Cancer researchers accidentally discover cure for baldness, gray hair

A group of scientists from the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, were set on discovering how cancer tumors form.

But in the process of doing so, the team found a genetic cure for baldness and hair graying.

According to a report from The Sun, the breakthrough was made possible after multiple cellular experiments with lab mice.

After certain cells were removed, the mice became bald, while deleting a gene in the cells turned its hair white.

“Although this project was started in an effort to understand how certain kinds of tumors form, we ended up learning why hair turns gray and discovering the identity of the cell that directly gives rise to hair,” said Dr. Lu Le, associate professor of dermatology at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

“With this knowledge, we hope in the future to create a topical compound or to safely deliver the necessary gene to hair follicles to correct these cosmetic problems,” he added.

Furthermore, the study revealed that the protein called KROX20—a vital key in nerve development—was primarily responsible for turning skin cells into hair follicles.

The group’s findings were recently published in the Genes and Development journal.  Khristian Ibarrola /ra

source: technology.inquirer.net

New 3D printer can print carbon fiber, fiberglass, nylon

The world's first carbon-fiber printer now exists!

Printer company Mark Forged unveiled the Mark One 3D printer, the world’s first 3D printer designed to print carbon fiber layer-by-layer, at SolidWorks World 2014 held in San Diego in late January.

Carbon fiber is a lightweight but extremely strong material used in the manufacturing of cars, bicycles, and aerospace equipment like shuttles and rockets.

According to an article on Extreme Tech, carbon fiber is among the most expensive materials to use because of the painstakingly tedious process of molding or winding it.


The Mark One can also print fiberglass, nylon, and Poly Lactic Acid (PLA), a material used in normal 3D printing.

Mark Forged claims the 3D parts printed by Mark One are 20 times stiffer and five times stronger than ABS, another commonly 3D-printed material. This is because the printed objects are allegedly "packed with tens of thousands of full length, continuous carbon fiber strands."

This technology can be used from making medical prosthetics to hobbyist drone manufacturing, an article from Gizmodo said.

Mark One has a price tag of $5,000 and is available for pre-order starting February. The units will be shipped some time in the second half of the year. — Kim Luces/JDS, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Windows 8.1 supports 3D printing

Better support for 3D printing may be one of the major features of Microsoft's upcoming flagship operating system Windows 8.1.

Microsoft vice president Antoine Leblond announced the new feature at the company's Build 2013 keynote, tech site Mashable reported.

"In Windows 8.1, developers will be able to build 3D printer support into their apps through the new API. For users, that means fewer pieces of software to install, and over time, more apps that will work with 3D printers," Mashable said.

The report said Leblond demonstrated the capability with a MakerBot 3D printer hooked up to a PC running Windows 8.

He said a user could just select the Devices icon from the Windows 8 Charms menu, then the printer.

Leblond showed printing an object from a generic 3D rendering app, Mashable said.

"He also pointed out two printers that were supported, the MakerBot Replicator 2, coming soon to Microsoft Stores, and the 3D systems Cube, which retails for less than $1,300 at Staples," it added. — TJD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com