Some fascinating stuff on teh interwebs today…
“We’re seeing a move from systems that rehabilitate to systems that actually enhance,” says Herr, who has himself tried out the robotic ankles. “In this century, through advances in human technology, we will largely eliminate disability through a deeper, more sophisticated interaction between humans and devices.” (from here.)
And some more: A crater that mysteriously appeared near Lake Titicaca in Peru last week was probably caused by a meteor, researchers say. The Associated Press reports that a Peruvian astrophysicist discovered a chunk of iron in the crater—an element common in meteorites; that piece of evidence, combined with reports of a hail of pebbles and a violent roaring sound point to a meteorite as the potential source. Still unclear is why scores of residents reported falling ill shortly after the crater’s discovery, but researchers say it could have been psychosomatic.
Uh oh… Prevnar, a vaccine given since 2000 to prevent potentially fatal childhood infections caused by seven different strep strains, may have opened the door for a new variety of the bacterium that shrugs off all pediatric antibiotics.
And this one…wow, this one is pretty incredible: Researchers report in the journal Cell that the phenomenon is likely linked to two enzymes—SIRT3 and SIRT4—in mitochondria (the cell’s powerhouse that, among other tasks, converts nutrients to energy). They found that a cascade of reactions triggered by lower caloric intake raises the levels of these enzymes, leading to an increase in the strength and efficiency of the cellular batteries. By invigorating the mitochondria, SIRT3 and SIRT4 extend the life of cells, by preventing flagging mitochondria from developing tiny holes (or pores) in their membranes that allow proteins that trigger apoptosis, or cell death, to seep out into the rest of the cell.
“We didn’t expect that the most important part of this pathway was in the mitochondria,” says David Sinclair, an assistant professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School and a study co-author. “We think that we’ve possibly found regulators of aging.”