Dec 16, 2024 Researchers create microchips capable of detecting and diagnosing diseases ( Nanowerk News ) In a world grappling with a multitude of health threats — ranging from fast-spreading viruses to chronic diseases and drug-resistant bacteria — the need for quick, reliable, and easy-to-use home diagnostic tests has never been greater. Imagine a future where these tests can be done anywhere, by anyone, using a device as small and portable as your smartwatch. To do that, you need microchips capable of detecting miniscule concentrations of viruses or bacteria in the air. Now, new research from NYU Tandon faculty including Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Davood Shahrjerdi; Herman F. Mark Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Elisa Riedo; and Giuseppe de Peppo, Industry Associate Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and who was previously at Mirimus, shows it’s possible to develop and build microchips that can not only identify multiple diseases from a single cough or air sample, but can also be produced at scale. “This study opens new horizons in the field of biosensing. Microchips, the backbone of smartphones, computers, and other smart devices, have transformed the way people communicate, entertain, and work. Similarly, today, our technology will allow microchips to revolutionize healthcare, from medical diagnostics, to environmental health” says Riedo, “The innovative technology demonstrated in this article uses field-effect transistors (FETs) — miniature electronic sensors that directly detect biological markers and convert them into digital signals — offering an alternative to traditional color-based chemical diagnostic tests like home pregnancy tests,” said Shahrjerdi. “This advanced approach enables faster results, testing for multiple diseases simultaneously, and immediate data transmission to healthcare providers” says Sharjerdi, who is also the Director of the NYU Nanofabrication Cleanroom, a state-of-the-art facility where some of the chips used in this study were fabricated. Riedo and Shahrjerdi are also the co-directors of the NYU NanoBioX initiative. Field-effect transistors, a staple of modern electronics, are emerging as powerful tools in this quest for diagnostic instruments. These tiny devices can be adapted to function as biosensors, detecting specific pathogens or biomarkers in real time, without the need for chemical labels or lengthy lab procedures. By converting biological interactions into measurable electrical signals, FET-based biosensors offer a rapid and versatile platform for diagnostics. Recent advancements have pushed the detection capabilities of FET biosensors to incredibly small levels — down to femtomolar concentrations, or one quadrillionth of a mole — by incorporating nanoscale materials such as nanowires, indium oxide, and graphene. Yet, despite their potential, FET-based sensors still face a significant challenge: they struggle to detect multiple pathogens or biomarkers simultaneously on the same chip. Current methods for customizing these sensors, such as drop-casting bioreceptors like antibodies onto the FET’s surface, lack the precision and scalability required for more complex diagnostic tasks. To address this, these researchers are exploring new ways to modify FET surfaces, allowing each transistor on a chip to be tailored to detect a different biomarker. This would enable parallel detection of multiple pathogens. Enter thermal scanning probe lithography (tSPL), a breakthrough technology that may hold the key to overcoming these barriers. This technique allows for the precise chemical patterning of a polymer-coated chip, enabling the functionalization of individual FETs with different bioreceptors, such as antibodies or aptamers, at resolutions as fine as 20 nanometers. This is on par with the tiny size of transistors in today’s advanced semiconductor chips. By allowing for highly selective modification of each transistor, this method opens the door to the development of FET-based sensors that can detect a wide variety of pathogens on a single chip, with unparalleled sensitivity. Riedo, who was instrumental in the development and proliferation of tSPL technology, sees its use here to be further evidence of the groundbreaking way this nanofabrication technique can be used in practical applications. “tSPL, now a commercially available lithographic technology, has been key to functionalize each FET with different bio-receptors in order to achieve multiplexing,” she says. In tests, FET sensors functionalized using tSPL have shown remarkable performance, detecting as few as 3 attomolar (aM) concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins and as little as 10 live virus particles per milliliter, while effectively distinguishing between different types of viruses, including influenza A. The ability to reliably detect such minute quantities of pathogens with high specificity is a critical step toward creating portable diagnostic devices that could one day be used in a variety of settings, from hospitals to homes. The study, now published by the Royal Society of Chemistry in Nanoscale ( "Nanoscale-localized multiplexed biological activation of field effect transistors for biosensing applications" ), was supported by Mirimus, a Brooklyn-based biotechnology company, and LendLease, a multinational construction and real estate company based in Australia. They are working with the NYU Tandon team to develop illness-detecting wearables and home devices, respectively. “This research shows off the power of the collaboration between industry and academia, and how it can change the face of modern medicine,” says Prem Premsrirut, President and CEO of Mirimus. “NYU Tandon’s researchers are producing work that will play a large role in the future of disease detection.” “Companies such as Lendlease and other developers involved in urban regeneration are searching for innovative solutions like this to sense biological threats in buildings.” says Alberto Sangiovanni Vincentelli of UC Berkeley, a collaborator on the Project. “Biodefense measures like this will be a new infrastructural layer for the buildings of the future” As semiconductor manufacturing continues to advance, integrating billions of nanoscale FETs onto microchips, the potential for using these chips in biosensing applications is becoming increasingly feasible. A universal, scalable method for functionalizing FET surfaces at nanoscale precision would enable the creation of sophisticated diagnostic tools, capable of detecting multiple diseases in real time, with the kind of speed and accuracy that could transform modern medicine. Source: NYU Tandon School of Engineering (Note: Content may be edited for style and length)
