🧬Star Wars inspires a DNA-reading chip, a worm that can heal human skin, and an AI for start-ups

Plus: Rare brightening comet seen passing Earth from Hawaii                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 October 05, 2024 | [Read Online]( ⚡Engineering Talks' New Webinar:[A Game-Changer for Construction: The Power of Millimeter-Accurate Augmented Reality]( Join us for "A Game-Changer for Construction: The Power of Millimeter-Accurate Augmented Reality" with experts Waleed Zafar and Joe Hughes. Learn how AR is revolutionizing the construction industry! [Register now for free]( ⬅️ MIT Scientists have created a tiny chip that manipulates cells and particles based on the tractor beam in Star Wars. Optical traps and tweezers use focused light beams to capture and move tiny biological particles, such as cells or DNA molecules. This device could be used to study DNA, identify different types of cells, and explore the underlying causes of diseases. Dive deeper into this [Must-Read](. 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: > [Software Engineering Manager]( > [Data Streaming Engineer IV]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST-READ 🧬[MIT’s Star Wars-inspired ‘tractor beam’ uses light to capture, manipulate cells]( [This miniature device]( is based on a silicon photonics chip that emits a light beam to control particles' movement within a few millimeters accurately. As a chip-based optical tweezer, it would [enable the trapping and tweezing of cells]( at much larger distances than previously demonstrated. The researchers first tested the device on polystyrene spheres and then tried [trapping and tweezing cancer cells](. 🩹[Scar-free healing: Worm protein could revolutionize wound treatment]( A protein derived from an [intestinal parasitic roundworm]( has been shown to [speed up wound healing]( and reduce scarring in mice. Small cuts on human skin heal easily, but deeper injuries can cause scarring. [A recent study tested the protein TGM]( and found that it sped up healing and reduced scarring. This research reflects a growing body of work searching for [innovative new treatments for wound healing.]( 🤝 [GenAI: the new secret sauce for startup success?]( The latest episode of Lexicon highlights [GenAI, a powerful tool for startups]( that helps them grow and scale more rapidly and strategically. [This robust tool]( allows companies to automate processes, create content, and streamline customer interactions. It can also [generate marketing content]( quickly, define target audiences, and more. However, AI normally comes with concerns about replacing human jobs, and GenAI is no exception. But [will AI help accelerate the next generation of start-ups?]( Love what you're reading, but too many emails? Sign up to IE+ to get Blueprint Weekly, our exclusive weekly premium newsletter that gives all the insights you love in a more digestible weekly format– plus, enjoy an Ad-Free experience on our website. Try IE+ today for just $1 in the first month. [Subscribe here]( HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY SCIENCE > A new method could make the PVC more durable and less likely to shed harmful microplastics. It can dramatically lower the amount of hazardous microplastics that enter our environment. ([More]() > Researchers have imaged a hidden scar, which is the evidence of a cataclysmic event that impacted Earth millions of years ago. ([More]() > Physicists at the world’s largest atom smasher observed two quarks in a state of quantum entanglement—a first. ([More]() ENERGY > A group of industry specialists accomplished a world first in the wind industry by performing a Major Component Exchange (MCE) on an offshore floating wind turbine at the Kincardine Offshore Windfarm in Scotland. ([More]() > A research tool will help researchers power up 22 million homes with clean and renewable energy from the sea. ([More]() > The Supreme Court left in place Biden administration regulations aimed at curbing oil and gas facility emissions of methane, a major contributor to climate change. ([More]() INNOVATION > Researchers have significantly improved a new joining technology called interlocking metasurfaces (ILMs) that enhances the strength and stability of structures compared to traditional methods like bolts and adhesives. ([More]() > Humanoid robots, driverless cars can be trained using AI images with new method. ([More]() > New research highlights how dietary zinc could slow the transmission of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in the gut. ([More]() VIDEO > Precision, mobility and power: How M777 and HIMARS reshaped the modern battlefield. ([More]() > Rare brightening comet seen passing Earth from Hawaii. ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS The answer is 2 Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on [Instagram]( and [Facebook!]( FROM THE WEB > Astrophysicist Makes Breakthrough in Black Hole [Study](. > Bacteria inside fungi show how complex life [evolved](. > Brain molecule reverses movement deficits of Parkinson's, offering new therapeutic [target](. > The World’s Oldest Termite Mound Is 34,000 Years and [Counting](. > A huge solar flare, the largest since 2017, has been [spotted](. Additional Reads --------------------------------------------------------------- [⚙️ Mechanical:](Explore the wonders of mechanical engineering. [🛩️ Aerospace:]( The latest on propulsion, satellites, aeronautics, and more. [🧑🏻‍🔧 Engineer Pros:]( The latest in engineering news, career updates, and insider knowledge. [🧠AI Logs:]( Insights into the intricacies and developments within the realm of artificial intelligence. [🎬 IE Originals:](Weekly round-up of our best science, tech & engineering videos. 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