Curiosity Weekly
Tractor Beam, Crystal Palace, Botany Dark Spots
Nov 27, 2024
Discover an innovative tractor beam from MIT poised to revolutionize disease diagnosis by capturing biological particles with light. Dive into the fascinating history of London's Crystal Palace, which was built in record time thanks to standardized screws. Finally, scientists raise alarms over 33 ‘dark spots’ around the globe, home to countless unknown plant species, highlighting the critical need for exploration and conservation in biodiversity-rich areas.
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Quick takeaways
- MIT's chip-based tractor beam technology can revolutionize biological research by capturing and manipulating cells with minimal contamination risk.
- The swift construction of the Crystal Palace highlights how standardization in screw threads significantly enhances engineering efficiency and project timelines.
Deep dives
Innovative Chip-Based Tractor Beam
Engineers at MIT have developed a tiny tractor beam on a chip that captures and manipulates biological particles, such as cells, using light. This new technology leverages silicon photonics to create an array of microscale antennas, enabling scientists to trap particles several millimeters away from the chip's surface. Unlike traditional optical tweezers, which are bulky and require direct contact with samples, this chip-based system minimizes contamination risks and enhances data quality. It holds promise for numerous applications, including biological research, cell manipulation, and disease diagnosis, with initial successes demonstrated in trapping cancer cells.
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