A car has been badly damaged after running into the back of a truck on the Hume Highway at North Albury. or signup to continue reading Emergency crews were called to the northbound lanes of the highway about 6am on Friday, December 6. A white sedan crashed into the rear of the the truck near the Fallon Street bridge. The sedan was left facing the wrong direction and leaked fluid from the front end, which was extensively damaged. A NSW Ambulance spokesman said two patients were assessed at the scene. A man in his 20s was taken to Albury hospital with minor injuries. The scene was quickly cleared after causing delays to early morning northbound traffic. Police are investigating the cause. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement AdvertisementLogistics sector key to Qatar’s green economic transformationEmpowered Funds LLC Increases Holdings in Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ)
What Will Howard’s jabs at Curt Cignetti tell us about Ohio State football heading into Michigan week
US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems? DALLAS (AP) — Delta and United Airlines have become the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning a significant share of budget travelers. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday. Some travel industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate less-wealthy passengers will have fewer choices and higher prices. Other discount airlines are on better financial footing but also are lagging far behind the full-service airlines when it comes to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Most industry experts think Frontier and other so-called ultra-low-cost carriers will fill the vacuum if Spirit shrinks, and that there's still plenty of competition to prevent prices from spiking. Bitcoin ticks closer to $100,000 in extended surge following US elections NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, setting another new high above $99,000. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Supreme Court steps into fight over FCC's $8 billion subsidies for internet and phone services WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has stepped into a major legal fight over the $8 billion a year the federal government spends to subsidize phone and internet services in schools, libraries and rural areas, in a new test of federal regulatory power. The justices on Friday agreed to review an appellate ruling that struck down as unconstitutional the Universal Service Fund. The Federal Communications Commission collects money from telecommunications providers, who then pass the cost on to their customers. The Biden administration appealed the lower court ruling, but the case probably won’t be argued until late March. At that point, the Trump administration will be in place and it is not clear whether it will take a different view of the issue. Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground as it notches a winning week and another Dow record Stocks closed higher on Wall Street, giving the market its fifth gain in a row and notching another record high for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% Friday. The Dow added 1%, and the Nasdaq composite tacked on 0.2%. Retailers had some of the biggest gains. Gap soared after reporting quarterly results that easily beat analysts' estimates. EchoStar fell after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company's Dish Network unit. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. Crude oil prices gained ground. Australia rejects Elon Musk's claim that it plans to control access to the internet MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian Cabinet minister has rejected X Corp. owner Elon Musk’s allegation that the government intends to control all Australians' access to the internet through legislation that would ban young children from social media. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Friday that Musk’s criticism was “unsurprising” after the government introduced legislation to Parliament that would fine platforms including X up to $133 million for allowing children under 16 to hold social media accounts. The spat continues months of open hostility between the Australian government and the tech billionaire over regulators’ efforts to reduce public harm from social media. Parliament could pass the legislation as soon as next week. Oil company Phillips 66 faces federal charges related to alleged Clean Water Act violations LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oil company Phillips 66 has been federally indicted in connection with alleged violations of the Clean Water Act in California. The Texas-based company is accused of discharging hundreds of thousands of gallons of industrial wastewater containing excessive amounts of oil and grease. