gel
Latest
3D gel stacks can grow enough stem cells to treat brain disease
Programmed stem cells promise to tackle all kinds of illnesses, but there's one catch: making them. It's hard to cultivate large numbers of them, and the need to grow them on 2D surfaces isn't very practical. That's where researchers might come to the rescue: they've developed a method of growing neural stem cells in large volumes, but without chewing up too much valuable real estate. The trick is to use polymer-based gels that allow these juvenile cells to grow in 3D stacks.
Gel-based robot hand can grab and release fish
Most robot limbs aren't exactly kind to the organic world given all that unforgiving metal, and even rubber-based soft robots aren't very gentle. However, MIT has a better way. It recently built a hydrogel-based soft robot hand that's bio-friendly while remaining tough enough to withstand heavy use. The trick was to use 3D printing and laser cutting to weave hydrogel "recipes" into robotic structures, and pump water into those structures to make them curl or stretch. The results are mostly water-based fingers that still have the strength, durability and speed of more conventional robots.
Gel-filled touchscreen creates real buttons on demand
There's just something about the feeling of physical keys that haptic feedback simply can't replicate on touchscreens. It's part of the reason people buy keyboard accessories for tablets, or Ryan Seacrest's strange iPhone case. It's also inspired some to try to figure out a happy medium between the freedom of touchscreens and the tactile joy of real buttons. Tactus' fluid pocket approach showed promise (the company makes an iPad case that gives the on-screen keyboard a physical presence), but it's ultimately limited by a predefined layout. Now, though, a group of researchers at the Technische Universität Berlin have come up with a way to create soft, temporary buttons of pretty much any shape and size, anywhere on a touchscreen display.
Genetic 'glue' helps make 3D-printed organs
No, you're not looking at a dessert gone horribly wrong -- that might just be the future of synthetic organ transplants. Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a genetic "glue" that forms gels useful for 3D printing organic tissues. The key is using custom-designed, complementary DNA strands that bond just the way you'd like them. This flexibility would let hospitals and labs create organs that grow in a specific way, and take on specific structures. In short, it'd be relatively easy to print the exact organ you need, and even customize it for the recipient if necessary.
New medical gel grows bone tissue exactly where you need it
Repairing seriously damaged bones is normally a delicate art; while you want to regrow bones quickly, you also have to carefully manage that growth to produce the right shape. Thankfully, Rice University has created a gel that makes it easier to produce only the bone tissue a patient needs. The material kickstarts bone regeneration using a patient's stem cells, but it also dictates where that growth occurs by forming a scaffold that degrades only when tissue takes its place. Effectively, doctors just have to fill an area with the gel and wait for nature to do the rest. The technique should initially be useful for repairing skull damage, but it's likely to be handy for both less vital operations and cosmetic surgery -- don't be surprised if doctors can eventually give you a facelift by reshaping your cheekbones. [Image credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University]
Leeds researchers tout gel-based batteries as better, safer and cheaper
They're some fairly bold claims, but a team of researchers at the University of Leeds say they've managed to develop a new type of polymer gel that could lead to batteries that are safer, cheaper to manufacture and more flexible than traditional lithium-ion batteries. That last detail could have some particularly interesting consequences, as the researchers say it allows for batteries that can "shaped and bent to fit the geometries of virtually any device." What's more, all of that apparently comes with no compromise in performance, and the team has already licensed the technology to Polystor Energy Corporation, which is now conducting trials to commercialize the battery cells. The only catch is that there's not so much as a hint as to when such batteries might actually be available.
Condiment transporting SWITL robot arm gets a gig moving meat, packing boxes (video)
Way back in March, we spotted video of the SWITL, a robotic hand with a penchant for picking up globs of condiments without changing their shape. Neat, yes, but what sort of applications might such a device have in real life, beyond rather inefficient cleanups of Burger King floors? Manufacturer Furukawa Kikou has put the electronic appendage to work, folding meat and packing boxes with bags full of sol-gel substances, without losing the shape of either material. The size of the company is prohibiting sales of SWITL machines overseas at present, but Furukawa Kikou is happy to discuss partnerships, should someone approach it for its raw meat and ketchup moving needs. Exceedingly unappetizing video after the break.
iMac turned ant farm for sale on eBay
We've seen lots of interesting ways to use old Macs, including the great Macquarium that pops up every now and again. But I think an ant farm is a new one -- that's what this 17" G5 iMac has been turned into. An eBay seller in Hawaii says he emptied out the Mac's insides and built a custom habitat to slide in and out of the unit, and then he filled it up with a special gel designed to grow and support a colony of ants. The only issue? He can't get the ants he'd need for the farm in Hawaii, so he's selling the whole kit and caboodle, ants not included. The habitat is also watertight (though it's a little small), but if you wanted to use this as a Macquarium, that would work, too. Perhaps for Sea Monkeys? I think an ant habitat would be a little more original, however. Just hope that they don't get free. As of this writing, the price is set at only $1 with no reserve, so anyone who wants to try using an old repurposed iMac can jump at the chance.
