A 3D-printed patch could help you recover from a heart attack

Scientists have dreamed of easily patching up heart tissue in the wake of heart attacks, but there are always gotchas: for example, it’s no mean feat to replicate the complex structures of real tissue. However, there may be a solution in sight. Researchers have produced a 3D-printed cell patch that can heal scarred heart tissue. The team used laser-based bioprinting to fit stem cells (based on adult human heart cells) to a matrix developed around a 3D scan of heart tissue’s native proteins. When those cells grew, the matrix not only replicated the structures of regular heart tissue (down to 1 micron) but started beating in sync. And the early results are very promising.

After the team tested its patch on a mouse, the rodent’s heart saw a “significant increase” in functional capacity in the space of 4 weeks. Moreover, it eventually absorbed into the heart — the team didn’t have to perform follow-up operations to make sure it was a good fit.

Naturally, a mouse heart is easier to fix than a much larger human heart. The researchers see this as just a matter of time, though. They believe that human-scale patches should be viable “within the next several years.” If so, recovering from a heart attack may just be a matter of implanting some custom-printed tissue and waiting for your health to improve.

Source: University of Minnesota, PubMed.gov

Most habitable planets may be completely covered in water

When you imagine what a rocky, habitable planet looks like, it’s easy to picture an alternate Earth where land and oceans exist in an ideal balance. Unfortunately, that’s not necessarily how it will pan out in real life… in fact, you might be surprised if there’s land at all. University of Barcelona researcher Fergus Simpson has published a study suggesting that most planets with any significant amount of water are likely to be completely (or almost completely) submerged in it. He ran computer simulations accounting for numerous factors in a planet (such as the deep water cycle and erosion), and most with substantial water levels had an above-water land mass of less than 10 percent — well below Earth’s 29 percent.

Those planets that had less water tended to have much less, to the point where deserts dominated the landscape. Also, size plays a role. Larger habitable planets (including Earth) are more likely to be water worlds thanks to deeper oceans and stronger gravity, according to the calculations, while smaller ones are drier.

If reasonably accurate, the data points to Earth hitting a rare sweet spot, possibly due to unusually deep water basins. And that makes sense at first glance. Despite what Earth looks like, water only occupies a tiny amount of volume compared to the rest of the planet. It wouldn’t take much more to inundate the land, or much less to make it barren. You can see for yourself in the video below.

There is reason to be skeptical. Astrophysicist Sean Raymond warns Gizmodo that there are still a number of unknowns that may play an important role in water levels, and recent models suggest that water delivery to planets is relatively “reliable” with fewer surges or shortfalls. However, Simpson is quick to add that his theory should be testable soon. Future instruments (likely including the James Webb Space Telescope) will have enough power to measure the atmospheric compositions of alien planets, giving a clue as to how much water there is on the surface. If nothing else, the study is a reminder that we shouldn’t assume a planet is human-friendly just because there’s plenty of H2O.

Via: Popular Mechanics, Gizmodo

Source: Royal Astronomical Society

The best mountain bikes you can buy

Mountain biking has boomed in recent years and as a result, manufacturers developed an increased number of specialized designs to appeal to this broad and nuanced market. With so many models to choose from, selecting your first mountain bike — or upgrading to a more sophisticated model — can be quite the inundating task.

From cornering ability to basic standover specifications, there are a slew of details to consider. While some downhill juggernauts may prefer a more advanced suspension system, the casual mountain biker or those new to the sport may only need a solid budget option for a weekend outing. That said, here are five of our favorite mountain bikes.

Our pick

Kona Precept 15o

Why should you buy this? The Precept 150 is a well-rounded mountain bike with one of the most sophisticated full-suspension systems we’ve seen in this pricing bracket.

Kona Precept 150

The Kona Precept 150 has been designed for an array of terrains with a top notch suspension system to boot.

$2,300.00 from Ride Online

Who it’s for? Individuals who want a versatile, comfortable mountain bike.

How much will it cost? $2,200

Why we chose the Kona Precept 150:

Kona is well known for their reactive, lightweight suspension systems and the Swinger Independent Suspension system on the Precept 150 is one of its best. Like its other suspension configurations, the Swinger arrangement uses a single-pivot design for maximum absorption and minimal weight. Rugged, wide pivots and large bearings withstand flexing better than daintier systems.

The Precept 150 comes with 27.5-inch wheels and a pair of not quite “fat” tapered head tubes. This unique tube design slightly flattens as the tire meets the trail for better contouring and traction. While longer chainstays increase stability at higher speeds, many riders — especially descent daredevils — often prefer shorter chainstays for their handling along corners. Fortunately, the Precept 150 has chainstays under 17-inches and with a bottom bracket height just over 13-inches, the Precept 150 looks and feels compact and low-profile.

