In 2024, biomedical expertise actually received to our heads—or extra particularly, our eyes and brains. A few of Spectrum’s hottest articles this yr have been about expertise aiding our imaginative and prescient, with tales of retinal implants and sensible contact lenses drawing your eye. You dug deep into non-invasive tech to hasten sleep and protect mind operate for individuals with Alzheimer’s illness, in addition to an imaging probe to assist extremely invasive mind surgical procedures.
But it surely wasn’t all in our heads. This yr, you additionally examine assistive exosuits and low-cost MRI machines, in addition to a DNA information drive promising a brand new strategy to save huge quantities of data.
As we wait to see how new expertise will increase our senses or enhance our well being in 2025, take a minute to look again on the previous yr’s greatest tales. Learn on to see Spectrum’s prime biomedical articles of 2024.
Wyss Middle for Bio and Neuroengineering
Assistive frames referred to as exosuits can assist individuals in bodily remedy and rehabilitation transfer their physique. The gadgets work by transferring a person’s muscle tissue by way of electrical pulses, however that stimulation can shortly tire out the person. Researchers in South Korea and Switzerland are providing a possible resolution: an electrostatic clutch system. Within the system, sleeves are positioned round joints and usually versatile, however can quickly stiffen to assist the physique between actions with out further stimulation. The expertise, referred to as “Synapsuit,” is being prototyped by the Korea Electronics Expertise Institute.
Pixium
In 2022, contributor Mark Harris detailed how blind customers of a retinal implant made by California biotech firm Second Sight have been left with unsupported devices when the producer went out of enterprise. That story got here near repeating when French biotech firm Pixium Imaginative and prescient ran out of cash in November 2023—till, that’s, spectacular trial information arrived earlier this yr, and the corporate was acquired by Science, a startup run by one among Neuralink’s cofounders.
Elemind
Startup Elemind’s $349 headband guarantees to get you to sleep sooner. The corporate’s first product, which started preorders this yr, tracks mind waves with electrocephalography (EEG) sensors, then tweaks them with sound waves delivered by way of bone conduction. Spectrum’s esteemed former editor Tekla Perry briefly tested out the headband, although in less-than-ideal situations. “It wasn’t the time or place to attempt for sound sleep, however I—and the others within the room—famous that after 2 minutes I used to be yawning like loopy.”
Getty Photos
Elon Musk has made daring claims concerning the coming capabilities of Neuralink Blindsight, his firm’s visible prosthesis aiming to revive imaginative and prescient in individuals who have misplaced sight in each eyes. The gadget was designated a breakthrough gadget by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration in September—however specialists informed Spectrum it probably won’t live up to Musk’s hype.
Greg Mably
For individuals with psychological well being situations like bipolar dysfunction, it’s vital to regulate their temper. Smartphone apps could possibly just do that, offering goal perception about our inside state from information collected with none person enter. In contrast to conventional mood-tracking apps and logs, these apps quietly collect information within the background a couple of person’s conduct. However, whereas promising, they face challenges, together with privateness considerations and a necessity for rigorous scientific validation.
St. Michael’s Basis
When treating aneurysms and strokes, neurosurgeons usually need to make do with blurry photos. However that will quickly change, due to a new fiber-optic imaging probe. The probe winds via the maze of mind arteries, capturing high-resolution photos of the mind to information surgeons. “Whereas earlier than … clinicians had a satellite-like view of the mind’s vasculature community, now they’ve a Google Road View-like perspective,” writes contributor Elie Dolgin. The probe has been examined in scientific trials at two hospitals in Toronto and Buenos Aires, and a startup is aiming to carry the expertise to market.
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Present MRI scanners are costly and require highly effective magnets and a whole lot of power to energy. With the machines usually solely present in specialised hospital facilities, MRIs are inaccessible for greater than two-thirds of the worldwide inhabitants. However a new, simplified full-body MRI scanner works at a fraction of the fee and 1,800 watts, in comparison with 25 kilowatts or extra. The machine makes use of AI to match the picture high quality of conventional MRI scanners with a lot much less highly effective magnets.
Tsai Laboratory/MIT Picower Institute
Early scientific trials are starting to indicate proof that stimulating the mind at sure frequencies could benefit people living with Alzheimer’s disease. In line with a group of researchers at MIT, sound and lightweight oscillations at 40-hertz energetic a neural-cleansing course of that helps take away beta-amyloid, the protein that clumps collectively within the brains of these with Alzheimer’s. The non-invasive remedy is presently being examined in randomized trials, and analysis will probably proceed for the following few years, although some corporations are already providing “wellness” merchandise that ship gamma frequency mild or sound stimulation.
Edmon de Haro
Our information is piling up shortly. In truth, it’s rising sooner than our storage functionality will be capable of deal with in just some years. That’s why some organizations are taking steps towards building a DNA drive to retailer the deluge of information, rather than magnetic tape and disk drives. With every DNA base (A, T, G, and C) appearing as a bit, DNA presents significantly better storage density; in accordance with one estimate, all 120 zettabytes of data on the Web may very well be saved in a quantity of DNA the dimensions of a sugar dice. Now, researchers search methods to effectively learn and write massive volumes of DNA information.
Erfan Pourshaban
Sensible contact lenses might have numerous shopper and medical makes use of—measuring glucose ranges, delivering remedy for ocular illness, and even appearing as a show for augmented actuality. However how do you energy a tool sitting on probably the most delicate components of the human physique? Researchers on the College of Utah created a hybrid energy-generation unit that draws energy from light and tears: Whereas the eyes are open, tiny, versatile photo voltaic cells made out of silicon seize mild from the solar and synthetic sources. Then, actually within the blink of a watch, a second system acts like a metal-air battery, with electrolytes in tears serving as a biofuel. The mix permits for steady energy era and provides sufficient power for sensible contacts.
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