Brasso Gadget Care polish review
At Engadget, we tend not to make a big fuss about cleaning products, but this one deserves a little shout-out: Brasso, a well-established metal polish brand in good ol' Blighty, is pushing out its Gadget Care polish gel to the masses tomorrow. What really caught our attention was the fact that this will be Brasso's first new product for a whopping 110 years, but of course, at the end of the day it's all about whether the polish does what it says on the bottle, and whether it'll leave your gadgets' paintwork unharmed. The selling point's simple: not only does this gel clean your gadgets, but it also leaves a layer of silicone that's supposedly both anti-static (or dust-hating) and smear-preventing. Well, 'tis certainly a very bold claim, so join us after the break to see if this new Brasso's worth your money.%Gallery-104531%
Researchers hope tooth regeneration gel will reduce the need for fillings
We may still not have jetpacks or flying cars, but it looks like the 21st century might be about to get a bit more futuristic. As Discovery News reports, a study published in the ACS Nano journal is offering some fairly convincing evidence that a new type of hormone gel could potentially regenerate teeth and eliminate the need for fillings in at least some cases. According to the French scientists behind it, the gel has already managed to make cavities in mice "disappear" after only a month, and the peptide used in the gel, MSH, has also previously been shown to encourage bone regeneration. Of course, it will be a little while yet before your dentist puts down the drill -- the researchers say there still needs to be "several years" of clinical trials, and note that it likely won't replace fillings altogether (or prevent them).
Injectable brain gel may save soldiers' lives, zombify them, or both
When they start selling brain fertilizer, you'll know you're living in the crazy century. Didn't Nostradamus predict that? The ongoing Military Health Research Forum is discussing the use of an injectable hydrogel for the treatment of traumatic brain injury, which -- unlike our ability to do push-ups -- is no joke. The fertilizer part comes from the gel's ability to stimulate the growth of neural stem cells within the brain, which are then capable of repairing damaged nerves and preventing the spread of harm to other cells. "Brain tissue regeneration" might not be the wisest name for it, but tests on rats have shown sustained functional recovery, and we understand that with enough Igors on the job, this could be put into use within the next three years.[Via Digg]
Video: Scientists create walking goo, Steve McQueen put on alert
Who needs servos and a degree in robotics? The real threat to humanity is brewing in the distillation columns of chemists at Waseda University in Tokyo where researchers have developed a chemical gel that walks like an inchworm. Really, just check the video after the break. The color-changing, motile gel reacts to chemicals in its environment to create its own oscillating locomotion without the need for electrical stimulation. The idea is to augment the electronics in future robotics with these "self organized" chemical systems to avoid additional circuitry complexity and external controls. Our advice? Run.
PopCap Games empire buys Gastronaut Studios
The ruthless PopCap Games cartel has made Gastronaut Studios an offer (casually, 'cause that's how they roll) it couldn't refuse, acquiring the company through subtle intimidation and an undisclosed cache of treasures from its money bin. Gastronaut is the developer behind XBLA titles Small Arms and the upcoming Gel: Set & Match.PopCap now controls all of Gastronaut's assets, tech and employees, who will begin working on "several undisclosed projects." Gastronaut's founders will retain the rights to Small Arms and Gel. Meanwhile, PopCap is set to release its most psychologically addictive title to date, Peggle, on several platforms soon. Teach your parents about Peggle early -- or prepare to lose them to its sinister grasp.
Small Arms dev confirms Fuzzee Fever follow-up for XBLA
Small Arms developer Gastronaut Studios has revealed its next XBLA project, announcing a new game titled Gel: Set & Match, a "spiritual successor" to its original Xbox puzzler, Fuzzee Fever.Originally peeked on Australia's OFLC website last December, the upcoming "puzzle-action hybrid" will feature both collaborative and dog-eat-dog gameplay as players work alone or in groups to match up and rid the screen of troublesome gelatinous blocks. Three different modes are also promised, including the core Puzzle Mode, an Action Mode that will have players clearing the way for an approaching tank, and an arena Battle Mode with exploding blocks of jelly. Just try not to get any on you, that stuff looks impossible to get out.
World of WarCrafts: Super potions
Every Thursday, Shelbi Roach of The Bronze Kettle guides you in creating WoW-inspired crafts using real world mats with World of WarCrafts.If you ever find yourself low on Health or out of Mana, or you're in need of an innovative gift idea for a hardcore WoW fan, then try your hand at crafting these nifty potions. Minimal alchemy skills required. One of these pots is guaranteed to add +10 geek appeal to any players WoWspace.Here is what you will need: Candle Gel Wax Candle Dye (Gel Safe) Glass Potion Bottle (any shape) Funnel Corks (unless your bottle comes with one) Extra Supplies: Ribbon (go for the gold) Scissors Super Glue Click on the images below to view a gallery of step-by-step instructions. %Gallery-20145% DISCLAIMER: If you are under 18, please make sure that you are supervised by your parents or an adult. Do not attempt to consume.
Portable splint instantly hardens around broken limbs
If you always thought the inkjet approach to healing broken bones was too much of a stretch, you'll probably be interested in the plastic portable splint. Designed by Ching-Sui Kao, Geremi Durand, and Maxime Ducloux, the device is intended to be used by extreme sports participants (guess that includes Wii Sports?) that typically set records in either completion times or amount of damage done to their bodies, and can set your newly-broken limb into place right on the side of the mountain. By wrapping the limb with a set of flexible plastic strips, linking them up with Velcro, and finally applying a sodium citrate-based gel over top, a chemical reaction creates a rigid structure that forms a cast around the arm or leg. Of course, doctors can remove the material at the hospital and apply a more medically-approved rendition, but if you're looking for an easy way to excuse yourself from class or work without actually forging a doctor's note, here's your ticket.
