Amazing Nano Sculptures Only Visible by Electron Microscope

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Lets get small. Real small.

Artist and engineer Jonty Hurwitz has created a series of nanoscale sculptures so small that they can only be viewed via electron microscope.

Thats pretty impressive in and of itself, but weve seen various nanoscale artworkbefore. Whats kind of eye-popping is how detailed, sophisticated and frankly gorgeous Hurwitzs microscopic sculptures are.

Video: How Graphene Could Change the World

Billed as the smallest creation of the human form in history, the sculpture titled Trust pictured above is approximately 80 x 20 x 100 microns. Thats smaller than a human hair, as you can see, and according to Hurwitzs surreal project page, approximately equals the the amount your fingernails grow every five or six hours.

The sculptures are created using a new kind of 3D printing technology called multiphoton lithography. It gets complicated, but essentially the forms are created with light. Using specific ultraviolet wavelengths, Hurwitz and his team use a computer-controlled system to create each 3D pixel called a voxel and move them incrementally into place. Slowly, over hours and hours the entire sculpture is assembled pixel by pixel and layer by layer, Hurwitz explains on the project page.

Extraordinary Beauty Of The NanoArt World: Photos

Hurwitz used live models and an image capture system to create a digital framework for the initial forms. Other sculptures in the series are perhaps even more startling. Intensity depicts an eerie tumble of seven mannequin-like figures, while Cupid and Psyche: The First Kiss is a recreation of an 18th century Italian sculpture from the Louvre.

Take a moment to consider that only 6,000 years ago we were painting crude animal images on the walls of caves with rocks, Hurwitz says. This nano sculpture is the collective achievement of all of humanity. It is the culmination of thousands of years of R&D.

Sure, lets go with that. For more details, check out Hurwitzs behind-the-scenes video:

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Amazing Nano Sculptures Only Visible by Electron Microscope

Engineering photography reveals unexpected, microscopic beauty

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Image: Adrianus Indrat Aria

We all know engineering is useful, functional, even ingenious. But the engineering photography competition we hold each year provides us a chance to wander outside its merely utilitarian aspects into dimensions such as beauty, humor and even humanity to find unexpected connections and poetic resonance.

As one of the judges, one quality I look for in the images is some added dimension, a richness, the capacity to trigger a cascade of unrelated ideas. Quite by accident this year a few of the photos shared an unplanned underwater theme.

The winner (above) appeared to be a starfish. There was a column, perhaps from a pier, encrusted with coral and barnacles.

Then there was a strange ghost fish, the likes of which might range in Challenger Deep.

Of course they were none of these things: they were images of carbon nanotubes and graphene, but the forms that emerged at these micro- and nano-scales are familiar from elsewhere in nature.

The winning photo shows a fine pentagonal shape I lecture on geometry and a question I ask the audience is: "When did you last see a pentagon?" They're quite rare. They can be found in passionfruit flowers, or the shape of one of the most well-known buildings on the planet. But pentagons in the wild are something of a collector's item and this a fine example.

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Engineering photography reveals unexpected, microscopic beauty

Email Fail

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On any given day, hundreds of thousands of emails shoot into and out of the accounts of New Mexicos estimated 26,000 state employees.

The content of these messages can be as weighty as policy memos that shed light on how the publics business is being done, requests for help and demands for favors. They can be as trivial as a report that glazed donuts are available in the break room.

Deciding which are important enough to keep and which can be trashed presents a challenge. Finding the saved messages later adds another layer of difficulty.

And from the looks of things, state government doesnt have a good handle on the situation. The dilemma is illustrated by what happened last year, when SFR was tracking communication between two key public officials.

One of the players involved was a newly elected state senator who had just finished serving his first legislative session. The other was Gov. Susana Martinez point-person for working with the state Legislature.

During the 2013 legislative session, Sen. Mark Moores, R-Bernalillo, had publicly made a fuss about a procedural action in the Senate Rules Committee.

His concern? The committee planned to allow Michael Corwina well-known political opposition researcher for Democrats and at the time the director of a political committee known for digging up dirt on the Martinez administrationto testify against one of her key political appointees.