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment on Thursday. Phillips is charged with two counts of negligently violating the Clean Water Act and four counts of knowingly violating the Clean Water Act. An arraignment date has not been set. A spokesperson for the company said it was cooperating with prosecutors. US regulators seek to break up Google, forcing Chrome sale as part of monopoly punishment U.S. regulators want a federal judge to break up Google to prevent the company from continuing to squash competition through its dominant search engine after a court found it had maintained an abusive monopoly over the past decade. The proposed breakup floated in a 23-page document filed late Wednesday by the U.S. Justice Department calls for Google to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser and impose restrictions designed to prevent Android from favoring its search engine. Regulators also want to ban Google from forging multibillion-dollar deals to lock in its dominant search engine as the default option on Apple’s iPhone and other devices. New York judge rejects state efforts to shutter bitcoin mine over climate concerns NEW YORK (AP) — A New York judge has rejected an effort by state regulators to shutter a bitcoin mine over concerns about its greenhouse gas emissions. The decision will allow the Greenidge power plant to continue operating in the Finger Lakes region of the state. The state had previously found the gas-powered crypto mine ran afoul of a climate law intended to limit greenhouse gas emissions. But on Thursday, a state Supreme Court judge found Greenidge was entitled to a process to defend its continued operation. Environmental groups have protested the facility, which they allege is pumping emissions into the air while contaminating the nearby Seneca Lake. What you need to know about the proposed measures designed to curb Google's search monopoly U.S. regulators are proposing aggressive measures to restore competition to the online search market after a federal judge ruled that Google maintained an illegal monopoly. The sweeping set of recommendations filed late Wednesday could radically alter Google’s business. Regulators want Google to sell off its industry-leading Chrome web browser. They outlined a range of behavioral measures such as prohibiting Google from using search results to favor its own services such as YouTube, and forcing it to license search index data to its rivals. They're not going as far as to demand Google spin off Android, but are leaving that door open if the remedies don't work. Apple and Google face UK investigation into mobile browser dominance LONDON (AP) — A British watchdog says Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers. The watchdog's report Friday recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year. The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker’s tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. The CMA’s report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers “the clearest or easiest option.” Apple said it disagreed with the findings.Specified Technologies Inc. Unveils Firestop Clash Management and Locator Updates
Boston man accused of attacking transgender woman on MBTA train: ‘You’re not a woman, you’re a man’None
A founding member of the Village People and long-time critic of Donald Trump’s use of the group’s song YMCA is changing his tune and says he would now consider performing the 70s anthem at the president-elect’s upcoming inauguration. Victor Willis told Fox & Friends First that he would also allow the president-elect to continue using the song at events. “I decided to allow the president-elect’s continued use of YMCA because he seems to genuinely, genuinely like the song, and so many other artists were stopping him from using their music,” Willis told Fox Thursday. Willis had for years demanded that Trump stop using the song, which is widely regarded as a popular gay anthem often performed by the distinctively outfitted Village People , an odd choice for a man opposed to the LGBTQ community. Willis added: “I decided to contact BMI [Broadcast Music, Inc.] and told them not to terminate his political use license because he seemed to be bringing so much joy to the American people with his use of YMCA .” Trump’s wooden dance moves to the song have gone viral across social media and even prompted responses in the world of sports. Willis sang and co-wrote the tune, and now says Trump’s use of it has contributed to it hitting the sales charts again 46 years after its initial release. The founding member of the Village People previously condemned Trump’s use of the song as well as Macho Man. He earlier said that the group would prefer the song be “kept out of politics.” But YMCA’s comeback has led some to speculate that the band may perform at Trump’s inauguration in January. “If you were to ask me today if the Village People would perform at the inauguration, I would probably say not because we’d be concerned about endorsement” of Trump, Willis told Fox. “However, because the president-elect has done so much for YMCA and brought so much joy to so many people, the song has actually gone back to number one [in sales], and it’s still number one today, so if he were to ask the Village People to perform the song live for him, we’d have to seriously consider it,” he added. He noted: “The financial benefits have been great ... YMCA is estimated to have grossed several million dollars since the President Elect’s continued use of the song. Therefore, I’m glad I allowed the President Elect’s continued use of YMCA ., And I thank him for choosing to use my song.” Willis has rejected the notion that the song is a gay anthem. He urged those thinking the song isn’t intended as straight to “get their minds out of the gutter.” “Come January 2025, my wife will start suing each and every news organization that falsely refers to YMCA , either in their headlines or alluded to in the base of the story, that YMCA is somehow a gay anthem because such notion is based solely on the song’s lyrics alluding to elicit [sic] activity for which it does not,” he declared on Facebook. The song’s lyrics refer to young men new in a city heading to the YMCA gym and rooming to “hang out with all the boys” and “do whatever you feel.” But Willis argued on Facebook that the line “you can hang out with all the boys” is “simply 1970s Black slang for Black guys hanging out together for sports, gambling or whatever. There’s nothing gay about that,” he insisted. But, he added: “I don’t mind that gays think of YMCA as their anthem.”As far as physical activity goes, American kids are mostly C and D students. And “everything is graded on a curve,” says Jordan Carlson, a professor of pediatrics at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. Carlson is the committee chair of this year’s , which was released last month. It offers a stark rendering of how our children