Guest: Dr. Andrew Cohen, Associate Professor at Drexel University, discusses his work on creating new software and programs to track stem cell lineages using time lapse video data. Resources and Links Antidepressants plus Blood-Thinners Slow Down Brain Cancer – Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne scientists found that combining antidepressants with anticoagulants slows down brain tumors in mice. Seasonal Body Clocks Are Controlled By 'Calendar Cells': Scientists Identify Proteins that Determine When Mammals Mate – According to this article, experts found that “calendar cells” in a structure called the 'pars tuberalis' respond according to how much daylight there is and can change dramatically over the year, driving the seasonal reproductive cycle. Wine's Darkest Secret Revealed - It's All in the Fungi – This article reveals that a type of yeast called Saccharomyces cerevisiae, makes a "small but significant" contribution to a wine's flavor and taste. Edges of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Colonies Display Distinct Mechanical Properties and Differentiation Potential – This article describes the results found after the live imaging of the differentiation process of human embryonic stem cells, and reveals that cells on the outer edge of the undifferentiated colony begin to differentiate first and remain on the perimeter of the colony to eventually form a band of differentiation. Orthostatic Hypotension May Indicate Neurological Disease – According to this article, orthostatic hypotension may be an early warning sign of a serious neurological disease and may be associated with an increased risk of premature death. Why People in 'Tall' Nations Are More Likely to Be Slim – Researchers from Australia looked at nearly 9,500 people in 14 European countries and found a strong connection between genes that boost height and those associated with lower amounts of body fat. Salsalate Drug Offers New Hope for Treating Alzheimer's Disease and FTD – Scientists from the Gladstone Institutes discovered that salsalate, a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, effectively reversed tau-related dysfunction in an animal model of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). A Barrier against Brain Stem Cell Aging – Scientists from the University of Zurich identified a diffusion barrier that regulates the sorting of damaged proteins during cell division. New Study Finds Brain Disease in 95% of Deceased NFL Players – Researchers found evidence of brain disease in 95% of brains tested belongs to former NFL players with the repeated minor head trauma as the biggest risk to neurological health for footballers. Pinpointing Punishment – This study describes a new study co-authored by Joshua Buckholtz, an Assistant Professor of Psychology, René Marois, professor and chair of psychology at Vanderbilt and colleagues, explaining how a brain region called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex coordinates third party punishment decisions of the type made by judges and juries. UK Scientists Apply for License to Edit Genes in Human Embryos – Scientists from London’s Francis Crick Institute have asked for permission to edit the genomes of human embryos use CRISPR/Cas9 technology — a request that could lead to the world’s first approval of such research by a national regulatory body. New Technique Lets Scientists Better See, Study Interface Where Two Cells Touch – University of Buffalo researchers and their colleagues at other institutions conducted a study to better understand myelin and the fatty insulator that enables communication between nerve cells. They studied how damage to myelin occurs, and how that damage may be repaired. Sonogenetics Is a Non-Invasive Approach to Activating Neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans – Researchers demonstrate the use of low-pressure ultrasound as a non-invasive trigger to activate specific ultrasonically sensitized neurons in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. Stem Cell Manufacturing Now Ready – This article announces the availability of ma...

