Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Summer sun safety

A recent study published in Dermatologic Surgery reveals a significant link between summer sun exposure and the development of melanoma. Sun protective measures such as sunscreen and clothing are necessary to prevent skin cancer, despite controversy surrounding current guidelines.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalDermatologic Surgery·DateMay 9, 2006

Study first to show potential of light-activated gene therapy for knee injuries

Researchers have made progress toward a new form of light-activated gene therapy for cartilage repair, which is safe and compatible with existing surgical techniques. The therapy uses UV light to target specific cells and promote tissue growth, offering hope for treating knee injuries and potentially other conditions.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalJournal of Bone and Joint Surgery·DateApr 24, 2006

A bathroom that cleans itself

UNSW researchers have created a new type of self-cleaning coating using titanium dioxide nanoparticles. The coating uses visible light to kill Escherchia coli and break down organic compounds, reducing the need for chemical agents. Lab trials show promising results, paving the way for further testing and potential industrial applications.

Young athletes ignore skin cancer risk

A recent study by Dr. Brian Adams found that 85% of NCAA soccer players and cross-country runners did not use sunscreen during practice, despite being at high risk for sun-related skin cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that most cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer diagnosed yearly in the US are sun-related.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology·DateAug 15, 2005

Photoemission 100 years after Einstein

The photoelectric effect, first explained by Einstein in 1905, has become a crucial tool for understanding the properties of matter. The new issue of New Journal of Physics features research on hot electrons and high-temperature superconductors, demonstrating its relevance to tailored electronic materials.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateApr 29, 2005

Smart plastics change shape with light

Researchers at MIT have developed a new family of materials that can change shape in response to light, offering potential for minimally invasive surgery and other applications. The polymers use molecular switches that bind together when exposed to UV light, allowing them to maintain their shape until the light is switched off.

X-rays have become laser-like

Austrian-German collaboration creates laser-like X-rays with a compact laboratory apparatus, breaking the nanometer barrier. The technology has the potential to improve X-ray imaging in biology and medicine, enabling early-stage cancer diagnosis at reduced risk and higher resolution.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateFeb 15, 2005

Melanin makes skin vulnerable to harmful ultraviolet rays

Research finds that melanin in hair follicles can increase cell death in response to UV radiation, depending on its color. The study used mice with engineered pigmentation to demonstrate this effect, suggesting that people with darker skin may not be as vulnerable to skin cancer as those with fair skin.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 13, 2004

Light oscillations become visible

Scientists have developed a technique to visualize the electric field of visible light, measuring its variation with unprecedented resolution. This breakthrough enables direct and accurate measurement of ultrabroad-band light pulses, opening doors to new applications in molecular electronics and X-ray lasers.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateAug 27, 2004

Light turns on anticancer agents

Virginia Tech researchers have developed light-activated therapy agents that are oxygen independent, overcoming a limitation in photodynamic therapy. The new agents are activated by visible light and have been studied in cell cultures, showing promising results.