and youth are “insufficiently active.” The report draws upon data from a number of nationally representative surveys. Its goal is to inform (and in many cases, warn) about how kids are doing in relation to federal physical activity recommendations. More specifically, 20-to-28% of 6-to-17-year-olds meet the 60 minutes of daily physical activity guideline set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Their overall grade: D-. “This is a systemic problem,” says Pam Watts, president of the , which puts out the report card. “This isn't just a funding problem or a programming problem or a localized problem. This is a pervasive, systemic problem.” While the report is a call-to-action for policymaking and advocacy about the "urgent" need to help support and improve our kids’ overall fitness, it also provides an opportunity to take stock in how we’re handling our roles as sports parents and coaches. A across a number of categories — like sedentary behavior (D-), active transportation among kids (D-) and organized sports participation (C-) — give us insight as to how we can improve our kids’ sports experience from the time they are young. “I'm sure you’ve met the parents who were hell-bent on getting their kid into a D-I scholarship situation in college,” Watts says, “and that's how they approach youth sports. There are downsides to that. That's OK for some kids, if that's what they want. “PAA works across a lifetime of physical activity, the youth being such an important part of that.” USA TODAY Sports spoke with key contributors to the report about how its data can benefit all of us, whether our kids aspire to play competitive sports in high school and beyond or use sports for a healthy dose of extracurricular activity and stress relief. As you may have found, those goals don’t have to be mutually exclusive. “The message of the report card is not that kids are failing. It's not that parents are failing,” Carlson says. “It's that there's all of these societal barriers to physical activity and that we need to address those things.” Let’s start with the highest grade in the report (B-). It comes in early care and education, where one study found that 74% of these settings provide two or more physical activity opportunities per day. The federally recommended one hour of “moderate-to-vigorous intensity” physical actions for kids includes aerobic, muscle- and bone-strengthening activities. We don’t realize we’re getting these benefits when we climb playground equipment and run around in the schoolyard early in our lives. We are put in these situations, and we thrive within them, not because we’re faster than another kid, or we win a competition of jumping rope, but because they are so natural. Carlson says we don’t have a lot of data on physical activity among preschool children, but what we learn there reinforces something our bodies are inclined to do: Move. We move as we get a little older, biking to our friends’ houses and running after each other in the backyard during games of manhunt or freeze tag (at least that what’s used to do) not for the exercise, but because we enjoy it. Today, kids are involved in youth sports as early as preschool (as my two boys were) because we feel the need to get them started on what we hope are long and fruitful careers. We put them in sometimes even knowing the odds that and an . Here is another stat you probably don't know: About 70% of adults living in households with children met their . That means, these adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week. Instead of from an early age, show him or her how much you love to move, too. In fact, move together during a run or on a basketball court. It's all part of that will develop motor skills and confidence for later sports endeavors. According to a 2022 National Household Travel Survey, 10% of children usually walk or bike to school. The grade “active transportation” among kids received was the same as the one for overall physical activity (D-). Neither grade has increased in a decade. We can point to safety factors, both with traffic and in neighborhoods, and “built” environment factors such as sidewalks and . (The "community and built environment" category got a C+ nationally.) But the lower grade is also a sign of our lives today. “It takes extra time to walk to school versus throwing your kids in the van and driving them or picking them up,” Watts says. “We've just got these societal expectations around all that we accomplish in a day or a week or a month. And you know, when I think about 20, 30, 50 years ago, it's that shift in what we expect of our time, how many things we think we're going to do in a day, to be, whatever you call successful. “It is in your control to rethink some of that.” In addition to being the president of the Physical Activity Alliance, Watts is the executive director for , a non-profit association that provides resources and education for advancing college campus recreation. She’s also the mother of two college-aged kids, a daughter who played club soccer through early high school and a son who played sports whose experience, Watts says, was all about being social and engaged. “It wasn't about winning or caring if you were good,” she says. “So he did a variety of recreation sports, and then had to go club only, because at a certain age, at least in our community, the recreation leagues dry up as the kids move to club or just drop out of sports or whatever. And then in high school, he found a love through swimming and swim team.” Seven out of 10 kids quit organized sports before they become teenagers. , such as and the , but a primary one is that they aren’t fun anymore. We can all take a bike-to-school approach to kids sports. Movement from sports and physical activity, studies have found, improves our cognitive function and, as we get older, enhances academic achievement in addition to physical literacy. Get your kid into sports for those reasons, as well as to build resilience, self-esteem and effort, which can help them achieve their full potential in many areas (while enjoying the ride). Sports participation (defined by whether a kid played on a team or took a sport