Guest: Dr. Scott Noggle, VP of Stem Cell Research at The New York Stem Cell Foundation discusses his automated system for making iPS cells. Dr. Noggle applies new advances in pluripotent stem cell biology and cell reprogramming to the creation of human models of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease to discover new disease targets. Resources and Links Reversing Muscle Atrophy with Food: Eating Apples, Green Tomatoes May Increase Muscle Strength – Researchers from the University of Iowa discovered that the ursolic acid in apple peels and tomatidine compounds in the skin of green tomatoes prevented muscle atrophy — the loss of muscle mass due to the natural aging process — by turning off the problematic protein ATF4. Homo naledi, a New Species of the Genus Homo from the Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa – According to this article, Berger et al. report the recent discovery of an extinct species from the genus Homo naledi that was unearthed from deep underground in what has been named the Dinaledi Chamber, in the Rising Star cave system in South Africa. Neurodegeneration: Amyloid-Β Pathology Induced in Humans – This article reveals that people who died of the neurodegenerative condition Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease after treatment with cadaver-derived human growth hormone also developed some of the pathological traits of Alzheimer's disease. Nearsightedness Develops When Kids with Specific Gene Read a Lot – This article suggests that when children with a certain gene spend much of their time doing activities that involve close work such as reading, they are more likely to develop nearsightedness. Brazilian Wasp Venom Kills Cancer Cells by Opening Them Up – In this article, a study reveals exactly how the social wasp Polybia paulista venom's toxin - called Polybia-MP1 - selectively kills cancer cells without harming normal cells. Neuroscientists Locate 'Alcoholism Neurons' in the Brain – According to this article, alcohol consumption alters the structure and function of neurons in an area of the brain called the dorsomedial striatum. New Strategy to Lower Blood Sugar May Help in Diabetes Treatment​ – Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggest a different strategy to lower blood sugar: by slowing the production of glucose in the liver. Tree Resin Research Offers New Epilepsy Treatment Potential – Researchers in Sweden published innovative new research that details how certain types of tree resin might contain substances with the potential to relieve or cure epilepsy. A New Factor in Depression? Brain Protein Discovery Could Lead to Better Treatments – This article points out that the discovery, about a protein called fibroblast growth factor 9 goes against previous findings that depressed brains often have less of key components than non-depressed brains. Sleep Deprivation Quadruples Your Risk of Catching a Cold – This article describes how sleep deprivation is greatly detrimental to your health, making you four times more likely to catch a cold. Researchers Explore Memory Problems Related to Parkinson's – This article reports that many people with Parkinson's disease have memory problems. The Earth Has 3 Trillion Trees, Study Finds – A study led by Yale University estimates the Earth is home to 3 trillion trees – more than what was previously believed. Automated, High-Throughput Derivation, Characterization and Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells – The authors demonstrate that automated reprogramming and the pooled selection of polyclonal pluripotent cells results in high-quality, stable induced pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Procedures Need More Oversight – This article suggests that federal officials need to do more to prevent for-profit stem cell clinics from exploiting and potentially injuring patients, according to an article published in a leading medical journal. Masayo Takahashi Is Awarded Inaugural Ogawa-Yamanaka Stem Cell Prize Cent...

Guest: Dr. Flora Vaccarino from Yale University joins the show to discuss stem cells and autism, specifically her work on neural stem cells and how she is using them to study Autism Spectrum Disorder. Resources and Links Citizen Science Effort Highlights How Little We Know about Invisible Life in Our Own Homes – Scientists are announcing the discovery of thousands of unidentified species living in and around homes in the United States. Reprogramming Cancer Cells Back to Normal Looks Feasible, Study Shows – A new study in Nature Cell Biology suggests there may be a way to change the code so that cancer cells revert back to normal cells. Does This Phylum Make Me Look Fat? – Beyond carbs and fats, some studies have hinted that a key group of gut microbes — from the phylum Firmicutes — might be more common among people who are overweight. Identifying The Gene Switch That Turns Fat Cells Bad – This article reports that using state-of-the-art DNA editing tools, scientists have identified a genetic switch that helps govern the body’s metabolism. Human Brain Grown in a Lab Could Be Most Complete Yet – Scientists developed a miniature brain in the lab that was grown from the skin cells of an adult human and, incredibly, boasts 99% of the genes found in a human