diseases
Software
HealthMap App Will Tell You How Diseased Your Neighborhood Is
1:42PM Rosa Golijan | Ever wondered if someone in your neighbourhood has a case of Swine Flu, African Horse Sickness, Chicken Pox, or other infectious diseases? Today’s your lucky day: The HealthMap app will show you up-to-date reports and even send push alerts. More »
Press
London Clinics Begin Sending STD Test Results via Text
11:33PM John Herrman | The National Health Service in the London Borough of Hounslow, in an effort to coax young people into getting tested, is offering free self-service STD kits, with an added bonus: text message diagnosis!. More »
Science
We’re Now One Step Closer To Designer Babies
11:00AM Nick Broughall | Scientists in the UK have eliminated an altered gene known to cause breast cancer from an unborn baby, according to the BBC. The science behind the technique isn’t exactly new – it’s been used to screen for Cystic Fibrosis for years in the UK, but this is the first time its been used to prevent cancer. It involves screening for affected genes while the baby is still in the 8-cell embryonic stage, when it’s about 3 days old. Without the treatment, any female descendants of the family in question would have a 50-80% chance of developing breast cancer in their 20s. Scientists have been careful not to claim this is a cure for breast cancer – there are other causes for the disease other than this one altered gene – but what this really does is open the door for designer babies. After all, if you can remove a bad gene from a child at the embryonic stages, you should be able to add different genes (like giving your child blond hair and blue eyes, for example) as well. And from there it’s only a matter of time before we’re subjected to an entire race of Children of the Corn, isn’t it? [BBC] More »
Phones
Modded Mobile Phone Analyses Blood to Detect HIV, Malaria, and More
4:45AM Gizmodo US Edition | Scientists at UCLA modded an ordinary phone into a portable blood analyser that can detect diseases at a very low cost. The hack could save lives in poorer areas that can’t afford expensive equipment. More »
Science
Scottish Scientists Fight Cancer Cells With a Lightsaber
2:00AM Jack Loftus | And those pesky physicists said lightsabers weren’t possible. Peshaw, I say, pe-shaw. I say this because Scottish scientists have created a miniature device that attacks individual cancer cells using a cylinder of light. A two millimeter saber of light, or light saber, if you will. The pinpoint accuracy (no Force powers necessary!) will allow doctors to deliver meds to precisely where they’re needed; alternatively, it could also be used after a tumor is removed to ensure the surrounding area is truly cancer-free. Apparently, the device is also going to be very useful for deadly hard-to-reach cancers, like that of the pancreas. More »
Science
Cough Captured on Film Using Supersonic Photography Technique
1:15AM Kit Eaton | Using a technique more commonly used to image the supersonic shock cones forming around test aircraft in wind tunnels, a group of scientists say they’ve captured the dynamics of a cough on film for the first time. And yes…it looks absolutely as disgusting as you may imagine. More »
Phones
Diseases Not Yet Associated with Mobile Phone Use
9:15AM Gizmodo US Edition | A British Association of Dermatologists’ study showed that the levels of nickel found in mobile phones can cause dermatological problems for many mobile phone users. As many as 33% of people are at least slightly allergic to nickel, and nearly half of the 22 phones tested had levels that could affect those poor souls. Luckily, the allergy causes friendly, non-fatal dermatitis: itchy skin and a mild rash, easily healed with a topical steroid cream. I feel like mobile phones get a bad rap, since even jewellery can cause the same reaction, so here’s an encouraging list of diseases you definitely won’t get from your phone. More »
Science
Handheld Device to Diagnose Many Diseases in Under 15 Minutes
7:00AM Adam Frucci | Worried that you might have Multiple Sclerosis but are too lazy to go to the doctor to check and see? Well, you’re an idiot, but your laziness may soon be, if not rewarded, at least not punished thanks to the work of some researchers at the University of Leeds. They’ve developed new biosensor technology that makes it possible for a handheld device to check for a number of different diseases in under 15 minutes. More »
Online
HealthMap Gives Lowdown on Disease Outbreaks, Could Save Lives
10:00AM Gizmodo US Edition | Scientists are using the power of the web to track and find real disease outbreaks. Every hour, HealthMap, an infectious disease-tracking website, feeds off of news, public health list serves, and the World Health Organisation’s online pages to survey the spread of infections. With help from Google, the program has identified 95 percent of all disease outbreaks, sometimes days before the WHO or international disease control agencies can announce them. More »
Science
