You do it. Your mom, dad, siblings and friends probably do too. World leaders and entertainers do it - though some better than others. Your friend did it on her vacation last week and you gave her a thumbs-up. But why?
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The Beating Heart of Solar Energy
The notion of using solar cells placed under the skin to continuously recharge implanted electronic medical devices is a viable one. Swiss researchers have done the math, and found that a 3.6 square centimeter solar cell is all that is needed to generate enough power during winter and summer to power a typical pacemaker. The study is the first to provide real-life data about the potential of using solar cells to power devices such as pacemakers and deep brain stimulators.
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New Virtual Reality Technology may Improve Motor Skills in Damaged Limbs
A combination of traditional physical therapy and technology may improve the motor skills and mobility of an impaired hand by having its partner, more mobile hand lead by example through virtual reality training, new Tel Aviv University research suggests.
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European Commission Seeks Input on a Reflection and Orientation Paper on Smart Wearables
Smart wearables provide technology-based solutions to pressing societal and economic challenges in the areas of healthy ageing, elderly care, emergency management, safety at work, productivity enhancement, training of professionals, energy management of homes and others.
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Gene Editing Takes on New Roles
What combinations of mutations help cancer cells survive? Which cells in the brain are involved in the onset of Alzheimer's? How do immune cells conduct their convoluted decision-making processes? Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science have now combined two powerful research tools - CRISPR gene editing and single cell genomic profiling - in a method that may finally help us get answers to these questions and many more.
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'Pulling' Bacteria out of Blood
Blood poisoning is still fatal in more than 50% of cases, but can be cured if treated at an early stage. The highest priority is therefore to act quickly. For this reason, doctors usually administer antibiotics even in the event of a suspicion of blood poisoning, without first ascertaining whether it is actually a bacterial sepsis, which in turn greatly increases the risk of resistance to antibiotics developing.
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Smartphone Apps May Help Study Cardiovascular Health, Behaviors
In a study published online by JAMA Cardiology, Euan A. Ashley, M.B., Ch.B., D.Phil., of the Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., and colleagues assessed the feasibility of measuring physical activity, fitness, and sleep from smartphones and to gain insight into activity patterns associated with life satisfaction and self-reported disease.
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