in our gastrointestinal tract, known as the gut microbiome, are crucial to the body; the gut microbiome aids in digestion, nutrient absorption, and influences our health in different ways. But the body also has to be protected from all of those microbes, which are kept behind a tight barrier. But if the intestinal barrier is dysfunctional, or leaky, serious problems can arise.
There are cells in the gut called enteroendocrine cells (EECs) that can generate hormones, which may have a variety of effects on the body. EECs release hormones in response to cues like food intake and stomach stretching. The hormones can then influence physiological processes related to digestion or appetite. Scientists have now found receptors on EECs that control hormone release. It may one day be possible to alter these receptors to treat disease. The research has been reported in Science.
Can water be harvested from the air to help mitigate water scarcity across the globe? This is what a recent study published in Technologies hopes to address as a team of researchers from The Ohio State University have developed a novel device that can provide faster and more efficient methods for harvesting water from the air compared to longstanding devices, also called atmospheric water harvesting (AWH). This study holds the potential to help regions around the world mitigate the need for access to clean drinking water, as approximately 2 billion people suffer from lack of clean drinking water in their respective regions.
“You can survive three minutes without air, three weeks without food, but only three days without water,” said Dr. John LaRocco, who is a research scientist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at The Ohio State University and lead author of the study. “But with it, you can begin to solve a lot of problems, like national security, mental health or sanitation, just by improving the accessibility of clean drinking water.”
For the device, the researchers designed a nickel titanium-based dehumidifier with temperature-sensitive materials, resulting in harvesting greater amounts of water at 0.18 milliliters per watts per hour compared to 0.16 milliliters per watts per hour for traditional harvesters after 30 minutes. Additionally, the temperature-sensitive materials help regulate the amount of heat used during the harvesting process, resulting in approximately half the power needed to use the harvester. Finally, the reduced size of the harvester provides mobility to be used anywhere in the world, whereas traditional harvesters tend to be large and require significant amounts of energy to operate.
Plastic pollution is everywhere, and a good amount of it is composed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This polymer is used to make bottles, containers and even clothing. Now, researchers report in Environmental Science & Technology that they have discovered an enzyme that breaks apart PET in a rather unusual place: microbes living in sewage sludge. The enzyme could be used by wastewater treatment plants to break apart microplastic particles and upcycle plastic waste.
Microplastics are becoming increasingly prevalent in places ranging from remote oceans to inside bodies, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that they appear in wastewater as well.
However, the particles are so tiny that they can slip through water treatment purification processes and end up in the effluent that is reintroduced to the environment. But effluent also contains microorganisms that like to eat those plastic particles, including Comamonas testosteroni—so named because it degrades sterols like testosterone.
If you’re ever faced with trying to pick up a grain of rice with a pair of chopsticks, spare a thought for the scientists behind this latest innovation, which has been called “a medical breakthrough on the verge of happening.” They’ve painstakingly built a soft robot with the capacity to carry different types of drugs through the body. It’s the size of a grain of rice, and can be driven to various internal targets via magnetic fields.
Researchers in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), have built on earlier work to create a grain-sized soft robot that can enter the body and be controlled by magnetic fields to travel to a specific target. Once there, it can quickly or slowly release the medication it has stored in its tiny frame.
The reason? While sunny regions naturally provide enough light to grow crops, areas with colder winters often need grow lights and greenhouses part of the year. This increases energy consumption, logistical headaches, and ultimately, food costs.
In their paper, Jiao and colleagues argue for a new method that could dramatically revamp farming practices to reduce land use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Dubbed “electro-agriculture,” the approach uses solar panels to trigger a chemical reaction that turns ambient CO2 into an energy source called acetate. Certain mushrooms, yeast, and algae already consume acetate as food. With a slight genetic tweak, we could also engineer other common foods such as grains, tomatoes, or lettuce to consume acetate.
1GITEX Global 2024 and IROS 2024 became true gateways to the future of technology, bringing together the most advanced innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, and transportation under one roof. At the forefront of GITEX was the unique Nissan Hyperforce concept, an electric vehicle with an incredible 1,360 horsepower, capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2 seconds. This electric supercar not only stunned with its speed but also with its futuristic design, reminiscent of the iconic Batmobile. With its advanced driving modes, R and GT, drivers can switch between a sporty and comfortable driving experience.
