Summary The article discusses the innovative SoundMind project, led by Dr. Alexander Khalil and Dr. Gráinne McLoughlin, which explores the use of Augmented Audio Reality (AAR) to treat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. The project was inspired by Khalil’s experience with his father, who had dementia. Khalil developed an AAR algorithm that subtly alters background noise […]

Summary Anqi Zhang, a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford, transitioned from building brain implants to mastering genetic engineering. In collaboration with Professors Zhenan Bao and Karl Deisseroth, Zhang developed a protein complex that helps neurons assemble conductive materials, potentially changing their sensitivity and creating new electrical connections. By using cellular machinery, Zhang overcame challenges in enzyme […]

Summary With the rise of wearable electronics, developing materials that withstand mechanical strain without losing electrical performance is crucial. Polymer-based field-effect transistors (FETs) are key components but often brittle due to rigid molecular structures needed for charge transport. A team led by Professor Zhenan Bao and Dr. Hung-Chin Wu at Stanford University addressed this by […]

Summary Researchers led by Professor Zhenan Bao at Stanford University have developed intrinsically stretchable transistor arrays for wearable electronics, with high device density and strain insensitivity. The material maintains less than 5% performance variation under 100% strain, making it ideal for capturing physiological signals despite strain changes. The team introduced “elastiff” layers, using rigid and […]

Summary Wearable electronics require flexible, safe, and high-performance energy storage. Traditional Li-ion batteries, which are rigid and contain flammable liquid electrolytes, are not ideal for such applications. A research team led by Professors Zhenan Bao and Yi Cui developed a new type of solid-state polymer electrolyte, incorporating a supramolecular network with dynamic hydrogen bonding to […]

Summary Drug discovery is costly, with only about 10% of drugs in Phase 1 trials gaining FDA approval, largely due to poor understanding of pharmacokinetics (PK). Standard blood-based PK measurements don’t accurately reflect drug levels in tumor tissues, which have complex microenvironments. A team led by Professor Hyongsok Tom Soh developed an implantable electrochemical aptamer-based […]

Summary Electrochemical sensors convert chemical signals from target analytes into electrical signals for detection, making them valuable for biomedical applications. Sensitivity is crucial as clinical biomarkers are often present at very low levels, and electrochemical sensors help monitor drug concentrations like doxorubicin in biofluids. A team led by Professor Hyongsok Tom Soh at Stanford developed […]

Summary Researchers from Stanford University have developed an implantable, ultrasound-powered drug delivery device that integrates nanoparticles and electronics for targeted, on-demand drug release. The device uses a potentiostat to control drug release by measuring the current between electrodes, and it operates wirelessly through ultrasound, making it ideal for deep tissue implantation. The system allows precise […]

Summary Before smartphones, memorizing phone numbers was a common necessity, often accomplished by mentally repeating the number. The brain similarly solves short-term memory problems by maintaining patterns of neuronal activity. Researchers, led by Professors Shaul Druckmann and Nuo Li, studied how this occurs in mice by engaging their short-term memory. They discovered that two brain […]

Summary Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) offers a promising non-invasive method to track stress hormone levels over time, particularly during pregnancy. Cortisol, crucial in the body’s stress response, is deposited into hair, reflecting past hormone levels. A study led by Dr. Lucy King at Stanford University examined HCC dynamics in pregnant women and postpartum, finding significant […]