fetal brain. Science of Making Memories: Part of Your Hippocampus Decides Which Experiences are New or Different Versions of the Same – This article reveals that the CA3 region, a region of the hippocampus, decides what you will and can remember by answering the question: Is it the same or is it different? Major Publisher Retracts 64 Scientific Papers in Fake Peer Review Outbreak – In the latest episode of the fake peer review phenomenon, one of the world’s largest academic publishers, Springer, has retracted 64 articles from 10 of its journals after discovering that their reviews were linked to fake e-mail addresses. Safeguarding Gene Drive Experiments in the Laboratory – Multiple stringent confinement strategies should be used whenever possible in creating gene drive systems. Estimating the Reproducibility of Psychological Science – Scientists conducted a large-scale, collaborative effort to obtain an initial estimate of the reproducibility of psychological science. Adding Chili To Food Really CAN Help You Lose Weight: Compound In Fiery Peppers Tells The Body It's Full, Preventing Over-Eating – Eating chili peppers can activate the stomach to stretch and release the 'full-feeling' signals, stimulating a receptor called potential vanilloid 1 channel protein which stops a person from overeating. FDA Approves Addyi, a Libido Pill for Women – FDA approved the first prescription drug to enhance women’s sexual drive. Biogen, Columbia to Map ALS Disease Genes With Ice Bucket Money – Biogen Inc. and Columbia University Medical Center will map the genes and clinical traits of 1,500 people with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in an attempt to find a treatment for the devastating neurodegenerative disorder. Stem Cells Survive Wild Ride on Prototype Space Capsule – Despite a rough landing, stem cells riding in a prototype capsule called the RED-4U survived a long fall back to Earth during a drop test — part of an initiative to research the cells in space. Humanized Mice Reveal Differential Immunogenicity of Cells Derived from Autologous Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells – Using a humanized mouse model (denoted Hu-mice) reconstituted with a functional human immune system, researchers demonstrate that most teratomas formed by autologous integration-free human induced pluripotent stem cells exhibit local infiltration of antigen-specific T cells and associated tissue necrosis, indicating immune rejection of certain hiPSC-derived cells. Landmark IPSC Clinical Study On Hold Due to Genomic Issue – This article reports that the pioneering induced pluripotent stem cell (IPSC) clinical study in Japan led by top stem cell clinical researcher Dr. Masayo Takahashi has been stopped due to mutat...

Guest: Dr. Chris Armstrong, CEO of Stem Cell Theranostics, joins the hosts to discuss his company and how they are using iPSCs to model cardiovascular disease. Resources and Links Elusive Liver Stem Cell Identified in Mice by Researchers – Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine identified a cell type in the liver of mice that can both self-renew and make new liver cells. Can Crime Scene Compound Stop Malaria? – Luminol, the glowing compound detectives spray at crime scenes to find trace amounts of blood, may one day be used to kill the malaria parasite. Anti-Smoking Bacteria Found to Eat Nicotine – Scientists discovered anti-smoking bacteria called Pseudomas putida that eat nicotine before it reaches the brain. How To Reach 'Extreme Old Age': Scientists Reveal the Secret of Living to 100 Years Old – There is a good chance centenarians and super-centenarians - those who live to 105 and longer - will pass on their 'long life' genes on to their children. Non-Magnetic Metals Turned Magnetic in Groundbreaking Research – A team of scientists led by the University of Leeds has been able to turn the non-magnetic materials manganese and copper magnetic. Study Offers First Genetic Analysis of People with Extremely High Intelligence – The first ever genetic analysis of people with extremely high intelligence has revealed small but important genetic differences between some of the brightest people in the United States and the general population. 3D Brain Map Reveals Connections Between Cells in Nano-Scale – Scientists have created an unprecedented high-resolution map of the brain that reveals structures as small as those found in individual nerve cells. Stem Cells Help Researchers Determine Toxicity of Pollution – The effects of BPA on mouse stem cells could be detected and measured in lab tests by researchers. MicroRNA-153 Regulates the Acquisition of Gliogenic Competence by Neural Stem Cells – This article shows that miR-mediated fine control of nuclear factor I A/B expression is important in the molecular networks that regulate the acquisition of gliogenic competence by neural stem/progenitor cells in the developing CNS. Activating Endogenous Neural Precursor Cells Using Metformin Leads to Neural Repair and Functional Recovery in a Model of Childhood Brain Injury – Metformin activates endogenous neural precursor cells in the neonatal brain. A Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Hemogenic Endothelium Reveals Differential Regulation of Hematopoiesis by SOX17 – This article states