Your decision to grant special treatment to Mr. Corwin is unwarranted, reads a draft of a letter from Moores addressed to committee chairwoman Sen. Linda Lopez, a Democrat from Albuquerque. I ask that you consider my request to reverse that decision.

Moores apparently didnt write the letter all on his own. Janel Anderson, the governors legislative liaison, emailed the draft to him from her government account in a message with the subject line letter.

But that message wasnt provided by the governors office in response to a public records request about correspondence related to the hearing. Instead, SFR hunted it down through the states Legislative Council Service.

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The Association for Molecular Pathology Announces 2014 Award Recipients

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Newswise Bethesda, MD, November 19, 2014:

The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the premier global, non-profit organization serving molecular testing professionals and leading education initiatives, discussions, and policy actions central to improving the development and application of molecular diagnostics, announced its 2014 award winners. Recipients of the Award for Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics, Jeffrey A. Kant Leadership Award, and AMP Meritorious Service Award were presented at the AMP Annual Meeting this past week in National Harbor, Maryland.

Uta Francke, MD, Professor Emeritus of Genetics, Pediatrics/Medical Genetics at Stanford University received the AMP Award for Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics and Aaron D. Bossler, MD, PhD, Director of Molecular Pathology Laboratory and Molecular Genetic Pathology Fellowship Program at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics received the AMP Meritorious Service Award. Both awards were presented by AMP President, Elaine Lyon, PhD.

AMP's highest award, the Award for Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics recognizes the lifetime of special achievements by Dr. Franke across several fields in molecular diagnostics and medicine. The Meritorious Service Award recognizes Dr. Bosslers exceptional contributions, over time and often behind-the-scenes, to provide invaluable service to AMP, its membership, and to the profession overall, said Dr. Elaine Lyon. Were thrilled to honor both Drs. Francke and Bossler and their ongoing devotion to advancing the clinical practice of molecular medicine.

The Jeffrey A. Kant Leadership Award, which recognizes the exceptional leadership in advancing the mission and goals of AMP was presented by AMP President Elect, Janina Longtine, MD, The Mount Sinai Medical Center, to AMP President, Dr. Lyon, Medical Director, Genetics Division, ARUP Laboratories.

Were excited to recognize Dr. Lyon for her remarkable guidance and direction this past year. Shes played a pivotal role in helping AMP address key issues important to our membership, said Dr. Longtine.

About the Association for Molecular Pathology The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) was founded in 1994 to provide structure and leadership to what was, at the time, the newlyemerging field of molecular diagnostics. Through the efforts of its Board of Directors, Committees, Working Groups, and members, AMP has established itself as the primary resource for expertise, education, and collaboration on what is now one of the fastest growing fields in healthcare. AMP members influence policy and regulation on the national and international levels; ultimately serving to advance innovation in the field and protect patient access to high quality, appropriate testing.

AMP's 2,300+ members include individuals from academic and community medical centers, government, and industry; including, basic and translational scientists, pathologist and doctoral scientist laboratory directors, medical technologists, and trainees. AMP members span the globe with members in more than 45 countries and a growing number of AMP International Affiliate Organizations. The number of AMP members is growing rapidly; they are united by the goal of advancing the science and implementation of molecular and genomic laboratory medicine. For more information, please visit http://www.amp.org.

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The Association for Molecular Pathology Announces 2014 Award Recipients

Send your DNA to the moon with crowdfunded mission

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People who want to be involved more deeply can pay 5,000 for a place in the viewing gallery at mission control.

By mid-morning Wednesday, the Kickstarter campaign had nearly 500 backers who have raised a total of almost 49,000. Lunar Mission One has up to December 17 to raise the required funds and move the project closer to lift off.

Government space cuts

David Iron, founder of Lunar Missions Limited, said the crowdfunding drive was a response to a cutback in the global cutbacks on space exploration.

"It is a response to the fact that governments' space missions are as limited as ever for financing the kind of space projects that are designed for advancing knowledge and understanding," Iron told CNBC by phone.

Read MoreUAE plans Mars mission in heated space race

"At the same time, by getting people involved in the financing, we are getting them involved in the project itself."

Bury your hair in space?

When Lunar Mission One lands on the moon's south pole, it will drill to a depth of at least 20 meters deep, but could go as far as 100 meters, with the aim of analyzing lunar rock to discover more about life on earth.