lesson) among 6-to-17-year-olds declined over five years through 2022, according to the National Survey of Children’s Health. The figure helped give the category of “organized sports participation” a C-. However, Amanda Grimes, an associate professor of health sciences at Missouri-Kansas City who headed this section of the report card, points to steady decline for a decade. She says economic disparities are a driving force behind it. “The pay to play model is becoming increasingly common in organized sports, even among school- and community-based sports, resulting in lower-income youth being forced out of participation,” she tells USA TODAY Sports. “Low-income families also face other burdens such as lack of transportation and often rely on older siblings to care for younger siblings after school. Both hinder sports participation for youth.” The school-based sports category gets a D-. According to the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, 50% of high school students attended physical education classes at least one day a week. We can lobby in our schools for more P.E. and in our communities for more low-cost and free opportunities. If we are coaches, we can also offer our rates at reduced costs to families who can’t afford them. But there is a larger theme at play here, too. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the discontinuation of sports for any reason during childhood plays a role in the more than 75% of U.S. adolescents failing to meet physical activity recommendations. And rates for 12-to-17-year-olds meeting those recommendations appear around 15%, according to two national health surveys. Sports should always be about inclusion. We need to make everyone on our teams feel welcome within them. Kids can have bad sports experiences because their teammates, or even their coaches, marginalize them. If kids aren’t good fits for a team, help them find another one, or an alternative space to continue to play sports. The sedentary behavior grade dropped from a D to a D- since 2022 because children are on screens more often. The rise in sedentary behavior represents perhaps the most dramatic shift in the report card, according to Amanda Staiano, its co-committee chair. Staiano says there are no federal guidelines and recommendations for sedentary behavior and screen time in children. But international guidelines recommend no more than 2 hours per day on non-school screen time. Only about 20% of 6-to-17-year-olds meet it, according to the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The figure rises to 58% when we include schoolwork, but it’s still nearly a failing grade, even on the curve. “Screens have their place in a child's life for discovering or reinforcing concepts learned in school, writing and researching for papers and projects, playing games that teach academic content,” says Staiano, director of a pediatric obesity and health behavior laboratory at Louisiana State University. “Screens can also be used for social interactions with friends outside of school, including multi-player video games and social media. But kids and adults can become immersed in long bouts of entertainment screen time that results in extended sitting, which has been shown to be harmful for the body." We know as athletes, as we get into the high school years, can be a critical component of the recruiting process. But just remember this , the longtime NBA player who has become a father to Division I athletes: It's hard to make a high school or college team when you’re on your phone 4 to 5 hours per day while your competition for a roster spot is practicing. We can always encourage our athletes to sleep more. Have kids aged 6-to-12 get 9-to-12 hours per night and 13-to-18 get 8-to-10, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine says. Sleep received a C+, the second-highest mark among categories. The report card, its contributors says, is a work in progress, a rolling wave of data and insight that helps us better understand and serve our kids. The 2026 report will offer global data as a point of reference. “I think that the report is one of many tools," says Watts, the PAA president. "It is really a way to keep attention and conversation and focus on this frankly bleak reality of what's going on for youth in terms of physical activity." One category in 2024, family and peer support for physical activity, got a grade of incomplete due to a lack of data. It’s our job to help fill it in with positive experiences our kids can take into life. “It's fun, right?” Watts says of sports parenting. "It's social. It becomes a family affair. We really enjoyed all those years. Kind of missed it when they graduated.”
As part of a national “moonshot” to cure blindness, researchers at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus will receive as much as $46 million in federal funding over the next five years to pursue a first-of-its-kind full eye transplantation. “This is no easy undertaking, but I believe we can achieve this together,” said Dr. Kia Washington, the lead researcher for the University of Colorado-led team, during a press conference Monday. “And in fact I’ve never been more hopeful that a cure for blindness is within reach.” The CU team was one of four in the United States that received funding awards from the federal Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health , or ARPA-H. The CU-based group will focus on achieving the first-ever vision-restoring eye transplant by using “novel stem cell and bioelectronic technologies,” according to a news release announcing the funding. The work will be interdisciplinary, Washington and others said, and will link together researchers at institutions across the country. The four teams that received the funding will work alongside each other on distinct approaches, though officials said the teams would likely collaborate and eventually may merge depending on which research avenues show the most promise toward achieving the ultimate goal of transplanting an eye and curing blindness. Dr. Calvin Roberts, who will oversee the broader project for ARPA-H, said the agency wanted to take multiple “shots on goal” to ensure