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.
Eisenhower’s interstate system was the biggest infrastructure project of its time. What justified the cost was its potential to connect all corners of America, but the unforeseen impacts of the highway system seemed to do the opposite of the intention.
Dr. Anne Zink, chief medical officer for the state of Alaska, spoke to Cheddar about Alaska's remarkable task of getting COVID vaccines to a widespread populace even as the state opens up eligibility to nearly everyone.
Jennifer Keesson, IKEA's U.S. sustainability manager, spoke to Cheddar about the retailer's ultimate goal of being climate positive by the start of the next decade.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy says Alaska has become the first state to drop eligibility requirements and allow anyone 16 or older who lives or works in the state to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
Fragments of a rare meteorite have been discovered in an English village. The discovery comes after residents were urged to check their gardens and neighborhoods after a meteor was seen shooting through the night sky last month.
Jeff King, senior director of global sustainability and social impact for Hersey's, talked to Cheddar about the candy giant's science-based plans to reduce its carbon footprint to tackle climate change.
Scientists have discovered that some Japanese sea slugs can grow whole new bodies if their heads are cut off.
Fully-vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing.
Child Benefit, Meghan and Harry Bombshells & Eminem vs. Gen Z
Lately, supermarkets are switching to a new type of line, and that line is much longer. However, according to queueing experts, that might not be a bad thing.
