Utopian Trace

Radiosurgery is a non-invasive cancer treatment in which targeted radiation beams are used to destroy or shrink tumours. But the Novalis Tx device tailors these beams to match the exact shape, size and position of a tumour in the body. This means that a more intense beam can be used without causing damage to surrounding tissue. The device can also manoeuvre the beams to reach tumours deep inside the body, such as in the spinal cord, which were previously inaccessible.

A prestigious economics think-tank of the Japanese Government has published a study which concludes that online piracy of anime shows actually increases sales of DVDs. The conclusion stands in sharp contrast with the entertainment industry’s claims that ‘illicit’ downloading is leading to billions of dollars in losses worldwide. It also puts the increased anti-piracy efforts of the anime industry in doubt.

LA JOLLA, CA – Scripps Research Institute scientists have converted adult skin cells directly into beating heart cells efficiently without having to first go through the laborious process of generating embryonic-like stem cells. The powerful general technology platform could lead to new treatments for a range of diseases and injuries involving cell loss or damage, such as heart disease, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease. The work was published January 30, 2011, in an advance, online issue of Nature Cell Biology. “This work represents a new paradigm in stem cell reprogramming,” said Scripps Research Associate Professor Sheng Ding, Ph.D., who led the study. “We hope it helps overcome major safety and other technical hurdles currently associated with some types of stem cell therapies.”