Ants could be the next line of defense against cancer.
A study published in the journal Proceedings of Royal Society B: Biological Sciences focused on Ants and their keen sense of smell. Ants use smell via their thin sensory appendages that sit on top of their heads to do almost everything, including hunt for food, spotting mates, and protecting their young.
In the study, scientists used pieces of a breast cancer tumor, which were grafted onto mice, and then trained 35 ants to associate urine from the infected mice with sugar. In analyzing, scientists detected that the ants would hover for longer periods of time near the sick mouse rather than the healthy one.
Using ants to detect cancers would be a cost-cutting tool. Currently, cancers are diagnosed by blood withdrawal, biopsies, and colonoscopies, which are all considered invasive as well as being expensive procedures. Utilizing ants to screen for cancer would be significantly more reasonable.
While dogs have similar capabilities in that they are able to detect cancer in humans through smell, they take much longer to train. Baptiste Piqueret, a postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Germany, said ants would be the ideal animal to use because they have good memories, are easy to train and don't bite.
Though progress has been made with ants and their cancer detection capabilities, there is still more research to be done on their efficacy. The next phase of the study will be human trials to see if ants are able to sniff out cancers through human excrement.
Space travel is growing rapidly, and one billionaire businessman has purchased three SpaceX flights in order to push the industry forward. The Polaris Dawn, the first of three flights, will launch later this year, and its crew will conduct the first commercial spacewalk after they've reached the highest orbit in over 50 years. Jared Isaacman, Polaris Program Mission Commander and Founder & CEO of Shift4, joins Closing Bell to discuss the Polaris program's mission, when the first launch will happen and what it will entail, balancing his business with space exploration efforts, charitable efforts with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and more.
The most recent quarterly report from American Clean Power reveals the U.S. surpassed more than 200 gigawatts of total operating utility-scale clean power capacity in 2021. While it is a great milestone, significant policy issues have continued to slow growth for the industry and threaten our country's ability to meet emissions goals. John Hensley, VP for Research and Analytics at American Clean Power, joined Cheddar News to discuss more.
Cann, a cannabis-infused beverage company, announced today a $27 million Series A funding round from existing investors like Imaginary Ventures and a roster of new celebrity investors including Nina Dobrev, Adam Devine, Zoey Deutch, Jordan Cooper, Sara Foster, and Rosario Dawson. Cann is also announcing its first international expansion with the brand's launch in Canada. Jake Bullock, co-founder and CEO of Cann, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
By 2050, nuclear power share of total energy consumption will dip to just 3.7% down from the already measly 4.5% it is today, according to the U. S. Energy Information Administration. However, a group of world powers including the U.S. and Japan is looking to reverse the trend. John Kotek, SVP of Policy Development and Public Affairs at the Nuclear Energy Institute, joined Cheddar News to discuss.
Scientists say the fossil of a 170-million-year-old pterosaur, billed as the world’s best-preserved skeleton of the prehistoric winged reptile, has been found on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.
Equip is a virtual treatment platform for eating disorders, and recently raised $58 million in a Series B round led by The Chernin Group. The company aims to revolutionize treatment for eating disorders by delivering virtual care teams and clinical expertise directly to families' homes. Equip says the need for its platform has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Eating Disorder Association's helpline has had a 107% increase in contacts since the start of the pandemic. Kristina Saffran, CEO and co-founder of Equip, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Tonga's main internet connection to the rest of the world has finally been restored more than five weeks after a huge volcanic eruption and tsunami severed a crucial undersea cable.
Hank the Tank strikes again. The 500-pound black bear that has damaged more than 30 properties around Lake Tahoe last week broke into yet another home in its endless quest for a quick meal.
