Saliva Test for Breast Cancer

Daily Upsider on March 1, 2024

For middle-aged women, undergoing a mammogram has long been an uncomfortable yet crucial process for early detection of breast cancer. However, a groundbreaking development promises to simplify breast cancer screening to a mere saliva test. Researchers unveiled a novel hand-held biosensor capable of identifying breast cancer biomarkers from just a small saliva sample, as published on February 13 in the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B.

Lead researcher Hsaio-Hsuan Wan, a doctoral candidate at the University of Florida, heralds the device for its convenience and efficiency. “Our device is an excellent choice because it is portable — about the size of your hand — and reusable,” Wan stated. “The testing time is under five seconds per sample, which makes it highly efficient.”

This innovative biosensor operates with paper test strips that are coated with specific antibodies targeting cancer biomarkers. Upon applying a saliva sample to the strip, the device sends electrical pulses that prompt the biomarkers to attach to the antibodies. This interaction changes the electrode’s output signal, enabling the device to assess cancer risk swiftly.

Contrasts this with traditional screening techniques like mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRI scans, which are not only expensive but also demand substantial equipment and expose patients to low doses of radiation. Wan highlighted the particular significance of this new technology for developing countries, where advanced diagnostic tools may be scarce. “Our technology is more cost-effective, with the test strip costing just a few cents and the reusable circuit board priced at $5,” she mentioned.

Remarkably, the biosensor can deliver precise results with a mere drop of saliva, detecting cancer biomarkers in concentrations as low as one-quadrillionth of a gram per milliliter. It specifically looks for biomarkers like human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which is linked to 15% to 20% of invasive breast cancers, and CA 15-3, an antigen associated with breast cancer.

In trials involving 21 human saliva samples, the device successfully differentiated between healthy tissue, early-stage breast cancer, and advanced breast cancer, based on these biomarkers. Wan expressed her enthusiasm for the device’s potential impact: “The highlight for me was when I saw readings that clearly distinguished between healthy individuals and those with cancer. We dedicated a lot of time and effort to perfecting the strip, board and other components. Ultimately, we’ve created a technique that has the potential to help people all around the world.”

This is an amazing development that could save many lives!

Paul McCartney Reclaims Stolen Hofner Bass 50 Years Later!

Daily Upsider on February 29, 2024

Paul McCartney got back his stolen bass guitar through a journalist-led initiative. The violin-like bass, linked to the German brand Höfner and made famous by McCartney, was taken from the Beatles’ touring van in Ladbroke Grove in 1972.

The Lost Bass Project began without evidence or leads. It clarified it had no intention to blame or press charges, leading some to reveal it was sold to a pub landlord in Ladbroke before reaching a family in Sussex. Eventually, it was found stashed in an attic, like any old heirloom.

“The guitar has been authenticated by Höfner, and Paul is incredibly grateful to all those involved,” stated the Lost Bass Project.

A journalist mentioned on the BBC that people wanted to help McCartney without disclosing involvement in the theft.

“We didn’t expect it to go very far, but it caught the imagination of thousands,” wrote the Lost Bass Project. “Within a week, it was in newspapers worldwide. We did numerous interviews and appeared on several TV news broadcasts.” “As a result of the publicity, someone in a terraced house in Hastings contacted Paul McCartney’s company and returned the bass. The search was over—Paul had his stolen bass back!”

The bass, still in its case, needs repairs before being playable. With the strap tight to McCartney’s chest, he used the Höfner for songs like Love Me Do and She Loves You.

“To have found it quickly is amazing, and we’ve heard how thrilled Paul McCartney is to have it back,” said Mr. Scott Jones of the Lost Bass Project. “That’s just the icing on the cake to know that the guy we all love is smiling tonight because his old guitar is back.”

Young People Find Savings Accounts Attractive

Daily Upsider on February 29, 2024

Recent surveys from two major highlight that fiscal prudence and financial planning are considered appealing qualities in a partner.

In the United States, a comprehensive survey revealed that a notable percentage of the younger population finds the concept of owning a savings account attractive.

In Japan, a staggering three-quarters of high school students surveyed expressed a strong interest in investment, with nearly 5% already taking their first steps into the investment world at a young age.

Having private savings is not merely a prudent practice for individuals or couples aiming for financial security; it is fundamentally the backbone of wealth creation in society.

A OnePoll survey, involving 2,000 U.S. adults in serious, engaged, or married relationships, found that traits such as having a savings account (40%), being debt-free (38%), and possessing a five-year plan (29%) are deemed attractive in a partner.

A significant 78% of those surveyed agree that a future-oriented individual is more appealing than one who lives moment to moment.

Additionally, over two-thirds (69%) of respondents acknowledge that their sense of preparedness is influenced by their partner, with motivations ranging from providing protection (35%) to offering a sense of security (34%).

This survey, conducted for Assurance IQ, also aimed to explore the evolution of love with age and how couples plan for their future together.

