Science Weekly
Transparent skin, bird flu, and why girls’ brains aged during Covid: the week in science
Sep 12, 2024
Discover a groundbreaking technique that turns skin transparent using food dye, reminiscent of 'The Invisible Man.' Explore a concerning new case of bird flu in a person with no animal contact, raising critical public health questions. Dive into fascinating research revealing how adolescent girls experienced accelerated brain aging during the COVID pandemic. Learn about the unique challenges lockdowns posed on their emotional and neural development, underscoring the importance of social interactions in their growth.
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Quick takeaways
- A new technique using food dye can make skin transparent, enhancing medical procedures by allowing better visualization of underlying tissues.
- The emergence of a human case of bird flu without known animal contact raises concerns about the virus's potential adaptation for human transmission.
Deep dives
Innovative Technique for Transparent Skin
Researchers have developed a method to make skin transparent using a common food dye, enabling the observation of underlying tissues without invasive procedures. This technique applies a yellow food dye, typically found in snacks like Doritos, which temporarily alters the skin's optical properties. By matching the refractive indices of skin components, light is able to pass through more effectively, allowing visualization of structures beneath the surface. Potential applications for this advancement include improved visibility for medical procedures, such as locating veins or identifying tumors, provided that safety studies confirm its efficacy in humans.
