Event 2: The Tech Museum

For my second event, I visited the Tech Museum in San Jose. 

Proof of attendance

 

A "super schnoz" indeed

An exhibit named “Sensing with a Sniff” caught my eye. An engineer named Billy Boyle, driven to develop cheaper and easier cancer-detecting technology after his wife underwent emergency surgery for advanced colon cancer, turned to the tools he had on hand. His company, Owlstone, produced chemical sensor chips to find bombs and toxins. His curiosity piqued by a hound’s ability to sniff out cancer, he and his colleagues developed a new chemical sensor, which “uses a low-cost silicon chip to mimic a dog’s super schnoz.”  The sensor detects known biomarkers selective to colon cancer. Additionally, this sensor can be programmed to recognize a slew of diseases, from tuberculosis to asthma. The company is working on mobile, affordable sensors intended for hospitals and clinics. Inspired by the natural world around him, Boyle found the impetus for a project that may save numerous lives in the future – and numerous dollars, as well.

A schematic for 3D bioprinting

Another engaging exhibit was titled “The Perfect Fit,” centered around the use of 3D bioprinting for organ replacements. Through the past few weeks, we’ve explored how art and science have intersected to create a personalization of technology, a concept applicable here. At any given time, over 100,000 people wait for organ replacements in the US alone. Much like Gutenberg’s press brought together existing technologies and added innovations that revolutionized the west, scientists are now exploring the use of 3D printers for a similar effect. By using human cellular material as “ink,” a bioprinter can create layers upon layers of cells that bind together to create tissue. A scaffold is used for the cells to link and grow on. Currently, scientists are attempting to refine their technique in order to print new livers. 

The Nanopatch alongside a needle, for comparison

A third exhibit, “Safety in a Sticker,” demonstrated the use of a silicon Nanopatch 1 square centimeter in size to deliver vaccines, as opposed to needles or refrigeration of samples, directly related to our recent discussion of nanotech. This device targets immune cells just under the skin, as the silicon square is lined with spikes coated in the vaccine. Designed to circumvent a rather common fear of needles in the patient population, this patch could potentially revolutionize the delivery of vaccines, although doctors' reactions to it are as of yet unclear. 

Overall, it was an incredibly interesting visit!