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Send your DNA to the moon with crowdfunded mission

Middle-Earth:Shadow Of Mordor Walkthrough Part 14 Medicine For the Queen – Video

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Middle-Earth:Shadow Of Mordor Walkthrough Part 14 Medicine For the Queen
Your friendly Nighborhood deadman to the rescue. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheIceKingYT Live streams: http://www.twitch.tv/...

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Middle-Earth:Shadow Of Mordor Walkthrough Part 14 Medicine For the Queen - Video

Harrisons Principles of Internal Medicine 18th Edition Medical Textbook – Video

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Harrisons Principles of Internal Medicine 18th Edition Medical Textbook
This book covers all the aspects of internal medicine including basic science, pathophysiology, the clinical signs, diagnosis, and the up-to-date treatment. More details at: http://www.edureads.co...

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The Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine – Video

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The Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine
Personalized medicine is about people, and in this video, people talk about personalized medicine specifically, the Weizmann Institute #39;s just-dedicated Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel...

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Aboriginal medicine ruling sparks instant controversy

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In 14 words, the decision of a Brantford judge changed the life of an 11-year-old Six Nations girl with leukemia, and sparked a controversy about Aboriginal rights and the rights of children in Canada.

The ruling has been supported by Aboriginal communities and met with concern by non-Aboriginal legal experts who question whether the decision adequately considered the rights of the girl and the duty of the government to protect the best interest of the child.

D.H.s decision to pursue traditional medicine for her daughter J.J. is her aboriginal right, wrote Justice Gethin Edward in his Nov. 14, 2014 decision.

And so Edward did not force the Brant Childrens Aid Society to apprehend the girl and undergo the chemotherapy her doctors at the McMaster Childrens Hospital said gave her a 90 to 95 per cent chance of survival her only chance of survival. He, instead, established that Section 35 of the Constitution protects the Aboriginal practice of using traditional medicine and the right of the mother to have her child treated with traditional medicine over chemotherapy.

The hospital has said it has no plans to appeal the decision. This is a world of competing sorrows, because no matter what you do somebody is going to be hurt or harmed or upset, says Margaret Somerville, the founding director of the Centre of Medicine, Ethics and Law at McGill University.

The case is distinct from other instances where courts have intervened to force medical treatment on minors not considered capable of making their own decisions often because of religious objections, such as in the case of Jehovahs Witnesses refusing to accept blood transfusions.

In those cases the courts essentially say to parents, your Charter right to freedom of religion does not override your childs right to life, says Cheryl Milne, the executive director of the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights at the University of Toronto. She adds that Canada, as a signatory of the UN Convention on the rights of a child, also has obligations to protect the life and health of children.

Edwards decision has left many legal experts in constitutional and family law questioning whether the rights of the child were properly weighed in this case.

What I find the decision is a little unclear on is the right of her child herself and seeing her rights as separate, says Milne. This is very much a decision based on rights of the aboriginal community as opposed to the right of the individual child and the right of parent to make decisions about the child.

If you look at the cases in this area which are not involving Aboriginal children, in almost every case including ones with similar facts to this one, the courts would take the decision-making authority away from the parents, says Somerville.

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Medicine and Meat Out of Reach Amid Ukrainian Price Shock

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Valentyna is thankful for the two pensions she and her husband share, even if Ukraines inflation shock means theyre no longer enough to buy medicine and meat.

We have some potatoes, tomatoes and cucumbers from our dacha, said the 72-year-old pensioner as she made her way through the city of Zhytomyr, a two-hour bus ride west of Kiev. I cant imagine how people survive on a single pension. We cant even go to the drug store. We try to use herbs instead.

From Lviv, near the Polish border, to Kharkiv, 1,000 kilometers (650 miles) east in Russias shadow, Ukrainians are grappling with the worlds worst-performing currency, inflation thats rocketed to 20 percent and the worst recession in five years. The plight of Zhytomyrs 270,000 residents shows how bailout-mandated austerity and the strains of an eight-month insurgency are playing out in everyday life.

