The resin honeybees use to repair holes in their hives has been shown to halt the growth of prostate cancer cells in the lab
Get your fill
Imagine a tooth filling that not only stops up cavities but also kills the harmful bacteria that caused them in the first place and helps teeth to regrow. That’s just what US dental research scientists have managed to create using nanotechnology. What’s more the researchers say these new anti-bacterial fillings should last longer than the typical five to 10 years. So far the research is only in the lab, but in a few years it could be coming to a dental surgery near you.
Keep talking
We all do it. And now it seems that talking to yourself – or self-directed speech as psychologists call it – can help you remember, especially, when you can’t find something you’ve mislaid, like your reading glasses. So next time try muttering “Specs, specs, specs,” and just ignore the strange looks from the family.
Drive on
We all want to carry on driving for as long as we can, but the natural slowing of reactions as we age means that some of us are inevitably forced off the road. Enter The DriveLAB. The brainchild of Newcastle researchers, this specially kitted out electric car is helping them to come up with technological solutions to the many challenges we increasingly face behind the wheel. Bespoke navigation tools, night vision systems and intelligent speed adaptions could all be on the cards.
Hive off prostate cancer
US researchers have pinpointed a compound in propolis, a resin honeybees use to repair holes in their hives, which halts the growth of prostate cancer cells in the lab. It’s thought to work by closing down the tumour cells’ ability to find the nutrients they need to grow and multiply.
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