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Jan 25, 2019
Inside an otherworldly mission to prepare humans for Mars
Posted by Genevieve Klien in category: space
Braving deep isolation and sweaty spacesuits, six “analog astronauts” tested their tools, talents, and grit on a mock trip to the red planet.
Jan 25, 2019
New therapy turns cancer cells into fat to stop it from spreading
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: biotech/medical, neuroscience
Metastasis is the leading cause of death from cancer, occurring when cancer cells separate from the original tumor to proliferate elsewhere. These new cancer cells travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Since these bodily systems are thoroughly connected, cancer can spread to a variety of locations. Breast cancer, for example, “tends to spread to the bones, liver, lungs, chest wall, and brain.”
Cancer cell plasticity — an ability that allows cancer cells to shift physiological characteristics dramatically — fosters metastasis and is responsible for cancer’s resistance to treatments. To combat its resistance, researchers at the University of Basel in Switzerland decided to turn cancer’s cellular plasticity against itself. They used Rosiglitazone, an anti-diabetic drug, along with MEK inhibitors in mice implanted with breast cancer cells. Their aim was to alter the cancer cells.
The drug combination hijacked the breast cancer cells during epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process by which the cells undergo biochemical changes. EMT plays a role in many bodily functions, such as tissue repair. In unaltered cancer cells, EMT allows them to migrate away from the original tumor while maintaining their oncogenic properties.
Jan 25, 2019
Nanotechnology enables engineers to weld previously un-weldable aluminum alloy
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: nanotechnology, transportation
An aluminum alloy developed in the 1940s has long held promise for use in automobile manufacturing, except for one key obstacle. Although it’s nearly as strong as steel and just one-third the weight, it is almost impossible to weld together using the technique commonly used to assemble body panels or engine parts.
Jan 25, 2019
A high-carb diet may explain why Okinawans live so long
Posted by Lilia Lens-Pechakova in categories: biotech/medical, genetics, life extension, neuroscience
A very good article on the studies on centenarians of Okinawa, on the importance of carbohydrate / protein ratio in diet, genes, calorie restriction and more: “… Genetic good fortune could be one important factor. Thanks to the geography of the islands, Okinawa’s populations have spent large chunks of their history in relative isolation, which may has given them a unique genetic profile. Preliminary studies suggest this may include a reduced prevalence of a gene variant – APOE4 – that appears to increase the risk of heart disease and Alzheimer’s. They may also be more likely to carry a protective variant of the FOXO3 gene involved in regulating metabolism and cell growth. This results in a shorter stature but also appears to reduce the risk of various age-related diseases, including cancer. Even so, it seems unlikely that good genes would fully explain the Okinawans’ longevity, and lifestyle factors will also be important…”
Emerging evidence suggests a 10:1 ratio of carbohydrates to proteins may protect the body from the ravages of ageing.
Jan 25, 2019
DIY CRISPR: Genetic Engineering at Home
Posted by Paul Battista in categories: bioengineering, biotech/medical, food, genetics
Jan 25, 2019
Gum Disease Bacteria May Contribute to Alzheimer’s Disease
Posted by Steve Hill in categories: biotech/medical, life extension, neuroscience
The complex relationship between the microbiome and the rest of the body has only recently started to become truly appreciated. The bacteria of the gut are increasingly looking like a potential player in aging, and some bacteria in the mouth associated with chronic periodontitis may be linked to Alzheimer’s disease [1].
University of Louisville researcher Jan Potempa from the Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Diseases in the School of Dentistry led a team of scientists in a new study, which demonstrated that the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), the main pathogen involved in chronic periodontitis, is also found in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients. Chronic periodontitis is a common oral disease that is characterized by the chronic inflammation of periodontal tissues, which is provoked by the accumulation of excessive dental plaque.
It has been suggested before that there may be an infectious element to Alzheimer’s disease, but, until recently, the evidence has been limited [2]. These researchers suggest that their study is strong evidence for a connection between the presence of P. gingivalis and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Continue reading “Gum Disease Bacteria May Contribute to Alzheimer’s Disease” »
Jan 25, 2019
What happens to cognitive diversity when everyone is more WEIRD?
Posted by Xavier Rosseel in categories: biotech/medical, neuroscience
Another peculiar part of the WEIRD toolkit is our fixation on time. We budget it, struggle to save it, agonise over losing it. We count days, hours and seconds. We are always oriented to exactly where we are on the long arrow of history. In the United States, for example, when doctors screen patients for cognitive impairment, one of the first questions they ask is the year, month and date.
How the world became cognitively samey: the scientific, humanistic and ethical implications of global WEIRDing.
Jan 25, 2019
Vajrayana Buddhism: Preparation for the Posthuman?
Posted by Steve Nichols in categories: futurism, space
The Vajra (thunderbolt) tradition goes back at least to Amen of the Egyptian Old Kingdom. It passes on through thunderbolt-wielding Zeus/ Jupiter; and is also found in India and Tibet in the Vajrayana (Tantra) tradition. Tantra entails the study of all relevant traditions to determine the best. It contradicts neither science or religion. This C19th Tibetan tsakli is from a group of five Vajragarudas. Several ancient Egyptian emblems that survive in tsakli are given in Hypermodern Magick/ Khemetic Chess (Vol 2 of 3, Mandrake of Oxford series). This type of Buddhism seems particularly suitable for radical futurists.