0:00 Exhibitions in the United Arab Emirates. 0:34 GITEX GLOBAL 2024 0:47 Nissan Hyper Force supercar. 1:43 Italdesign’s Quintessenza concept car. 2:39 Ameca robot. 3:15 Robot bartender. 3:38 Airscooter by Zapata. 4:13 Autonomous Patrol of the Future by Dubai Police. 5:09 Tesla Cybertruck. 6:01 All-terrain delivery vehicles from Mobinn. 6:20 Cadillac Electric Flyer. 7:03 Drones by Multi Level Group. 7:32 Xpeng Aeroht Flying Car. 8:18 New humanoid robot Kepler. 8:42 ZainTECH Drones. 9:04 Robo-charging electric cars. 9:43 Odigo robot with AI 10:26 IROS 2024 11:02 Obstacle course for four-legged robots. 11:41 Robofootball on IROS 2024 12:32 High Torque Robotics. 13:03 Unitree robots. 13:39 Nimble Direct Drive Robots. 14:16 Elephant Robotics. 14:47 Humanoid robots on display. 15:14 DexNex teleoperated system. 15:47 Hubot robot.
In addition, GITEX 2024 showcased the latest flying car concepts. Among them was a model capable of unfolding its blades and taking off in just two minutes, making it the perfect vehicle for fast, seamless travel both on the road and in the sky. The exhibition also featured other cutting-edge innovations, such as autonomous patrol cars equipped with drones and robotic bartenders that serve drinks without lines or fuss.
IROS 2024, held in Abu Dhabi, was equally impressive, giving a glimpse into the future of robotics. Highlights included thrilling competitions between robot dogs and humanoid robots, as well as demonstrations of new robots capable of running, jumping, and even performing complex acrobatic tricks. Autonomous robots designed for patrolling and delivery, capable of navigating routes and recognizing objects in the toughest conditions, also drew significant attention.
Both exhibitions revealed how robotics and AI are increasingly influencing our everyday lives, offering solutions for safety, transportation, and even entertainment. Unique projects, such as autonomous drones for agriculture and firefighting, and robotic systems for smart cities, are already reshaping urban spaces. With the technologies presented at GITEX and IROS, the future is closer than ever. Subscribe to our channel to stay updated on the latest innovations and events in the world of high-tech.
Protecting Human And Animal Health — Dr. Tristan Colonius, DVM — Chief Veterinary Officer & Deputy Director for Science Policy, Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Dr. Tristan Colonius, DVM is the Chief Veterinary Officer and Deputy Director for Science Policy at FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM — https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary).
Dr. Colonius previously worked in various positions at FDA, including as Deputy Chief of Staff to Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf and as an International Policy Analyst.
During his career at FDA, Dr. Colonius has been working on numerous initiatives including the Animal and Veterinary Innovation Agenda, One Health, Intentional Genomic Alterations in animals, and zootechnical animal feed substances (ZAFS) among many other programs at CVM.
Prior to joining FDA, Dr. Colonius held positions in the US Senate and US Department of Agriculture.
AI and politics 😳 Artificial though it may be, the concept of “intelligence” doesn’t seem to jibe with a computer-generated image of uniformed cats toting assault rifles.
Yet that visual slur, which supports a debunked story about immigrants in Ohio eating pets, has become a signature image from…
UMD experts explain the emotional pulls and cognitive pitfalls—and how to avoid them.
Research from the University of California, Irvine has revealed how disruption of the circadian clock, the body’s internal, 24-hour biological pacemaker, may accelerate the progression of colorectal cancer by affecting the gut microbiome and intestinal barrier function. This discovery offers new avenues for prevention and treatment strategies.
The study, published online today in the journal Science Advances, offers a more comprehensive understanding of how important changes occur in the function and composition of the gut microbiome when the circadian clock is disturbed in the presence of colorectal cancer.
“There is an alarming rise in early-onset colorectal cancer in adults under the age of 50,” said corresponding author Selma Masri, associate professor of biological chemistry. “Circadian misalignment through extended light exposure, late-night meals and other environmental factors could [be] driving these cases. Our study suggests that clock disruption, particularly through lifestyle choices, may play a significant role in gut health and, subsequently, cancer risk.”