The best hardtail

Norco Fluid 6.2HT+

Why should you buy this? It’s a classic, low-maintenance hardtail model.

Norco Fluid 6.2HT+

You will certainly feel every inch of the descent with the Norco Fluid 6.2HT+, nonetheless, this hardtail was designed for the climb.

$1,350.00 from Norco

Who it’s for? Individuals who like a smooth climb.

How much will it cost? $1,400

Why we chose the Norco Fluid 6.2HT+:

The “hardtail versus full-suspension” debate is one of the more polarizing arguments in mountain biking. Needless to say, you can’t have an extensive list of the cross-spectrum preferences without mentioning both models, and the Norco Fluid 6.2HT+ is one of our favorite hardtails.

While the real GoPro moments are almost always reserved for the descent, the critical ascent is just as important. With this in mind, the Norco Fluid 6.2HT+ uses a short stem and low rear-end, allowing you to virtually pounce uphill. But don’t worry, this baby plunges with the best of them. Short chainstays (17 inches), a rather sharp head angle (67.5 degrees), and super-wide — burgeoning on “fat” — 2.8-inch tires grip the trail, ramp up the cornering, and complement control on descents. If you’re a diehard-tailer, look no further.

The best power-assistance

Specialized Turbo Levo FSR 6 Fattie

Why should you buy this? Because you should.

Specialized Turbo Levo FSR 6Fattie

With an onboard motor and loaded with features, the Specialized Turbo Levo FSR 6 Fattie is quite literally more than just a mountain bike.

$4,500.00 from Specialized

Who it’s for? The early adopters who like their mountain bikes like their Ferraris.

How much will it cost? $4,500

Why we chose the Specialized Turbo Levo FSR 6 Fattie:

What’s not to love — excerpt for the mouthful of a name — about the Specialized Turbo Levo FSR 6 Fattie? It’s part classic fat boy, part full-suspension, with intuitive motorized assistance. The Turbo Levo line of bikes all include a beast of a motor with up to 530 watts of power.

But this isn’t some push-button accelerator. Simply applying torque to the process (regardless of terrain) could easily result in a skid. On ascents or reckless, white-knuckled descents, a haphazard jolt of acceleration could quite literally steer you in the wrong direction. Fortunately, the Turbo Levo system uses a backend algorithm to sense your torque, speed, and cadence, then amplifies this sequence for maximum efficiency.

The bike uses a circular series of 10 lights along the frame to illustrate the battery life — each represents 10 percent of the total charge. In the center of this readout is a basic two-button interface allowing you to increase or decrease power. The Bluetooth-enabled system also connects to your smartphone via the Mission Control app. This allows you to finagle a range of motor dynamics from acceleration response to increasing turbo. Mission Control also tracks the metrics of your ride for those so inclined.

The Specialized Turbo Levo FSR 6 Fattie isn’t a one-trick-pony, and the bike itself is a beefy (albeit lightweight) aluminum fat boy. The 18-inch chainstays keep your rear wheel close for the casual wheelie, while the 3-inch front and rear wheel tires add unparalleled traction. These tires increase the total surface friction but with the added Turbo Boost, the increased workload is easily accounted for and then some. Do you need a robo-bike? Absolutely not. Is it nice to the have the option to be partially chauffeured to the top of the trail? Yes. Yes, it is.

The best full-suspension

Kona Process 134DL

Why should you buy this? The Process 134DL has one of the most advanced full-suspension systems on the market.

Kona Process 134 DL

The Rocker Suspension system on the Kona Process 134DL flexes with the trailhead and saves your knees — even on a downhill tour de force.

$3,599.00 from Kona World

Who it’s for? Individuals looking to upgrade from their first full-suspension model to a higher-end cornering and pure descent monster.

How much will it cost? $3,600

Why we chose the Kona Process 134DL:

The patented Kona Rocker Independent Suspension is one of the best systems on the market. The actuated shock along the top tube uses a single-pivot design for superior absorption and durability. This minimal motion, designed with wide pivots and oversized bearings, holds up against inevitable bowing, adding a hefty dose of durability. The Process 134DL climbs efficiently enough to please the cross-country enthusiast, while the overall suspension and short chainstays (just under 17-inches on all models) keep the earth firmly and evenly beneath your feet — even on full-throttle descents.

