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Biotech

Light Could Make Paralyzed Limbs Move 63

Zothecula writes "In a study that could eventually restore movement to humans' paralyzed limbs, researchers at California's Stanford University have used light to induce muscle contractions in mice. A gene derived from algae was inserted into the mice, encoding a light-sensitive protein which adhered to their nerve cell surfaces. Scientists then placed an 'optical cuff' lined with tiny, inwards-facing LEDs around the mice's sciatic nerves. By penetrating those nerves with brief, high-intensity bursts of blue light, they were able to produce muscle contractions similar to those that would occur naturally. The technology is called 'optogenetics.'"

Comment Re:Martini (Score 4, Funny) 216

I went to Japan a couple years ago and did quite a bit of cycling around Tsukuba. Pocari Sweat is like their Gatorade. It tastes fine at first, but the more you drink it, the more it actually tastes like sweat. By the end of a long day, you might as well be ringing out your shirt.

Comment Re:Could someone explain... (Score 4, Informative) 177

You could do it based on movement speeds. Things in the background of an image move slower than those in the midground when you change your position--If the thing in the background, a galaxy or something, moves in a strange way, then you can be sure it's being lensed. I'm not sure if the Earth moves enough for this to be useful, though, given the scale.

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