Test tube babies are so 2009

Technology Review: Artificial Ovary Could Help Infertile Women

     First time that a 3-dimensional environment containing the three main types of ovarian cells: theca cells, granulosa cells, and the eggs (oocytes) has been developed. Immediate importance in studying fertility, environmental and pharmaceutical impacts, contraceptive development, and ovarian cancer with future clinical potential in harvesting and maturing eggs safely for infertile women.

Screw polysporin, give me some fibronectin for my owie

Harvard scientists have developed a fabric coated with a protein called fibronectin which has the potential for helping wounds heal quickly sans scarring or possibly as a scaffold for growing organs.

Protein pattern: This computer rendering shows ripples on fabric made from protein. Such fabrics could be used as scaffolds for growing organs. Credit: ACS/ Nano Letters

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/25918/?nlid=3315

The future of healthcare, patient-patient interaction

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/25276/

Solar Cell Efficiency...Almost There

• IBM Researchers have developed a new type of solar cell which more efficiently converts sunlight into electricity (9.6% vs 6.7%).
• Semiconductor made of the elements copper, zinc, tin, and sulfur (abundant & cheap) as well as selenium (rare yet relatively cheap).
• Pros:
• Uses cheaper materials than other "thin film" solar cells.
• Ink-based manufacturing process solves many quality issues previously encountered with solar cells.
• Cons:
• The ultimate hurdle preventing mass-production of efficient solar cells is high cost and inadequate supply of the rare semiconductor components (e.g. selenium, indium, gallium).
• Future Research:
• If most/all of these elements could be replaced with a more common element such as sulfur without dampening semiconductor efficiency, the commercial success of solar cell technology would be soon-to-come.

http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/24521/?nlid=2741

Vaccines feel the heat

• Many vaccines today are composed of live viruses modified to trigger an immune response without causing the symptoms of an actual infection.
• Drawback to this 'live-attenuated' vaccine method:
• Refrigeration (4°-8°C) is necessary for the vaccine's effectiveness.
• Costs hundreds of millions of dollars in the developed world.
• Nearly impossible to maintain in delivering vaccines to the developing world where immunizations are most needed
• A new process developed by British scientists (jolly-good old chaps) can keep unrefrigerated vaccines stable for 4 months, even at tropical temperatures.
• If proven to be economically feasible (the key with any new technology), vaccines against tuberculosis, malaria, bird flu, and maybe even HIV could be delivered to those most at risk for contracting the spreading these diseases.

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/24603/