Kona played it safe with 27.5-inch wheels but this, too, simply adds to the overall versatility. The Process 134DL achieves greater balance and control thanks to the incorporated tapered head tubes. The tube is wider at the head to more evenly absorb shock and more aptly grab the trail. Not just a safe bet, the Process 134DL is a jack-of-all-trades, more than capable of conquering the full gamut of terrains.

The best budget

Specialized Rockhopper Comp 29

Why should you buy this? Someone looking for more than a basic mountain bike without breaking the bank.

Specialized Rockhopper Comp 29

More than just a budget option, the Specialized Rockhopper Comp 29 is one of the best mountain bikes we’ve seen under $900.

$850.00 from Specialized

Who it’s for? The casual or beginner mountain biker.

How much will it cost? $850

Why we chose the Specialized Rockhopper Comp 29:

For those keeping count at home, that’s not one but two hardtails on the list. If you’re in the market for your first mountain bike, or you’re a casual rider in need of a more than a nuts-and-bolts model, the Specialized Rockhopper Comp 29 is a solid bet. The Rockhopper utilizes a classic minimalist hardtail design without coming across as wholly utilitarian. It is steady and firm on climbs, as are most hardtail designs.

While full-suspension packages keep you grounded and own the descent to a better degree, the bonus mechanical elements increase the price and propensity for extra wear and part replacement. Rather than perpetually upgrading components, this bike, priced under $900, should give you years of performance, so feel free to ride this baby quite literally into the ground.

On rougher trails, you’ll certainly feel every inch of the descent, and depending on your preference, that may or may not be a good thing. If you live for cornering or simply the love of the downhill grind, you’ll prefer one of the other full-suspension models on this list, however, the Rockhopper is certainly more than just a grocery-getter.

Other things to consider

Is now a good time to buy?

Now is definitely a great time to buy. Bike sales increase as the mountain biking season approaches. This often leaves consumers at the wrong end of the supply-and-demand spectrum.

Should I buy online or from a retailer/independent dealer?

This is a matter of preference. However, unlike online purchases, going with an independent dealer allows you to try and negotiate a lower price and/or haggle for bonus deal sweeteners such as accessories or basic upgrades.

Also, dealing with a retailer or an independent dealer allows you to see the bike in person and take it for a test-ride. While a bike may appear ideal on a website, it’s better to make sure the bike meets your height and reach requirements before making a purchase.

Pinterest doesn’t want you to see it as a social network

Believe it or not, Pinterest has never really advertised itself in the US — remarkable for an internet giant with over 150 million users and enough clout that it can buy well-known services like Instapaper. However, you’re about to see a lot more of it soon. The collection-themed company tells Bloomberg that it’s going to run its first US ad campaign this summer. And unlike some ad runs, this will be as much about defining what Pinterest doesn’t do as what it does.

CEO Ben Silbermann explains that the “No. 1 challenge” is convincing would-be users that Pinterest isn’t a social network. Instead, its a place to “get ideas for your real life,” such as vacation ideas, fashion tips and (of course) new gadgets. While Pinterest isn’t diving into the specifics of the ads, they’re likely to focus on people who’ve gone “from dreaming about their life to designing it.” In other words, they’ll purposefully distance Pinterest from the likes of Facebook and Twitter, even if they don’t mention social networks by name.

However the promos work out, they might be necessary. Silbermann is aware that Pinterest is small relative to the likes of Facebook, and that his crew has to “move really, really quickly” to survive. Remember, Facebook just took a shot at Pinterest through Instagram’s post collections — it might not take much more to hit Silbermann’s company where it really hurts. An ad push could increase the odds that Pinterest is your first choice for idea gathering.

Source: Bloomberg

IllumiBowl’s latest toilet light also kills germs

IllumiBowl’s motion-activated, multi-color toilet night light may have seemed like a silly idea when it first launched, but don’t laugh — it’s a practical solution if you’d rather not flick on the regular bathroom light (and momentarily blind yourself) just to do your business. And it appears that enough people bought into the concept to warrant a sequel. The company is crowdfunding a second-generation IllumiBowl light that adds anti-germ cleaning to the mix. The new gadget includes a diode whose “highly focused” non-ultraviolet light kills bacteria without hurting humans. This doesn’t mean that your toilet will suddenly be sterile, but it may set your mind at ease in between bowl scrubbing sessions.

The new design also touts twice the battery life by moving from AAA to AA batteries, and it sports a slightly slicker design that looks more at home next to your porcelain throne. As it stands, the $10 backing price (half off the retail cost) is low enough that it might be worth a look. The project is already fully funded as of this writing, so you should get your “aim here” lighting as soon as July.