that proteomics accurately identifies regulatory proteins in hematopoietic progenitors. Genome Editing. The Mutagenic Chain Reaction: A Method For Converting Heterozygous To Homozygous Mutations – In this article, researchers developed a method called the mutagenic chain reaction, which is based on the CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing system for generating autocatalytic mutations, to produce homozygous loss-of-function mutations. Caution Urged over Editing DNA in Wildlife (Intentionally Or Not) – This article discusses the effects of rapid alteration of gene pools which could fight disease but can harm ecosystems. Automated, High-Throughput Derivation, Characterization And Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells – Researchers demonstrate that automated reprogramming and the pooled selection of polyclonal pluripotent cells results in high-quality, stable induced pluripotent stem cells. Prediction Of Drug-Induced Nephrotoxicity and Injury Mechanisms with Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cells and Machine Learning Methods – This article describes how the researchers developed a rapid 1-step protocol for the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into proximal tubular-like cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Chris Armstrong

Guest: For this episode, we bring on internationally recognized stem cell pioneer Dr. George Daley from Children’s Hospital Boston and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute to discuss all things stem cells. Resources and Links New Ebola Vaccine Has ‘100 Percent’ Effectiveness in Early Results – Researchers announced promising results of a new vaccine’s trial called Ebola ça Suffit — French for “Ebola that’s enough” funded by World Health Organization, in Guinea, one of several countries affected by a historic outbreak in West Africa. Synthetic Ribosome Can Keep Bacteria Alive – According to this article, scientists have engineered a tethered ribosome that works nearly as well as the real thing—an organelle that produces all the proteins and enzymes within the cell. Anxiety and Depression Caused By Stress Linked to Gut Bacteria Living in Intestines, Scientists Find – Anxious and depressive behavior brought on by exposure to stress in early life appears only to be triggered if microbes are present in the gut. Scientists Have Discovered the Taste of Fat and Say It Could Hold the Key to Tackling Obesity – Scientists describe the taste of fat as a unique and unpleasant taste called oleogustus, and suggest that its identification could lead to new ways of fighting obesity and heart disease, and to the creation of improved fat replacements. Study Shows Glitazone Antidiabetic Drug May Reduce Risk of Parkinson’s Disease – Researchers found that diabetes patients taking glitazone antidiabetes drugs (either rosiglitazone or pioglitazone) had a 28% lower incidence of Parkinson’s disease than people taking other treatments for diabetes who had never taken glitazones. Long-term Memories Are Maintained by Prion-like Proteins – Research from Eric Kandel’s lab at Columbia University Medical Center reveals that different prions are critical for the long-term storage of memories. Astronomers Spot Black Hole So big, It Defies Current Theories of Galaxy Evolution – This article describes the discovery of a galaxy called CID-947 with a black hole that makes up 10% of its mass has left scientists dumbfounded, possibly overturning current theories of how galaxies evolve. Physicists Confirm Existence of Rare Pentaquarks – Professors Sheldon Stone and Tomasz Skwarnicki, doctoral student Nathan Jurik and former University research associate Liming Zhang are on the team that has confirmed the existence of two rare pentaquark states. Should Aborted Foetuses Be Used for Stem Cell Research? –Recent incident where US company Planned Parenthood was found to be offering foetal tissue to buyers without the parents’ knowledge has raised serious ethical questions around the use of foetuses in stem cell research. Four Stem-Cell Stocks With Promise – Reni Benjamin, a biotech analyst at Raymond James Financial shared four stem cell stocks that has upside potential in the second half of the year. From Dish to Bedside: Lessons Learned While Translating Findings from a Stem Cell Model of Disease to a Clinical Trial – Scientists share lessons while taking a discovery made using iPSCs into a clinical trial. Scientists Create Functional Liver Cells from Stem Cells – Scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Alexander Grass Center for Bioengineering report that they produced large amounts of functional liver cells from human embryonic and genetic engineered stem cells. Researchers Create Model of Early Human Heart Development from Stem Cells – UC Berkeley researchers, in collaboration with scientists at the Gladstone Institutes, have developed a template for growing beating cardiac tissue from stem cells, creating a system that could serve as a model for early heart development and as a drug-screening tool to make pregnancies safer. Stem Cells Could Treat Mitochondrial Disease – Researchers generated human stem cells in the lab, repaired common mitochondrial defects, and reported they were able to rescue cell function.

