Genetic link to depression.

Posted on November 26, 2015 by adminedit

Scientists discover two gene variations linked to the condition Depression which can run in families and be in the genes. While it has long been known that the condition can run in families, researchers have struggled to find any DNA mutations linked to it, despite analyzing more than 9,000 cases. This had led to debate over whether people inherited a susceptibility to the illness or if another factor, such as the environment was the true culprit. Studies on severe depression within families hav...

New low-cost printer tracks HIV patients’ health.

Posted on November 26, 2015 by adminedit

Researchers have patented a low-cost device that can easily monitor the health of HIV patients living in low-resource settings. The portable device works by helping clinicians count the number of CD4 cells that are attacked by HIV in the body. HIV is known to decrease the number of CD4 cells an individual has. When CD4 counts are very low, that indicates the patient’s HIV is progressing toward AIDS and a ramp up of medication is necessary. Patients with HIV are encouraged to participate in re...

GoTenna creates a cell network out of thin air anywhere on Earth

Posted on October 13, 2015 by adminedit

GoTenna is a solution for off-the-grid travelers who need low-cost connectivity for their smartphone which does not rely on satellites. The latest invention by a Brooklyn-based hardware startup, GoTenna has a modified, smartphone app-based approach for staying in touch at a lower cost when cell service is shaky. This requires no satellite connection. Most of us are fully addicted to our smartphones and when we find ourselves without Wifi or data service, our most direct connection to every...

A mirror that monitors vital signs

Posted on October 5, 2015 by adminedit

Wish you could check your vital stats while brushing your teeth? Thanks to the new innovation by MIT PhD student Ming-Zher Poh, reading your pulse and other vital stats may someday be as easy as standing in your bathroom. Working with public-domain software, Poh developed a way to measure the pulse by analyzing subjects sitting in front of a two-way mirror. The MIT Media Lab Medical Mirror is equipped with a computer monitor along with a built-in camera that tracks changes in brightness pr...

Amazing Water Drop Lenses

Posted on September 8, 2015 by adminedit

A new discovery has led to the creation of liquid optical lenses. Bruno Berge, physicist and inventor, has created liquid optical lens by a process known as electro-wetting. In this process, a water drop is deposited on a metal substrate and covered by a thin insulating layer. When a voltage is applied to the metal, it modifies the angle of the liquid drop. The liquid lens is comprised of two liquids, water and oil; one is a conductor while the other is an insulator. A variation in the ...