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Science Weekly

Transparent skin, bird flu, and why girls’ brains aged during Covid: the week in science

Sep 12, 2024
Hannah Devlin, a science correspondent, dives into groundbreaking studies and urgent health news. She shares a thrilling method using food dye to make skin transparent, akin to an 'Invisible Man' twist. The conversation turns to the alarming first human case of bird flu without prior animal contact. Devlin also discusses a revealing study highlighting accelerated brain aging in girls during Covid, uncovering potential long-term mental health implications. With each topic, she showcases the fascinating and sometimes alarming developments in modern science.
16:37

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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.

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