Robot Nurses and Tractor Beam May Be Here Soon

In another example of Star Trek influencing real-life technology/research, NASA is spending $100,000 to analyze tractor beam techniques at its Goddard Space Flight center.  The article referenced discusses past research and intial successes with "optical tweezers" that can trap objects in small lasers.  Near-future applications could include installation of such devices on rovers to be sent to other worlds or deep space probes - allowing them to collect samples that otherwise would not be obtainable.  Personally, I like the idea of the "optical tweezers."  This could be a good term/technology for writers to use, especially if they want a credible tech basis for their writing.  When I first heard it, I was thinkinging mainly about healthcare applications - like optical surgery, but you make your own decisions.

Speaking of healthcare, Roomba owners might find this interesting.  Toyota and iRobot has developed a home-use "robot nurse" named Ava which could be available for purchase as early as 2013.  I must admit that the video attached to the article isn't exactly something to ooh and ah about.  Ava looks like a mobile broomstick/post with a tablet computer on top.  That tablet would seem to be the key as the iRobot CEO mentions can show the face of a doctor or actually connect to a real physician.  What isn't really mentioned is that this device could probably be easily adapted for healthcare monitoring.  I mean basic vitals could be taken with attachments (automatic blood pressure cuff, pulse sensor, pulse/ox meter, respiration...) that are currently used by medical professionals.

The robot article also shows an example of another device attached to a patient's leg from the knee to the foot.  The caption shows the device as something that could help patients walk, but not just by giving support and possible muscle enhancements.  Patients who undergo knee surgery could use this device as part of their rehab and reduce the time needed with a physical therapist.

I've discussed bigger examples of this type of technology in my Iron Man 1/2 post last year.  One thing I find interesting is the size difference between the device shown in the post developed last year and the picture of the device on the person's leg.  While there are obvious differences in functionality, it's still interesting how much more streamline the medical device is and it's technology is only one year newer.

Worms Bringing New Credibility to Life on Other Worlds

So called "worms from hell" may help unlock answers to the question about whether or not it's possible for life to exist on other worlds.  Nobody's saying that these worms were brought here be extraterrestrials of course.  Round worms called Nematodes were found about a mile underground in South African gold mines.  Nematodes are very resilient creatures, being found in all kinds of habitats:  polar, desert, along the ocean floor, in fresh water...

While it's not surprising to find worms underground, before now nobody thought that complex/multi-cellular life forms could exist in the harsh conditions that you would find so deep underground.  That's where the tie-in to life on other planets comes in according to author Marc Kaufman.  After all, if they can exist in such varied and harsh environments here on Earth, why not on other worlds?

Researchers Grow Brain Cells.

According to an article I read through the Fox News web site, researchers have reported success in growing brain cells.  That's right, brain cells.  The cells in are called astrocytes and can play an important role in diseases like dementia and others effecting the central nervous system (astrocytes are found in the brain and spinal cord).

Naturally I'm sharing this for what it could mean to writers of science fiction.  Technology to regrow brain cells could eventually lead to curing many brain-related illnesses, correcting brain damage suffered from accidents...

On another note, this article shows how quickly things we see as possible only in science fiction can quickly make the sci-fi technology obsolete.  Fans of Star Trek:  The Original Series will no doubt remember the episode "Spock's Brain" where Spock's brain is stolen and used to run an underground complex.  McCoy, with the help of an alien teaching device eventually puts Spock's brain back.  But with this technology, perhaps it would be possible in 200-300 years to regrow the brain.  Perhaps they could just download the consciousness. 

Another Star Trek reference is the Next Generation episode when Worf's spine is broken and an experimental treatment is used to regrow his spine.  In about 300 years, that could be more common than shown.

Okay, Worf and Spock aren't human, but that's not relevant.  In both shows, it was indicated that the situation would have been as dire for humans (or worse).  Who knows.  By the time those dates really come around, such repairs could be as routine as an appendectomy is now. 

The Zombie Brain

I recently stumbled across this cool article on the zombie brain - how sci fi teaches science.  Some interesting components include references to child psychiatrist, Dr. Steven Schlozman's new novel "The Zombie Autopsies."  While I'm not a big reader of zombie novels (although I love AMC's Walking Dead), I'm always interested in the perspective of experts turning up the science fiction in their fields or related fields.  Schlozman's novel seems to use a one-part resident evil, one part cold virus in that the virus was deliberately engineered but can be passed without taking a bite out of helpless victims.

Inserting some facts, the virus would have to completely destroy the frontal lobes to take away higher reasoning and logic functions.  If you've watched Walking Dead, you may remember a scene in the secret CDC bunker where the scientist was experimenting with zombie blood and had actually scanned his own wife's brain as she deteriorated, died, and turned zombie.  The scene showed the scan of her brain as it shut down and then only a small part started working again.

The article goes on to discuss how such a virus would be made, how we'd probably fight back, and even ties it to actual infectious diseases we face today.

Overall, and interesting article and a promising premise for the book.  If the book is half as intriguing as this article, it should be a great read.