Source: Kickstarter

5 songs you need to stream this week: Iggy Pop, Taylor Bennett, and more

Every week, there are thousands of new songs hitting the airwaves — and it’s just too much for your two ears to handle. With all those options, you can’t be wasting your time on tracks that deserve a thumbs-down click.

But don’t worry, we’re going to save you the hassle. We listen to some of the most-hyped and interesting songs each week, and tell you which are worthy of your precious listening time.

Here are our top five songs to stream this week. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our Spotify page for a playlist of our weekly picks, which can also be found at the bottom of this post.

Iggy Pop — Asshole Blues

A lo-fi punk-influenced blues number from rocker Iggy Pop, Asshole Blues channels old field-recorded classics, with deep acoustic guitar and vocal inflections that paint an emotional musical portrait throughout. The acclaimed Stooges frontman wrote and recorded this single to kick off a new flexi-disc (the paper-thin vinyl found in ’70s magazines) series for the Miami-based Mag Mag label, and we can’t think of a better genre — or performer — for the format.

Taylor Bennett — Only Brother (A Special Remix)

In honor of Chance The Rapper’s 24th birthday this week, Chance’s younger brother, Taylor Bennett, released this remix of D.R.A.M. Sings Special from his sibling’s Coloring Book mixtape. With quick-paced verses full of personal lyrics, Bennett — an up-and-coming wordsmith himself — had exactly the right effect on his big bro, with Chance tweeting after its release, “My only brother, Taylor Bennett, made me this song for my birthday and brought me to tears.”

Cende — What I Want (Feat. Greta Kline)

Brooklyn-based quartet Cende, with an assist from vocalist Greta Kline during a string-laden second verse, melds clean and catchy lyrics with a ’50s-style beat and shimmering keyboard lines on What I Want. There’s a steadily evolving arrangement on the track that evokes comparisons to the psychedelic explorations of late-’60s Beatles recordings — complete with a rocking midsong breakdown and a chimey, wall-of-sound outro.

Dion Lunadon — Howl

A Place to Bury Strangers’ bassist Dion Lunadon channels his inner Ty Segall on this bustling new rock single, which happens to be just the thing that we plan to shove in the earholes of anyone who tries to tell us rock is dead. Guitars in overdrive and cymbals dominate the soundscape, with distorted lyrics that howl you through the two-and-a-half-minute jam. Play it back to back to back, and we’re sure you”ll run the fastest mile of your life.

Haley Heynderickx — Untitled God Song

Folk-influenced Portland, Oregon, songwriter Haley Heynderickx writes with an elegant lyricism that sticks immediately in your brain, penning poetic lines in songs like Untitled God Song that you’ll think about for days. “And maybe my God has a trot in her walk/And her Coach bags are knockoff/Her shoes are all dressed up,” she sings to open up this live video that was recorded recently for Seattle’s KEXP Radio. Her voice immediately captures your ears, before her band joins in and takes you even deeper.

That’s it for now, but tune in next week for more tunes — and check out the playlist loaded with our recent selections below:

It’s still difficult to just buy a Google Pixel today, and that’s insane

For all of its great successes in the Pixel, Google still has one critical flaw to figure out.

April 20 marked the six-month anniversary of the Google Pixel going on sale in the Play Store. As was typical for a Google phone launch, they were tough to get ahold of — backorders reached weeks or even months, depending on what model you wanted. Now, six months later, Google inexplicably still can’t keep Pixels in stock. Just head to the Play Store right now and see that most configuration combinations aren’t available.

Even the models that you can click “buy” on — like a black 32GB Pixel or silver 128GB Pixel XL — won’t ship for two to four weeks. Once again, this is a phone that has been on sale for six months and not once in the past 180+ days has the stock situation been any better. How is it that Google can get this so wrong? Part of it is expectations, but the blame mostly lies on Google’s apparent inability to control its supply chain.

When it’s tough to get a phone, you can always take the positive view that it is simply so popular that the company can’t make enough. But let’s not kid ourselves — you’d have to see a Pixel in every other person’s hand on the street to believe that demand was high enough that it legitimately outpaced any company’s ability to make the phones. The retail channel limitation of only being able to buy from the Google Store or Verizon — rather than seeding to the likes of Amazon and Best Buy — is alone enough to cut back on supply pressure. So really, the issue is how Google set expectations of the Pixel’s availability, only to drastically underdeliver.

After years of Nexus devices with a variety of go-to-market strategies, the Pixels are clearly designed and advertised as phones for everyone in the market for a top-end phone. The way the phones were made, paired with huge spending on effective advertising, set the expectation amongst general consumers (read: not just smartphone nerds) that this would be a phone you could actually buy. At the same time, it seems Google internally still has a portion of its hardware team that sees the Pixels the same way as Nexuses of the past: make some phones, sell what we have and don’t make it a priority to keep stock levels where they should be for a global product launch. Those two aspects don’t mix, and it’s a recipe for frustration for those who want to buy a Pixel.

