Health & Medicine
Humanoid robot cleans first US apartment
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How Turkey Hacked the Hair Transplant Industry
From specialized motors to the use of machine-learning algorithms, Turkey's billion-dollar hair-transplant industry is the result of a constant process of innovation. The astounding growth of the hair-transplant industry in Turkey is not just a medical tourism success story; it's also a tale of "hacked" medical equipment and algorithmic craftsmanship. From a biological and evolutionary perspective, human hair is often viewed as an unremarkable mass of keratin that still plays some important functions--protecting our scalps from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays and regulating our body temperatures--but, for the most part, is no longer essential to our survival. Yet, since ancient times, our subconscious perceptions of whether another person is healthy, young, or fertile have been based on visual cues such as skin radiance, the integrity of teeth, and hair density. Deep within our perceptions, hair has become one of the most powerful representations of our identity and self-confidence. Today, the global hair-transplant and restoration industry, which has evolved around this deep psychological and evolutionary need, has grown into a massive, multibillion-dollar industry. Various research firms have estimated the total size of the global hair-transplant market as sitting somewhere between $7.33 billion and $11.61 billion in 2024. And those figures don't include the underground economy.
Australian researchers teach brain cells to play 'Doom' video game
Australian researchers teach brain cells to play'Doom' video game Scientist Brett Kagan looks at cortical and hippocampal cells on cell culture plates as they attempt to decode morse code, at Cortical Labs' Physical Containment Level 2 laboratory in Melbourne. Melbourne - Australian researchers have trained lab-grown brain cells on a silicon computer chip to play the '90s shooter game Doom and say they are just scratching the surface of what the neurons could be capable of doing. It's the science-fiction work of biotech boffins at Cortical Labs, who researched and developed the technology that harnesses the workings of the brain's networking system. Each so-called "biological computer" contains around 200,000 living human brain cells, grown from stem cells that were harvested from blood donations. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
Experts urge Japan to use pictorial warnings on tobacco packages
With Sunday marking World No Tobacco Day designated by the World Health Organization, experts urge Japan to introduce pictorial warnings about the dangers of smoking on tobacco packages. Many countries require cigarette packages to display images warning of health hazards related to smoking, such as a blackened lung. But there is no such requirement in Japan. A survey by a team at Japan's health ministry has found that warning labels featuring images are more effective in discouraging smoking than text-only warnings. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
Japan to ban cannabis ingredient CBN from June
Starting in June, the health ministry will ban the manufacturing, sale, possession and use of the cannabis-derived compound cannabinol (CBN). Japan's health ministry is set to ban the production, sale, possession and use of cannabinol, or CBN, an ingredient derived from cannabis, from June. An animal experiment conducted following reports of apparent health hazards associated with CBN has found that the substance is highly likely to cause symptoms such as hallucinations. The ministry will regulate CBN as a designated drug under the pharmaceutical and medical devices law through a revision of a relevant ordinance. The amended ordinance is set to take effect in June. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
WHO chief urges safe burials in visit to heart of Ebola outbreak
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus washes his hands as he arrives at Bunia National Airport in Congo on May 30. BUNIA, Congo - The World Health Organization chief traveled on Saturday to the Congolese province hardest hit by an Ebola outbreak, urging residents to seek treatment and practice safe burials as officials scramble to contain the fatal disease. The outbreak -- the 17th in Congo and the third-largest since Ebola was discovered half a century ago -- is outpacing the global response, something WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged this week before traveling to Kinshasa on Thursday. His visit came as Brazil said on Saturday it was investigating a suspected Ebola case in Sao Paulo state involving a man who recently visited Congo. Authorities said the patient was in isolation at a specialist hospital. After meeting Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka on Friday, Tedros flew on Saturday to Bunia, capital of Ituri province, where the first cases were confirmed earlier this month.
An industry targeting Australia's ageing population is growing, but can AI deliver more humanity in aged care?
Abi uses AI and machine learning to interact with aged care and assisted living residents. Abi uses AI and machine learning to interact with aged care and assisted living residents. An industry targeting Australia's ageing population is growing, but can AI deliver more humanity in aged care? While companion robots are being introduced and virtual experiences hope to'take loneliness away', one expert agrees tech should never replace the human element "You'll never get rid of humans," Prof Wendy Moyle says, during a discussion about robots and other technology in aged care and residential homes. Then, a beat later, she adds: "Well, I don't we'll get rid of humans."