Across the street from the citys Soviet-era department store, the central open-air market sells food, clothes and toys. Traders huddle next to signs offering to buy pumpkin seeds, nuts, rabbit pelts, feathers and beans from producers whove traveled from nearby villages.

Locals are cutting back because of this years 48 percent plunge in the hryvnia, a decline thats eroded purchasing power. The inflation rate spiked to 19.8 percent last month as the currencys slide boosted the costs of imported goods from gasoline to fruit.

I feel the hryvnia devaluation everywhere, Tamara Yakovets, 46, said from the window of her 2-square-meter kiosk, where she sells toothpaste and shampoo. My clients are shocked. I have to raise prices every week. People stopped buying expensive stuff and now they ask for the cheapest soap.

Ukrainians are no strangers to inflation. Price growth peaked at 10,256 percent in 1993 as the Soviet economy was dismantled. Having subsided, the rate jumped to 31.3 percent in 2008, shortly before the hryvnia last sank.

Today, the focus is on the currency. Aside from imports, expenses from renting an apartment to buying a car are frequently fixed in dollars, while salaries are in hryvnia.

For Iryna Ivanchuk, even a wage in hryvnia would be a relief. Since losing her job this year, shes gotten by on her husbands military stipend and assistance from relatives.

I watch the dollar rate all the time because for me its the best indicator of poverty, said the 29-year-old mother of a son in first grade. I buy less sweets and fruit because of the astronomical costs. We used to save some money. Now, we cant save anything.

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Medicine and Meat Out of Reach Amid Ukrainian Price Shock

The future of medical innovation: Beyond our wildest dreams? – Video

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The future of medical innovation: Beyond our wildest dreams?
As kids, visions of the future were often defined by scenes from science fiction flying cars, phones with video screens, magical curative potions. And while the future predicted for 2014...

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Handheld ultrasound technology can help medical students improve their physical diagnosis

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18-Nov-2014

Contact: Lauren Woods lauren.woods@mountsinai.org 646-634-0869 The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine @mountsinainyc

A new study by researchers from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that training medical students to use a handheld ultrasound device can enhance the accuracy of their physical diagnosis. The study was presented November 18 at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2014.

The study by Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai included a 90-minute, personalized lesson for 64 second-year medical students in how to use handheld echocardiography technology, with a review of a 3D cardiac anatomy model, video images of normal echocardiograms, and the opportunity to test the handheld device on classmates.

The study's goal was to evaluate an entire medical student class and observe if a group of novice medical students given this training could employ the technology successfully to achieve more accurate diagnosis of valvular heart disease than 72 of their classmates who received only traditional instruction in how to review medical histories and analyze heart murmur sounds using a stethoscope.

Valvular heart disease is when one or more of the four valves inside the heart are not functioning properly leading to improper blood flow throughout the heart. The condition can be caused by an infection, heart disease, or a heart attack. Heart valve disease is traditionally first suspected when a doctor hears a heart murmur while listening to a patient's heart using a stethoscope. An echocardiogram machine, or a handheld echocardiography device, is a tool which uses sound waves to create images of the heart for doctors to visually identify any irregular heartbeat or valve abnormalities.

After all 136 students in the Cardiac Pathophysiology course took the identical final examination test, results showed that those with the enhanced training in handheld technology were more likely than the students with standard training to correctly diagnose valvular heart disease, 58 percent versus 40 percent, when the students were additionally provided with video of echocardiograms.

"As the field of medicine grows more complex, our study findings show that the addition of handheld echocardiography as a component of students' diagnostic skill set can substantially enhance the accuracy of physical diagnosis, even when introduced at the earliest stages of the students' training," says the study's lead author David Vorchheimer, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Cardiology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "We have shown that even a limited 90-minute training session with the small, portable handheld ultrasound device can give medical students and other healthcare professionals in the hospital or the community the ability to more quickly and more accurately diagnose certain heart conditions," added Dr. Vorchheimer, also the new Director of Clinical Cardiology at the Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care.

The Vscan device used in the study, made by GE Healthcare, is an echocardiography handheld device that permits rapid assessment of cardiac size, structure, function, and hemodynamics or blood flow. The device can fit in the hand of the physician and its screen is the size of a smart phone.

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Handheld ultrasound technology can help medical students improve their physical diagnosis