New Discoveries

Welcome to 2017! The fields of medicine and technology have expanded rapidly over the last year. Below are a few groundbreaking new discoveries that may have slipped under your radar.

First, is the discovery of a new human organ called the "Mesentery". The Mesentary is an organ located around the intestines that was once thought of as extra fatty tissue. Since its discovery earlier this month, scientists were able to identify its shape and structure. Right now scientists don't know what functions it performs in the human body. Just for the record...There are quite a few disbelievers who think that this is a hoax. They say with all the technology (x-ray, CAT-scan, etcetera) someone would've discovered this organ already. I find the discussion interesting. To learn more about the Mesentery and the doctor who discovered it, watch the video below.

Scientists in Australia have discovered a berry that can cure many types of cancer in just 48 hours. The berry comes from the Blushwood tree, which is only found in the jungles of Queensland, Australia. The seeds from the tree contain a molecule scientist have named EBC-46. Once injected this molecule triggers the immune system to become hyperactive and it attacks cancer cells. The drug has already passed animal trials and is now being tested on humans. Learn more about this amazing discovery by watching the video below.

This is actually an old discovery, but since I'm speaking about seeds that kill cancer, it deserves honorable mention. The apple seed is said to have similar properties to the Blushberry tree. The Apple seed is 10,000 more effective than Chemotherapy, has no harmful side effects, and is effective against any form of cancer. It also has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Apple seeds are also used to remove parasites and worms from the body. If you want to know why they're not being harvested to fight cancer...watch the video below.




Last, is an invention that would benefit people in countries like Africa, Haiti, and the Middle East. The "WaterSeer," is a device that extracts moisture from the air to create water. This innovative device has no electrical parts or chemicals and produces 11 gallons of clean water a day. This is not a concept model; WaterSeer is a functioning and field tested device. To learn more about the WaterSeer check the video and their website www.waterseer.org for more information. The FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions are found at the bottom of the page.

Science & Technology

Spring is in the air and summer is on the way. I wanted to snowboard one last time before all the snow melted so I went to Winterberg and returned a few days ago. The powder was fresh but the wi-fi where I stayed was prehistoric.  The only way to check email was by walking half a kilometer, down a hill, and pirating WiFi from the student hostel. This post is a mix of science and technology information that I couldn't share while traveling.

First is the "Heart on a chip." The "Heart on a chip," is literally, a functioning human heart the size of a micro-chip. Scientist at the University in Toronto grew heart tissue in a lab, attached the tissue to scaffolding and transplanted it into a rat. Inside the body it grew muscle and blood vessels that allowed blood to flow. Even after the tissue was removed from the rats body it continued to beat rhythmically like a normal organ. this is cutting edge technology that can change not only the rejection rate for transplants, but can also allow science to grow replacement organs for patients from their own tissue.



The next piece of tech is going to make some people wonder if science fiction has just become real. The creative minds at Microsoft have taken holographic technology to a whole new level. Their new "Holoportation" technology allows for interactive 3D holograms that don't use a screen and move in real-time. Don't take my word for it...watch the video.



The last piece of information is a bit weird...but in a good way. A company out the UK named Moley Robotics has invented the first robotic chef. The chef is a pair of robotic arms which move about a kitchen that consumers must purchase as well. The robotic chef will(in the future) be programmed with over 2000 recipes from four star chefs. To learn more about the robotic chef and what it's capable of ...check out the video below.

3D Print Organs

As you know I've been a fan of 3D printers since their inception. Recently they've went from being machines used by engineers and hobbyist, to become a life saving medical device.

In the last few years scientists have been able to create new skin, eyes, ears, tracheas, bladders, and other body parts by utilizing 3D printing technology. The field is called Bio-printing. Like other forms of 3D printing, Bio-printing lays down multiple layers of organic material (living cells), to form a solid mass of human tissue. This tissue is used to replace damaged skin or any of the other aforementioned body parts.

In the past doctor had to create artificial organs utilizing a scaffolding method combined with living tissue. This method was successful but slow in comparison, 3D-printing technology. Bio-Printing with 3D printers is twice as fast and it utilizes computer-guided precision in printing living tissue. The Bio-Printing field has pushed the boundaries of regenerative medicine. 

The San Diego-based Bio-printing company Organovo is planning to unveil the world's first 3D printed human liver this year. Other companies are racing to be the first to print other organs such as hearts, livers and kidneys. This technology will save thousands of people waiting to die on the transplant list.

Recently a man from Wales named Stephen Power made international headlines when he got into a serious motorcycle accident, which left him disfigured. Half his face was so damaged that he had to hide it behind dark sunglasses. Doctors measured the necessary bones and structure then printed out the parts to rebuild his face with a 3D printer. 

There was a similar case where a man had to remove a tumor from his face and ended up having half his face cut off, leaving a gaping hole. His face was also reconstructed with 3D technology. Watching how Bio-printing works reminds me of the med bay in the movie Elysium. A machine that can rebuild any damaged tissue including bones and organs. Check out their stories below.