progress. “In the broader picture, achieving this would be probably the most monumental task in medicine within the last several decades,” said Dr. Daniel Pelaez of the University of Miami’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, which also received ARPA-H funding. Pelaez is the lead investigator for that team, which has pursued new procedures to successfully remove and preserve eyes from donors, amid other research. He told The Denver Post that only four organ systems have not been successfully transplanted: the inner ear, the brain, the spinal cord and the eye. All four are part of the central nervous system, which does not repair itself when damaged. If researchers can successfully transplant the human eye and restore vision to the patient, it might help unlock deeper discoveries about repairing damage to the brain and spine, Pelaez said, as well as addressing hearing loss. To succeed, researchers must successfully remove and preserve eyes from donors and then successfully connect and repair the optical nerve, which takes information from the eye and tells the brain what the eye sees. A team at New York University performed a full eye transplant on a human patient in November 2023, though the procedure — while a “remarkable achievement,” Pelaez said — did not restore the patient’s vision. It was also part of a partial face transplant; other approaches pursued via the ARPA-H funding will involve eye-specific transplants. Washington, the lead CU researcher, said she and her colleagues have already completed the eye transplant procedure — albeit without vision restoration — in rats. The CU team will next work on large animals to advance “optic nerve regenerative strategies,” the school said, as well as to study immunosuppression, which is critical to ensuring that patients’ immune systems don’t reject a donated organ. The goal is to eventually advance to human trials. Pelaez and his colleagues have completed their eye-removal procedure in cadavers, he said, and they’ve also studied regeneration in several animals that are capable of regenerating parts of their eyes, like salamanders or zebra fish. His team’s funding will focus in part on a life-support machine for the eye to keep it healthy and viable during the removal process. InGel Therapeutics, a Massachusetts-based Harvard spinoff and the lead of a third team, will pursue research on 3-D printed technology and “micro-tunneled scaffolds” that carry certain types of stem cells as part of a focus on optical nerve regeneration and repair, ARPA-H said. ARPH-A, created two years ago, will oversee the teams’ work. Researchers at 52 institutions nationwide will also contribute to the teams. The CU-led group will include researchers from the University of Southern California, the University of Wisconsin, Indiana University and Johns Hopkins University, as well as from the National Eye Institute . The teams will simultaneously compete and collaborate: Pelaez said his team has communicated with researchers at CU and at Stanford, another award recipient, about their eye-removal research. The total funding available for the teams is $125 million, ARPA-H officials said Monday, and it will be distributed in phases, in part dependent on teams’ success. U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Democrat who represents Denver in Congress, acknowledged the recent election results at the press conference Monday and pledged to continue fighting to preserve ARPA-H’s funding under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. The effort to cure blindness, Washington joked, was “biblical” in its enormity — a reference to the Bible story in which Jesus cures a blind man. She and others also likened it to a moonshot, meaning the effort to successfully put Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon nearly 50 years ago. If curing blindness is similar to landing on the moon, then the space shuttle has already left the launchpad, Washington said. “We have launched,” she said, “and we are on our trajectory.”Exiled Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof's definition of home is shifting
A recent article highlighted the challenges faced by , once considered Europe’s flagship battery manufacturing startup, and underscores broader concerns about the green industrial transition in Europe. However, those same lessons are applicable for the U.S. as it seeks to compete in a space dominated by China. Northvolt’s bankruptcy serves as a cautionary tale about Europe’s struggle to compete in the electric vehicle (EV) and clean tech sectors against better-established Asian companies. While Northvolt secured substantial orders and funding ($15 billion raised and $50 billion in orders), it was hampered by production delays, operational mismanagement, and an inability to scale effectively. This reflects broader systemic challenges such as high costs, regulatory hurdles, and fragmented policymaking across Europe. Northvolt’s bankruptcy also reflects the challenges posed by political shifts and economic uncertainty. In the U.S., bipartisan support for clean energy is critical to ensure that initiatives survive changes in administration or economic downturns. Policymakers must build resilience into programs to ensure they can withstand external shocks, such as fluctuating energy prices or global market competition. The article criticizes Europe’s inconsistent support for clean technologies. Unlike China’s coordinated industrial policies, European policymakers have been hesitant to act decisively, even as green initiatives face growing political resistance. Comparisons to bailouts for financial institutions highlight a reluctance to treat green tech failures as critical to economic and strategic interests. This hesitance could jeopardize the continent’s climate goals and its automotive sector, which is heavily reliant on transitioning to EVs. Similar to Europe, the U.S. needs a unified, long-term industrial policy for green technology. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provided significant incentives for domestic clean energy development, but ensuring these funds are effectively deployed requires strong coordination between federal, state, and local governments. Northvolt’s struggles highlight the risks of fragmented policies and hesitation, which could undermine investor confidence and the timely rollout of critical infrastructure. Northvolt’s collapse can be attributed to a combination of internal missteps and external pressures. According to , excessive spending, subpar safety standards, and an over-reliance on Chinese machinery significantly hampered the company’s ability to scale effectively. Externally, slower-than-anticipated adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and high operational costs placed additional strain on the business. These challenges underscore the need for greater operational discipline, diversified supply chains, and a robust domestic manufacturing base to avoid such pitfalls. The United States can take valuable cues from its semiconductor initiatives, like the CHIPS and Science Act, to support clean technologies such as battery manufacturing. Prioritizing diversified supply chains and fostering advanced domestic production capabilities can mitigate risks and bolster competitiveness, especially against established players like China. One potential takeaway from Northvolt’s struggles is the need to integrate the second-life battery market into business strategies. By focusing on repurposing surplus batteries for secondary applications, manufacturers can reduce inefficiencies and strengthen supply chains. This approach not only addresses sustainability concerns but also enhances competitiveness in a market increasingly shaped by Chinese dominance. Currently, a significant gap exists between battery manufacturers like Northvolt and recyclers such as . Companies like are working to bridge this divide by redistributing functional surplus batteries for second-life applications rather than recycling them prematurely. This strategy taps into a lucrative market opportunity and highlights the potential of “reverse logistics” to transform the industry. Innovative approaches to battery reuse might have dramatically improved both operational efficiency and market viability. Ben Firestone, CEO of Bluewater Battery Logistics, has emphasized that prioritizing the second-life battery market enables battery integrators to streamline supply chains and maintain a competitive edge. Despite its collapse, Northvolt’s Chapter 11 filing aims to secure short-term financing and attract new investors to reorganize. This restructuring underscores the high capital intensity and risk associated with battery production but also reveals potential opportunities for those willing to bet on long-term clean energy growth. Policymakers and investors must balance the risks with the strategic necessity of developing domestic clean tech capabilities. The U.S. can draw from the coordinated public-private partnerships that have worked in other sectors, such as aerospace and pharmaceuticals. Encouraging collaboration between government agencies, established corporations, and startups can de-risk large-scale projects and ensure that new technologies like (EGS) or advanced batteries succeed. Northvolt’s bankruptcy is not just the failure of a company but a wake-up call for Europe’s clean tech ambitions. To compete globally, the continent needs cohesive policies, streamlined regulations, and unwavering support for critical green technologies. As the push for decarbonization accelerates, addressing these issues will be vital to ensuring that Europe can sustain and grow its green economy. Northvolt’s challenges offer a roadmap for avoiding similar pitfalls in the U.S. The focus should be on strategic planning, operational discipline, supply chain resilience, and clear, long-term policies that support innovation and competitiveness. If these lessons are heeded, the U.S. can strengthen its leadership in the global clean energy transition. ByBY MIKE PETRO Dec. 16, 2024 Customers wait in line at the Buffalo Redhots concession booth at the KeyBank Center in October. Buffalo-based hospitality company Delaware North is looking into incorporating AI at its concession stands. Buffalo hospitality company keeps testing new tech for potential integration Integrating technology and artificial intelligence into the food and beverage industry has been critical for hospitality and entertainment companies in the post-pandemic world. For Buffalo-based Delaware North, that means trying new things at stadium and arena test sites, with a focus on improving speed of service, to see if something could eventually work for the global brand’s broader footprint. An example of this effort was when 10 Mashgin self-checkout stations were installed last season at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, split between the 100 and 300 levels. Delaware North started with a few units at a test location and that grew into division-wide implementation. Delaware North’s latest foray into new tech and AI is experimenting with a humanoid robot bartender at Globe Life Field, the home of MLB’s Texas Rangers. With the support of the baseball team and Delaware North, Globe Life Field has become one of those test sites to try new things to see if they connect with fans and one day potentially wind up in other venues like Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Delaware North CEOs Lou Jacobs, left, and Jerry Jacobs Jr. “Sports, and the world, in general, is changing and while you’re never going to take the human aspect out of it, maybe this helps speed up lines and helps with service, especially when there are staffing shortages. There’s a movement toward automation and AI technology to help make a better and quicker product,” said Casey Rapp, general manager at Globe Life Field for Delaware North, which provides all food and beverage and retail services at the stadium. Richtech Robotics’ ADAM was introduced for the first time at a major league sports arena or large-scale entertainment venue when the Rangers hosted this year’s MLB All-Star Game in July, and it remained at the stadium for the remainder of the season. Combining AI, advanced sensors and two robotic arms, ADAM emulates human actions within a stadium bar, serving