🍭 Cancer-detecting lollipops, Boom Supersonic, 1st Neuralink tweet

How could flavored lollipops help in advancing mouth cancer detection? Well, according to a new study, they could have quite the impact — at least if they’re made from a certain hydrogel.

The approach could do away with the often invasive and uncomfortable traditional routes of diagnosing mouth cancer, such as biopsies and nasoendoscopy (inserting a flexible tube with a camera into the nose or mouth). For more on the method, check out today's Must Read.

🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on jobs.interestingengineering.com:

> Senior Software Engineer, Python
> Java Software Engineer

🎙 New podcast Voice of the Future: offline AI communication with Emmanuel Chaligné

Reading Time: 4 mins

Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? Subscribe here.

MUST READ

🍭 Flavored lollipops may offer non-invasive mouth cancer detection

At the heart of this breakthrough is a remarkable material known as a smart hydrogel. The lollipop is made with this hydrogel, and as a patient sucks on it, the hydrogel acts like a miniature fishing net.

It traps proteins in the saliva, and some of these proteins may act as biomarkers – indicators of potential cancer. Later, scientists can analyze the captured proteins in the lab to search for these telltale signs.

Faye Bishop, a tongue cancer survivor, knows firsthand the anxiety a biopsy can cause. Her journey highlights the importance of early diagnosis. That’s why she’s enthusiastic about the new “lollipop” diagnostic tool: “I think it’s brilliant because it will be much less daunting for people.”

🛩️ Boom’s demonstrator achieves successful flight, reviving hopes for supersonic travel

Boom Supersonic, an aviation business based in the U.S., took on an enormous project to develop the first independently developed supersonic jet in history.

Now, the startup has announced that its supersonic aircraft demonstrator, the XB-1, successfully completed a flight. XB-1 uses carbon fiber composites, sophisticated avionics, digitally tuned aerodynamics, and an advanced supersonic propulsion system.

The company is developing Overture, the world’s fastest airliner, which can fly at twice the speed of today’s airliners and is optimized to run on up to 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

🧠 Another Neuralink breakthrough: Man tweets with his mind

In another leap for neuroscience and assistive technology, Elon Musk’s Neuralink has achieved another milestone: Noland Arbaugh, a 29-year-old paralyzed in a diving accident, has become the first person to send a ‘tweet’ using only his thoughts.

Arbaugh originally received the implant in January. Earlier, Neuralink live-streamed the world’s first demonstration of a patient with the implant playing an online chess game, showcasing the extraordinary potential for restoring independence to those with paralysis.

Additionally, the device allowed him to play a video game, Civilization VI, for eight hours straight – an ability he had lost. While acknowledging the system isn’t perfect, Arbaugh emphasizes, “It has already changed my life.”

IE+ Love what you're reading? Join our vibrant online community, explore fascinating scientific breakthroughs, get special discounts and stay in the know with our exclusive weekly premium newsletter. Upgrade to IE+ for quality reporting beyond the headlines – plus, enjoy an Ad-Free experience. Try IE+ today for just $1 in the first month. Subscribe here

HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> The Simons Observatory is set to map the cosmic microwave background (CMB) also often referred to as the afterglow of the Big Bang, but this time with ten times the sensitivity of Europe’s Planck space probe. (More)

> A promising frontier in cancer research may soon prevent one of the world’s deadliest forms of the disease: lung cancer. Researchers are developing ‘LungVax’ for high-risk individuals. (More)

> Recent studies suggest that pregnancy may temporarily ‘age’ cells by as much as two years. Intriguingly, some of this cellular aging appears to reverse in the months after giving birth. (More)

ENERGY

> In a remarkable turn of events, legal experts have floated a proposal to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for the devastating impacts of climate change. (More)

> In a decisive move, the guardians of the world’s official geological timescale have rejected a proposal to add the Anthropocene epoch to the official timeline of our Earth’s history. (More)

> Engineers publish a new way to manufacture solar cells (also known as perovskite cells). The achievement could be critical for the commercialization of what many consider the next generation of solar technology. (More)

INNOVATION

> Researchers affiliated with Apple have been exploring doing away with the “Hey Siri” phrase to wake the virtual assistant, using AI instead. Can this mean a seamless, person-like future for virtual assistants? (More)

> A critical security weakness found in Apple’s custom M-series chips could leave Mac users vulnerable to hackers. Dubbed “GoFetch,” the flaw allows attackers to acquire cryptographic keys, which can then be used to unravel encrypted data. (More)

> Saudi Arabia's first humanoid robot, Sara, has been designed to avoid discussing sex or politics. Riyahd-based QSS AI & Robots created Sara using its own language learning model. (More)

VIDEO

> Here, IE explores how AI is changing the game in drug development. We look at Exscientia's breakthrough in treating an 82-year-old's resistant blood cancer — a credit to how personalized treatments and faster discoveries could be within reach. (More)

> This video gives you a round-up of the biggest recorded nuclear bomb explosions. From the 15-kiloton "Little Boy" to the astounding 50-megaton Tsar Bomba, these explosions changed the course of history. (More)

> Learn the genius technology behind noise-canceling headphones. IE explains the two types: noise-blocking (passive) and active noise-canceling (ANC). (More)

IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS

Hey there! Yesterday, we threw out a brain teaser on our socials: “What is the height of the fourth object?

The answer is: 40

Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on Instagram and Facebook! 

FROM THE WEB

> Rocket with astronauts from NASA and Russia blasts off from Kazakhstan days after launch dramatically aborted

> Sperm whales drop giant poop bombs to defend against killer whales

> Petrol and diesel drivers are ‘wasting half a gallon of fuel’ by making engine mistake

> Volvo’s electric cars to charge up to 30% faster thanks to spinout’s software

> Sensors made from ‘frozen smoke’ can detect toxic formaldehyde in homes and offices

> Future nuclear power reactors could rely on molten salts — but what about corrosion?