New Scientist Podcasts
Weekly: First living transparent mouse; lab-grown stem cells; Spy balloons
Sep 6, 2024
Discover the groundbreaking creation of human blood stem cells in the lab, a potential game changer for blood cancer treatments. Learn about the astonishing technique that turns living mice transparent, providing unique biological insights. Explore the military's intriguing decision to utilize spy balloons for surveillance. Delve into the unexpected consequences of declining bat populations on agriculture and health. Plus, find out about faint light lurking in deep space and the curious sounds experienced by astronauts aboard the Starliner capsule.
26:17
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Quick takeaways
- The successful creation of human blood stem cells in a lab could transform blood cancer treatments by utilizing patients' own cells.
- The U.S. is exploring the use of high-altitude balloons for military surveillance, highlighting a shift towards cost-effective aerial monitoring solutions.
Deep dives
Breakthrough in Blood Cancer Treatment
Recent research has successfully created human blood stem cells in the lab, marking a significant advancement in cancer treatment, especially for blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. The scientists have developed a two-stage process to convert human blood or skin cells into pluripotent stem cells, which can then differentiate into blood stem cells. This can potentially allow for the use of a patient's own stem cells, greatly reducing the risk of rejection compared to current treatments that rely on umbilical cord blood from external donors. This breakthrough could revolutionize blood cancer therapies and aims for clinical trials in approximately five years, but challenges remain before it can be applied to human patients.
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