Guest: In this episode we give you the second part of our broadcast live from the ISSCR 2015 International Conference from Stockholm, Sweden. On the show, we randomly pull attendees aside and ask them to us their stem cell story, and detail some of their research topics and accomplishments. Some of those interviewed on the show include Dr. Sean Morrison, the President of ISSCR, and Dr. Paul Tesar of Case Western Reserve University. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: In this episode we broadcast live from the ISSCR 2015 International Conference from Stockholm, Sweden.  On the show, we randomly pull attendees aside and ask them to us their stem cell story, and detail some of their research topics and accomplishments.  Everyone from graduate students, post-docs, patients who have received stem cell transplants, to big name researchers, we get them all. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: In this episode we discuss topics ranging from, more sports stars getting stem cell therapy, a mutation that eliminates prion disease, a perspective on aging by studying stem cells, chimps getting drunk in the wild on there own, a Nobel laureate who made awful comments regarding women in science and your birthdate as a predictor of disease. Resources and Links Scientists Film Death of White Blood Cell for First Time and Discover Alert System – Australian and US scientists capture on video each stage of death of a human white blood cell, revealing the dying cells apparently try to alert their neighbors by ejecting molecules into nearby cells, possibly to alert them to the potential presence of a pathogen. Sun like It Hot: Philae Comet Probe Wakes up, Phones Home Again – European Space Agency has confirmed that the Philae probe on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko has been in contact again, and that the lander is getting more than enough sunshine on its solar panels to power itself continuously. Molecules Reach Coldest Temperature Ever – This article describes how the MIT researchers chilled a gas of sodium potassium 500 nanokelvin. New Study: Chimps Go Bananas over Palm Wine – Scientists report that chimps in western Africa have taken to purloining drinks from vats of palm wine left unguarded by humans. Autism Risk May Be Influenced by Age Gap Between Parents – Researchers have demonstrated with the largest ever multinational study of parental age and autism risk that the children of teen mothers, older parents and parents with an age gap of ten years or more have a higher risk of autism spectrum disorder than other children. Nobel Prize-winning Professor Tim Hunt Resigns after Sexist Remarks about 'Girls' in Lab – The Nobel Prize-winning biochemist Tim Hunt stepped down from his position at the University College London after making sexist comments at the World Conference of Science Journalists in South Korea. Your Birth Month May Predict Your Health Issues: Heart Disease Rates Higher March to June – This article explores the relationship between the month a person is born and their risk for disease according to the algorithm created by scientists from Columbia University. Traditional Medicine: Thunder God Vine as Potential Obesity Treatment – An extract from the thunder god vine, long used in traditional Chinese medicine, reduces food intake and causes up to a 45% decrease in body weight in obese mice because of its weight-loss compound called Celastrol, which produces its potent effects by enhancing the action of an appetite-suppressing hormone called leptin. Virotherapy: Skin Cancer Successfully Treated with Herpes-Based Drug – This article describes how 'virotherapy' uses modified herpes virus to attack melanoma cells and has potential to overcome cancer even when disease has spread throughout the body. Pop Music's Most Important Revolution? That Would be Hip-Hop, Science Reveals – Engineers and biologists analyzed 17,000 digitized songs from Billboard’s Hot 100 to produce an evolutionary history of American popular music and determined that Hip-Hop was more influential than Beatles. Genes Make Some People More Attractive to Mosquitoes – Certain body odors appear to entice the mosquitoes and those smells may be hereditary. Stanford Stem Cell Product, Delayed for More than a Decade, to Be Tested Again – Stanford’s Irv Weissman is said to resume his research after a decade of delay in creating a unique way to grow and deliver blood stem cells to desperate patients with aggressive cancers, boosting survival rates. Former NFL Quarterback Bart Starr Took Part in Stem Cell Trial – Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr is participating in a clinical trial using stem cells as a possible treatment for strokes. Avocado a Treatment for Leukemia? Fruit Molecules Found to Target Stem Cells of Cancer – Scientists have learned that avocado lipids used in making a compound named avocation B can help treat leukemia ...

