Category: Innovation

A new device, called the Diadem, has shown promising results in relieving pain and depression during clinical trials. It uses sound waves to target specific areas of the brain with millimeter accuracy. While non-drug treatments like this can raise skepticism, especially given the widespread use of SSRIs for depression, the research team is enthusiastic.

Lead author Tom Riis, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Utah’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, reports significant improvements in patients after just one 40-minute session.

“Not every participant saw drastic changes, but for those who did, the results were remarkable,” said Riis. “In some cases, you could see the difference immediately—their mood and behavior had completely shifted.”

The device is in phase 2 trials, and the team is eager to move forward. Of 20 participants, 60% reported a 33% reduction in pain right after treatment. For those with depression, 10 of 14 reported remission a week later after just one session.

The Diadem sends ultrasonic frequencies to areas of the brain involved in pain and emotion regulation, like the anterior cingulate cortex. The device’s precision allows it to reach the target areas through the skull.

One patient described the experience as their brain “waking up,” while another reported feeling unusually clear-headed while walking through a grocery store. The team is now recruiting participants for phase 3 trials and can be contacted at diademclinicaltrials@gmail.com.

Just off the coast of Tela, Honduras, a coral reef has caught the attention of the marine science community. This reef defies what we know about coral survival. Despite threats like warm waters, boat traffic, agricultural runoff, and murky water, the Tela Bay reef isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving. Live coral cover here is around 65%, compared to the Caribbean average of just 18%.

Scientists are trying to understand what makes the Tela Reef so resilient and whether its secrets can help save other threatened reefs in the Gulf of Mexico. Research by National Geographic and the University of Miami highlights the presence of elkhorn coral—a critically endangered species—flourishing in Tela under conditions that have devastated it elsewhere, like in the Florida Keys.

Andrew Baker, a marine scientist from the University of Miami, explained that Florida’s elkhorn populations are struggling with rising temperatures. He suggests that introducing genetic diversity from resilient populations like Tela’s might help.

Various theories have been proposed to explain Tela’s resilience. One suggests that periodic influxes of saline water from the Gulf kill harmful bacteria and algae. Another theory is that the reef’s richness makes it less attractive to fishermen, leaving the coral undisturbed. A more promising idea is that the coral in Tela hosts heat-resistant symbionts—microorganisms that live inside coral cells and provide energy through photosynthesis. These symbionts may help the coral cope with warmer, more acidic water.

In addition to the unique coral, Tela Bay also has a population of long-spined sea urchins, which were nearly wiped out in the 1980s. These urchins graze on algae that could otherwise overwhelm the coral.

Scientists are not waiting for a definitive answer. They’ve established a coral breeding center in Tela, aiming to spread the genetic traits of Tela coral to reefs worldwide. The University of Miami’s Coral Reef Futures Lab and the Florida Aquarium in Tampa are already cross-breeding Florida elkhorn coral with samples from Tela.

An Austrian chef who lost nearly all use of his legs is back in the kitchen thanks to an innovative device created by a friend.

The device, a C-shaped metal hook suspended from ceiling rails, allows Chef Peter Lammer to move freely around the kitchen while keeping his hands free for cooking tasks.

Ten years ago, Lammer, from Salzburg, was in a motorcycle accident that left him 80% disabled, despite extensive physical therapy.

The accident brought severe pain, mental strain, and a bleak financial outlook. However, Lammer’s friend, Bernhard Tichy, who ran a local zip line course, was inspired by Lammer’s passion for cooking and family. Together, they designed a device called Standing Ovation. It lets disabled users sit on a bicycle seat attached to a hook, which is connected to a ceiling rail. This setup allows them to slide along the workspace, with the device bearing their torso weight, leaving their hands free for work. When lifting, a spring system absorbs additional weight, reducing strain on the legs.

With Standing Ovation, Lammer can pull a pot off the stove and glide to the prep station with just a small push.

“All the experts said I would never be able to do a standing job again,” Lammer told Reuters from the kitchen of his Salzburg restaurant, Johanneskeller.

Cone snail venom could be the key to developing better diabetes treatments, according to a recent study. Researchers found that the toxin from the Conus geographus, one of the most venomous creatures on Earth, might also help create new drugs for other hormone-related conditions.

The team, led by scientists from the University of Utah, identified a component in the venom that mimics somatostatin, a human hormone that regulates blood sugar and several other hormones. This toxin, called consomatin, helps the snail immobilize its prey. In humans, somatostatin prevents dangerous spikes in blood sugar and other hormone levels. However, consomatin is more stable and specific than somatostatin, making it a promising model for drug development.

The researchers found that consomatin targets the same protein as somatostatin but does so more precisely, affecting only blood sugar levels without influencing other hormones. This makes it more targeted than the most precise synthetic drugs currently available for hormone regulation.

Though using snail venom as a treatment might be risky, understanding its structure could lead to safer drugs for endocrine disorders. Consomatin’s stability is due to an unusual amino acid that prevents it from breaking down quickly, a feature that could inspire longer-lasting medications.

Senior author Professor Helena Safavi noted that the precision of the toxin could be incredibly useful in treating diseases. “Venomous animals have evolved to fine-tune venom components to target specific physiological processes, often relevant to disease,” she said. Safavi explained that consomatin, which shares an evolutionary lineage with somatostatin, has been refined by the cone snail over millions of years into a highly effective weapon.

Consomatin works by rapidly lowering blood sugar, leaving the snail’s prey unresponsive, while a second component prevents blood sugar levels from recovering. Dr. Ho Yan Yeung, the study’s lead author, suggested that the venom might contain other glucose-regulating molecules, not just insulin- and somatostatin-like toxins.