A separate survey by Studyplus Trend Kenkyujo, associated with Tokyo’s Studyplus Inc., revealed that over 70% of Japanese high school students show an interest in investing, with 4.7% already embarking on their investment journey.

Highlighting the power of compound interest, the study underscores the advantage of early investment or savings for financial growth over time.

This investigation engaged 512 high school students at the close of the 2023 academic year, finding that nearly 4.5% of those already investing were influenced or assisted by parents or other relatives.

The researchers highlighted the importance of adults, including parents and teachers, in providing proper financial education and guidance to the youth.

Unlike many subjects taught in American high schools, financial literacy is a crucial skill that all students will inevitably need, yet it remains underemphasized in the curriculum.

The practice of saving wealth has been pivotal in the evolution of human societies from nomadic hunter-gatherers to today’s advanced technological civilizations. Savings not only afforded people the time to innovate but also laid the foundation for improved living and working conditions.

In contemporary society, the principle holds true: private wealth saved in financial institutions enables lending for societal improvement, from business startups to infrastructure development, illustrating the critical role of savings and investment in societal progress.

Mega-Structure Built by Ice Age Hunters Found in the Baltic Sea

Daily Upsider on February 28, 2024

In 2021, a group of scientists stumbled upon an unusual discovery beneath the Baltic Sea – a peculiar arrangement of stones, approximately 1,500 in number, neatly aligned just 21 meters below the surface. What caught their attention was the precision of the arrangement, prompting them to consider a human-made origin. The researchers, hailing from various fields, now propose that Stone Age individuals might have constructed this structure around 11,000 years ago for the purpose of hunting reindeer.

This finding marks a significant milestone as the first identification of a Stone Age hunting structure in the Baltic Sea region. Originally, a team from Kiel University had set out to investigate manganese crusts on the seafloor near the Pomeranian town of Rerik. However, their focus took an unexpected turn when they stumbled upon this enigmatic row of stones, leading them to report their discovery to the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Agency for Culture and Monument Preservation.

The current depth of the Baltic Sea at this location, approximately 21 meters, indicates that the stone wall predates substantial increases in sea levels that occurred around 8,500 years ago, following the last ice age. The researchers speculate that the wall likely extended to a bog or lake before the landscape submerged, evident in a basin-shaped depression underwater.

Collaborating institutions, including the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde and the German Aerospace Center, conducted a comprehensive study employing modern geophysical methods to create a detailed 3D model of the wall and reconstruct the ancient landscape. Sediment samples and underwater exploration by research divers from Rostock and Kiel universities played a crucial role in narrowing down the construction period.

Lead researcher Jacob Geersen dismisses natural or recent explanations for the stone wall’s origin, emphasizing the methodical arrangement of small stones connecting large boulders. The researchers propose that the wall served as a hunting aid, directing reindeer into a bottleneck for easier capture by Stone Age hunters.

Drawing comparisons with similar structures in Lake Huron, Michigan, suggests a global precedent for such hunting structures. The Baltic Sea discovery, dating back to around 11,000 years ago, makes it the oldest human-made structure found in the region.

Further investigations are underway, employing advanced sonar devices and diving campaigns to scrutinize the stone wall and its surroundings for archaeological evidence. Luminescence dating will aid in determining the wall’s construction date, while researchers aim to reconstruct the ancient landscape in greater detail.

Neuralink Patient Can Control a Computer Mouse Through Thinking

Daily Upsider on February 28, 2024

Elon Musk, the visionary founder of Neuralink, recently announced that a patient equipped with the company’s cutting-edge brain technology has achieved the ability to control a computer mouse solely through thought. During a discussion on the social media platform X, Musk shared, “The patient seems to have made a full recovery with no ill effects that we are aware of and is able to control the mouse, move the mouse around the screen just by thinking.”

Neuralink, founded by the billionaire entrepreneur, has developed a brain implant with the goal of enabling humans to use neural signals to interact with external technologies. The company’s mission includes the restoration of functions lost due to injury or disease, such as vision, motor skills, and speech capabilities.

This breakthrough follows Neuralink’s first-ever human implantation of its device in January, a procedure carried out with precision by a robotic system.

Musk highlighted the company’s objectives, stating that Neuralink aims to maximize the number of commands executed through thought, including actions like moving a computer mouse in various directions or dragging items across a screen.

The commencement of patient recruitment for its inaugural human clinical trial was announced by Neuralink last fall, following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval in May, as detailed in a company blog post.

This initial human trial represents a significant milestone in Neuralink’s journey toward bringing its technology to the market. Before gaining final FDA approval, medical device firms are required to undergo extensive safety data collection and rigorous testing phases.

I am glad to hear that there are no adverse effects so far. I certainly am not jumping at the opportunity to get a chip in my brain. However, the technology has a lot of promise for helping with certain neurological conditions like paralysis.