Guest: Heather Rooke, Science Director at ISSCR previews the 2015 ISSCR conference in Stockholm, Sweden. Resources and Links Sawfish Resort to Virgin Births to Dodge Extinction – Scientists have discovered that some of the smalltooth sawfish have resorted to "virgin births" or what is called facultative parthenogenesis in the wild in an effort to survive. First Steps Taken for Regenerating Whole Limbs – The first steps toward developing "bioartificial" replacement limbs that are suitable for transplantation have reportedly been taken by a team at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Study Uncovers Link Between Blood Type and Risk of Cognitive Decline – This article reveals that blood type also may affect cognitive function as we age according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Sheffield in England. 'Landmark Discovery' of Vessels Connecting Brain to Immune System – The University of Virginia claim that "decades of textbook teaching" have been overturned by their researchers, who have found a previously undiscovered connection between the brain and the immune system. ‘Female Viagra’ Won’t Help Many, but That’s Not Stopping the Drug Company – This article describes the transition of Flibanserin, a pill initially intended to be an anti-depressant, to be marketed as a ‘female viagra’ or a pill to increase women’s sexual desires. Ubble: The Online Test to Predict If You'll Die Within Five Years – According to this article, if you are a middle-aged man and want to know if you are going to die in the next five years, you simply need to ask yourself how healthy you think you are based on the website called Ubble (for UK Longevity Explorer). How an Undergraduate Discovered Tubes of Plasma in the Sky – This article describes the discovery of tubes of plasma drifting above Earth by an undergraduate student – Cleo Loi of Sydney Institute for Astronomy. The Philosophy of the Large Hadron Collider – The Large Hadron Collider at the European Organization for Nuclear Research CERN in Geneva has been built for fundamental physics, but it will also challenge and advance the philosophy, sociology and history of science. This Smart Robot Learns to 'Heal' Itself after Damage – Researchers at Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris recently published their paper detailing their findings of attempting to quantify the adaptive "healing" abilities of certain robots. It's Alive! Yeast with Human DNA Raises New Genetic Possibilities – Edward Marcotte and his colleagues at the University of Texas at Austin created hundreds of strains of humanized yeast by inserting a single human gene into each strain and turning off the corresponding yeast gene. Retracted Gay-Marriage Study Debated at Misconduct Meet-Up – This article reports that over rum cocktails at the World Conference on Research Integrity, experts discussed what can be learnt from the fallout of a flawed political-science paper. 430,000-Year-Old Skull Suggests Murder Is an 'Ancient Human Behavior' – Archaeologists found an ancient skull deep in a cave in Spain, thought to be an evidence of the earliest known murder among our ancestors. Fetal Cells Injected into a Man's Brain to Cure His Parkinson's – This article shows a man in his mid-50s who had fetal brain cells injected into his brain as a treatment for Parkinson's disease. Nature vs. Nurture: Research Shows it’s Both – Researchers reveal that on average the variation for human traits and diseases is 49 percent genetic, and 51 percent due to environmental factors and/or measurement errors. Gene-Editing: Hold Off for Now, White House Says – The White House suggests that scientists should hold off on experiments that could permanently alter people's DNA and pass the changes along to future generations. Seminar Series on Stem Cells Begins June 24th – The Dallas PRP and Stem Cell Institute announces a new public seminar series to educate the public about the latest breakthrough applications for platelet rich plasma...

