Author Archives: Nick Lavars

Prosthetic heart valve adapts as kids grow to avoid invasive surgeries

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An adjustable prosthetic heart valve developed at Boston Children's Hospital could help reduce the need for risky open heart surgeries for children born with defects

For some children born with congenital heart disease, prosthetic valves that maintain a healthy flow of blood are a harsh reality of their young lives. This not only requires open heart surgery to implant the device initially, but repeated high-risk procedures to replace them every few years as their body grows. Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital have been working towards more of a one-size-fits all solution, and have come up with a design they say works at a variety of diameters, and can be adjusted as needed without the need for invasive surgeries down the track.

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Ultrasound-equipped battery prevents potential fires with sound waves

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It’s hard to imagine a world without the lithium-ion batteries that power today’s laptops and mobile devices, but the technology does have its limits. One way scientists are working to break a bottleneck of energy density and greatly extend the battery… Continue reading Ultrasound-equipped battery prevents potential fires with sound waves→

Huge leap in efficiency brings see-through solar skins into clear view

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Tiny, semiconducting dots small enough to leverage the weirdness of quantum mechanics hold a lot of potential when it comes to solar power. These flexible, inexpensive quantum dots serving as photovoltaic material in place of the traditional silicon pr… Continue reading Huge leap in efficiency brings see-through solar skins into clear view→

Volocopter and Grab team up to find “hottest routes” in Southeast Asia

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As part of its grand plans to establish a flying taxi service in the region, and ultimately, across the world, Volocopter has embarked on a new feasibility study to uncover high-potential routes between megacities in Southeast Asia.Continue ReadingCate… Continue reading Volocopter and Grab team up to find “hottest routes” in Southeast Asia→

Battery design breakthrough brings “dream material” into the mix

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One way scientists believe they could greatly improve on the performance of today’s lithium-ion batteries is by introducing lithium metal for use as the anode component. Described by researchers at Washington State University (WSU) as a “dream material… Continue reading Battery design breakthrough brings “dream material” into the mix→

Pint-sized molecule could slip through the gaps to tackle Parkinson’s

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Scientists are working to develop therapies that tackle a decline in dopamine production as a way of treating Parkinson's

The progression of Parkinson’s disease is characterized by a reduced ability of the brain to produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for the messaging that controls body movement. For this reason, much research in the area concentrates on developing therapies that can arrest this slide, and scientists in Finland have now uncovered a promising path forward in the form of a new molecule found to boost dopamine levels in mice.

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How bilingualism can hold back a flood of Alzheimer’s symptoms

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A new study has found that while bilingualism can hold back the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, it can also lead to a faster decline down the track

A long line of research projects have found a range of benefits of bilingualism when it comes to the brain, from shortening recovery times from stroke to staving off the cognitive decline associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Scientists looking into the latter have uncovered some interesting new insights, finding that while knowing a second language can delay the onset of the disease, it can also significantly accelerate the deterioration into severe Alzheimer’s thereafter.

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Ebola virus gene helps hunt down deadly brain cancers

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Glioblastomas are highly aggressive brain tumors that are notoriously difficult to treat, with the cancer cells often slipping away from the main growth and into the brain, leading to high rates of recurrence down the track. In search of more effective… Continue reading Ebola virus gene helps hunt down deadly brain cancers→