GoKawiil
Tech News
Georgia Tech engineers led by Alex Abramson developed a system called SWANS that lets implanted devices communicate by sending electrical signals through body tissue rather than Bluetooth or NFC radio waves. The system mimics ionic conduction used by neurons, passing voltage signals through tissue instead of nerves to coordinate multiple implants like pacemakers and insulin pumps.
In the CHORD clinical trial, 24 participants aged 10 months to 16 years with a rare genetic hearing loss (DFNB9, caused by OTOF gene mutations) received a single infusion of the gene therapy Otarmeni into one or both ears. About 80% of participants showed improved hearing within 24 weeks, and case reports describe children regaining the ability to respond to sound and music after treatment.
At the BRAIN Initiative conference on August 13th, chemogenetics co-inventor Bryan Roth disclosed that seven clinical trials using the technology are already underway in China. Chemogenetics works by inserting genes for synthetic receptors into specific neurons, allowing them to be turned on or off remotely using otherwise inert designer drugs, offering a dial-like control over brain activity.
Security researchers discovered that routers manufactured by Chinese firm ZBT and sold worldwide under various third-party brand names contain undisclosed backdoor implants built in by the manufacturer. Because these devices are rebranded and resold by numerous companies, the exact number of affected units in circulation is unknown.
Scientists at the Institute for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine in Beijing grew muscle stem cells from mouse quadriceps into small tissue grafts, called myografts, and implanted them under the skin of the animals' backs. The grafts formed organized, blood-vessel-fed muscle tissue that contracted continuously for months, producing gains in muscle mass, strength and bone density and slowing age-related muscle decline, according to a study published in Nature Aging.