Guest: Alex Hannay, product manager at Thermo Fisher talks about the process of differentiation from pluripotent stem cells and new products that could help. Resources and Links This Genetically Modified Yeast Can Now Brew Morphine – Biologists in California and Canada have created strains of yeast that can feast on sugar and make opiates – the key ingredients in pain relievers like morphine. Juvenile Plasticity Returned to Adult Mice Brains – UC Irvine scientists have managed to make an old brain young again by transplanting a type of embryonic neuron into the brains of adult mice. Why Do Men Still Exist? Scientists Finally Find the Answer – This article suggests that sexual competition for mates keeps populations healthy, free of disease and genetically diverse. Discovery of Rare Quadruple Quasar System Baffles Astronomers – Astronomers have discovered four of the rare, super-luminous celestial objects known as quasars arrayed in close proximity to one another. New Test Detects Drug Use from a Single Fingerprint – This article describes a new, non-invasive test presented by researchers that can detect cocaine use through a simple fingerprint. Ocata Therapeutics Announces Positive Results in Treating Macular Degeneration Using Fully Differentiated Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) Cells in Asian Patients – Ocata Therapeutics, Inc. announces a study that has been published that includes top-line, positive results in Asian patients who were treated with Ocata’s proprietary RPE cells, manufactured using its DeltaCell™ Technology. First Database of Brain-cell Types Released by Allen Institute – Seattle’s Allen Institute for Brain Science has released the first database of brain cell types, along with new analysis to improve treatment of deadly brain cancer. 'Brain Wiring' May Influence Ability to Quit Smoking Successfully – Researchers from Duke Medicine in Durham, NC found that even with the help of nicotine replacement therapy and other smoking cessation aids, some smokers are just unable to quit the habit because their brains are not hard-wired to. Drug-Resistant Strain of 'Superbug' Typhoid Spreads Worldwide – An antibiotic-resistant "superbug" strain of typhoid fever has spread globally, driven by a single family of the bacteria, called H58. Male Sperm Cells Grown for First Time: French Laboratory – Scientists from Kallistem, a company in Lyon, France had successfully transformed scraps of genetic material into fully functioning sperm. Gordie Howe Still at Center of Stem Cell Controversy – This article discusses the controversy and debate between the families of John Brodie and Gordie Howe who received stem cell treatments after suffering from massive strokes and other skeptics. Stem-Cell Clinics Spread Rapidly – More than 170 clinics across the country are selling experimental stem-cell procedures for dozens of diseases and conditions – a mushrooming industry that has flourished despite little evidence of its safety or effectiveness. Doubts Cast on 'Rejuvenating' Protein – The Novartis group say the Harvard group’s explanation is wrong, although the group does not question that young blood renews old mice, they casts doubt on the assays used in the earlier research and suggests that GDF11 actually inhibits muscle regeneration. Human Stem-Cell Images as Fashion? – Human stem cells have taken on new roles at the University of Michigan — brilliant blue fashion accessories specifically silk scarves and ties bearing images of microscopic stem cells, their nuclei a fluorescent turquoise on a cobalt backdrop. Stem Cells Could Provide a Treatment for a 'Broken Heart' – This article describes the research done by scientists studying the adult stem cells in mice that can develop into heart cells paving the way to improved heart condition. Bone Healing in Diabetics Could Be Enhanced through Human Stem Cells – Adding stem cells from human bone marrow could enhance the repair process of broken bones in patients with ...