Nanoparticles show promise in treating cancer

+ why the Southwest is on fire; electric eels inspire battery-makers US Edition - Today's top story: Nanoparticles are the future of medicine – researchers are experimenting with new ways to design tiny particle treatments for cancer [View in browser]( US Edition | 11 May 2022 [The Conversation]( One of the key technical advances in the development of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 comes from the field of nanotechnology. A nanoparticle of fatty acids encapsulates genetic material from the coronavirus that triggers an immune response. Duxin Sun, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Michigan, provides an overview of nanomedicine today and brings us to the cutting edge by [explaining his own research on nanomaterials to treat breast cancer](. While there has been real progress in the field overall, he writes that “a vaccine for an infectious disease is not the same as a vaccine for cancer.” To me, one of most fascinating, and important, areas of climate science is what’s happening in Antarctica. Scientists last week described their discovery of huge deposits of salty water – likely from the ocean – in the ground beneath the Antarctic ice sheet. All that groundwater can affect how ice streams flow and has significant implications for understanding the rate of sea level rise. Two researchers who spent 61 days living in tents on an ice stream [explain what they found](. Referring to “gray matter” is almost shorthand for talking about the brain, but [white matter is equally significant]( and could help discover treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and traumatic brain injuries, says professor of neurology and psychiatry Christopher Filley. “Recent findings, made possible by advancements in brain imaging and autopsy examinations, are beginning to show researchers how critical white matter is,” he writes. Also in this week’s science news: - [What’s contributing to wildfires in New Mexico and Arizona]( - [Eyedrops that help you see close explained]( - [Some cool facts about octopuses]( If there’s a subject you’d like our team of science editors to investigate, please reply to this email. Martin La Monica Director of Editorial Projects and Newsletters Nanoparticles can help cancer drugs home in on tumors and avoid damaging healthy cells. Kateryna Kon/Science Photo Library via Getty Images [Nanoparticles are the future of medicine – researchers are experimenting with new ways to design tiny particle treatments for cancer]( Duxin Sun, University of Michigan The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines put nanomedicine in the spotlight as a potential way to treat diseases like cancer and HIV. While the field isn’t there yet, better design could help fulfill its promise. Co-author Chloe Gustafson and mountaineer Meghan Seifert install measuring equipment on an ice stream. Kerry Key/Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory [Scientists in Antarctica discover a vast, salty groundwater system under the ice sheet – with implications for sea level rise]( Matthew Siegfried, Colorado School of Mines; Chloe Gustafson, University of California San Diego Liquid water below the ice determines how fast an ice stream flows. As the ice sheet gets thinner, more of that salty groundwater could rise. The brain’s neural network, which includes both gray and white matter. Pasieka/Science Photo Library via Getty Images [You’ve likely heard of the brain’s gray matter – here’s why the white matter is important too]( Christopher Filley, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Long overlooked by scientists, white matter may provide clues to some of the brain’s greatest mysteries. - [What is fentanyl and why is it behind the deadly surge in US drug overdoses? A medical toxicologist explains]( Kavita Babu, UMass Chan Medical School Fentanyl’s wide availability in the drug supply has led to an increase in unintentional overdoses. While prevention strategies are available, limited availability stymies their use. - [Electric eels inspired the first battery two centuries ago and now point a way to future battery technologies]( Timothy J. Jorgensen, Georgetown University One species of eel can discharge 860 volts of electricity – that’s 200-fold higher than the top voltage of a single lithium-ion battery. - [The Southwest is on fire, with iconic deserts and towns at risk – 3 reasons the 2022 fire season is so early and intense]( Molly Hunter, University of Arizona Fire season is getting longer, and the result is transforming iconic desert ecosystems. The start to 2022 has been so dire, one governor called for a federal disaster declaration. - [New eye drops can help aging people see better – an optometrist explains how Vuity treats presbyopia]( Robert Bittner, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences As people age, their eyes lose the ability to focus on close objects. A new eye drop treatment called Vuity can improve vision without the need for glasses, contacts or surgery. - [COVID-19 official counts can miss mild cases – here’s how serosurveys that analyze blood for signs of past infection can help]( Isobel Routledge, University of California, San Francisco Your blood can hold a record of past illnesses. That information can reveal how many people have had a certain infection – like 58% of Americans having had COVID-19 by the end of February 2022. - [What does an octopus eat? For a creature with a brain in each arm, whatever’s within reach]( Erin Spencer, Florida International University; Yannis Papastamatiou, Florida International University With nine brains, blue blood and a talent for camouflage, the octopus is one of the most fascinating creatures in the sea. - [Corals and sea anemones turn sunscreen into toxins – understanding how could help save coral reefs]( Djordje Vuckovic, Stanford University; Bill Mitch, Stanford University Researchers have long suspected that an ingredient in sunscreen called oxybenzone was harming corals, but no one knew how. A new study shows how corals turn oxybenzone into a sunlight-activated toxin. - [Wealthy nations are carving up space and its riches – and leaving other countries behind]( Theodora Ogden, Arizona State University Current trends suggest that powerful nations are defining the rules of resource use in space and satellite access in ways that will make it hard for developing nations to ever catch up. - Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly emails: [Politics Weekly]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Global Economy & Business]( - - About The Conversation: We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. 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