cocktails and mocktails alongside a team of human bartenders. With the help of the robot, stadium workers can focus on engaging fans, helping alleviate wait times and workloads, especially on busy game days. Delaware North tried a few versions of the robot bartender, before deciding to go with ADAM, which turned heads, Rapp said. It can talk, sing, pitch advertisements, make mixed drinks and pour soda, wine and beer. It can even do facial recognition, after scanning an ID or license. “I think it was a huge success for us, but I don’t know that I would put 50 ADAM robots to replace humans, by any means, but definitely a cool add to a ballpark or stadium,” Rapp said. Some of the other ideas that have been attempted at test locations include Venmo vending, self-serve popcorn and cotton candy machines, smart scanners and payment options and a partnership with Amazon to incorporate Just Walk Out technology – a cashierless checkout system. And as new stadiums and arenas are built, there will be more AI incorporated, customized to each customer, to improve the game day experience. “There’s places in the business where this stuff works, but we’re in the hospitality industry and obviously, no matter how nice a robot may be, it is not going to be as hospitable as an actual human being,” said Greg Maass, assistant general manager for Delaware North at Globe Life. Delaware North continues to collect data and have discussions about whether it will implement the humanoid bartenders at any other venues. But they will likely need to become a little more affordable before there’s any mass implementation, as price, value and economy of scale are always part of these conversations, Rapp said. So, next time you’re inside Highmark Stadium or KeyBank Center, don’t expect ADAM to be serving you a drink. At least, not yet. Voting begins for 2024 NFL Fan of the Year Voting is underway as Fan of the Year nominees from all 32 NFL teams vie for the overall winner of the award – Ultimate Fan of the Year. Richard "Poo" Peterson and Derrick "Norm" Norman, known as The Chefs, are the Buffalo Bills’ representatives for Fan of the Year this season. The two have been season ticket holders for more than 30 years and are best known for their epic tailgates. Peterson is retired from the NFTA and is an Army veteran, and Norman is a retired firefighter of 28 years with the City of Buffalo. This annual celebration recognizes fans who spice up game day through their love of football, embody the essence of fandom and inspire their community. All nominees will represent their respective teams at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Feb. 9 and the winner will be announced during the NFL Honors program Feb. 6. Fans can vote online at NFL.com/fanoftheyear until polls close Feb. 5. Welcome to Buffalo Next. This newsletter from The Buffalo News brings you the latest coverage on the changing Buffalo Niagara economy – from real estate to health care to startups. Read more at BuffaloNext.com . THE LATEST A court injunction will put some legal cannabis license applications on hold while speeding up some others. Chick-fil-A is running into problems finding spots for new restaurants in the Buffalo Niagara region. Traffic concerns are a big issue. Residents are asking the Bills to use CBA funds to help revitalize the neighborhood where they once played. The Hamburg IDA went on record against a proposed moratorium on new apartments. Wells Enterprises is getting cheap hydropower from the New York Power Authority for its expansion in Dunkirk. Micron has finalized the financing of its massive $6 billion chip plant in Syracuse − and that's good news for the Buffalo Niagara region's hope to build its tech sector. An Orchard Park medical device maker is cutting 80 jobs − a quarter of its local staff. As the state ramps up its glacially slow pace of granting legal cannabis licenses, one industry group now worries the process will go too fast − and create too much competition. A Buffalo law firm is forming a strategic partnership with a local political lobbying firm. A panel monitoring the Buffalo Bills Community Benefits Agreement wants more details on who's getting construction contracts − and the Bills are balking at providing it. The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the region’s economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Buffalo Next Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435. Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up to get the latest in your inbox five days a week . Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.BD Resolves Previously Disclosed SEC Investigation
Nashville Predators (7-11-3, in the Central Division) vs. New Jersey Devils (14-7-2, in the Metropolitan Division) Newark, New Jersey; Monday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The Nashville Predators visit the New Jersey Devils after Roman Josi scored two goals in the Predators' 4-1 win against the Winnipeg Jets. New Jersey has a 5-3-2 record in home games and a 14-7-2 record overall. The Devils have a 14-2-2 record in games they score three or more goals. Nashville is 7-11-3 overall and 2-5-3 on the road. The Predators are 7-2-0 in games they score at least three goals. The teams meet Monday for the first time this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Nico Hischier has 10 goals and 11 assists for the Devils. Luke Hughes has over the last 10 games. Filip Forsberg has eight goals and eight assists for the Predators. Adam Wilsby has over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Devils: 7-3-0, averaging 2.9 goals, 4.6 assists, 3.6 penalties and 9.2 penalty minutes while giving up 1.9 goals per game. Predators: 3-5-2, averaging 2.1 goals, 3.2 assists, 4.9 penalties and 11 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game. INJURIES: Devils: None listed. Predators: None listed. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .None
Key details to know about the arrest of a suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO
AI in 2025: Transforming the B2B Sales LandscapePolls close in Uruguay’s election, with ruling coalition and opposition headed for photo finish