Google led us to believe we could just buy a Pixel, but then it failed to deliver.

But there’s a problem: those normal consumers that Google targets with its continuous Pixel ads don’t wait around for a phone unless it says “Apple” or “Samsung” on the box. And even then, a significant portion of the buying public wants to walk into a store or visit a website and simply buy the latest phone available today — they don’t want to sit around and wait three weeks for a phone to be in stock, then wait another two weeks for it to arrive. They need a phone now, and every time Google can’t keep its Pixels in stock it’s a lost sale from the exact market it targets.

For all of their flaws, the other Android manufacturers know how to manage a supply chain. Samsung, LG, Huawei, Motorola, HTC and heck, even OnePlus now, know how to make phones available around the world in massive quantities. They have in most cases each made the necessary deals and commitments to get the phones in thousands of physical stores as well, a dramatically taller task than simply stocking a couple of warehouses for online-only distribution.

I don’t want to belittle the huge commitment of time, money and people required to manage the manufacturing, shipment and distribution of phones. But Google designed a phone for the general consumer and spent tens of millions advertising to that demographic, only to once again completely fail to make the devices available when those people went to buy. At some point, we just have to throw up our hands and wonder why it can’t get this right when so many other companies have.

And now, let’s cap off the week with a few other thoughts:

• During my extremely amazing vacation, the rest of the team killed it with Galaxy S8 review coverage.
• This is just the beginning, of course, as we’ll continue to talk about the Galaxy S8 a lot for the next year.
• I now have my black Galaxy S8 — making a conscious decision to choose the smaller model for ease of use understanding that the battery life takes a hit.
• The official Twitter app rolled out a change to replace the Moments tab with a Search tab that includes search, topic exploration and Moments. This is a way better interface that makes that tab (which everyone has to see every day) useful for a far wider range of Twitter users.
• Hard to believe we’re only a few weeks away from Google I/O 2017 — it’s going to be a blast, as usual.

That’s all for now. Have a great week, everyone.

-Andrew

Google Pixel + Pixel XL

• Google Pixel and Pixel XL review
• Google Pixel XL review: A U.S. perspective
• Google Pixel FAQ: Should you upgrade?
• Pixel + Pixel XL specs
• Understanding Android 7.1 Nougat
• Join the discussion in the forums!

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Thousands descended on DC to march for truth and science

A balmy Friday evening gave way to a miserable Saturday, with low, gray clouds that blotted out the sun and soaked Washington DC with rain. That wasn’t enough to stop thousands of people — from all over the country — from gathering on the grounds in front of the Washington Monument to march for science. It’s no wonder, either.

The people who showed up were career researchers, teachers, students and families, all alarmed by the federal government’s lack of appreciation for the importance of science. And they were joined in spirit by still thousands more around the world, showing their support for facts and inquiry at satellite marches in over 600 cities.

Each march had its own flavor, but D.C.’s was special because of its proximity to the powers that made marching necessary. It wasn’t just about federal funding for research being slashed, or the Trump administration’s disdain for the EPA. On some level, people on the ground were marching for the recognition of objectivity itself.

That this had to happen at all seems a little crazy, but remember: we’re living in the age of “alternative facts,” and people are sick of them. That collective desire to stress the importance of objective truth brought together thousands who agree that science is crucial to our lives, and it wasn’t hard to find other patches of common ground.

Take the role of politics in science, for instance. This was an event predicated at least partially on collective distaste for President Trump, so a liberal skew was to be expected. Most people I spoke to agreed that science should remain politically neutral, but said that pressure from the Trump administration had basically forced their hands.

Chris Velazco/Engadget

“It should be apolitical,” said Karl VanNewkirk, a retired engineer from Maryland who attended the march with his wife. “But it’s very disappointing that the current administration seems to be very dismissive of facts and science and truth. We need to speak and say ‘Yes, really, this is important.’”

Taylor Seitz echoed VanNewkirk’s viewpoint. A recent graduate of the Astronomy program at North Carolina’s Guilford College, Seitz was quick to level blame at the Republican Party.

“I would definitely prefer not to see science become political,” he said. “But I think it’s very clear the Republicans in Congress and the White House are the ones that politicized science first by taking all this money from corporations and churning out lies and falsehoods in response.”

Chris Velazco/Engadget

Despite the weightiness of the conversations I had, the mood at the march was distinctly upbeat. On-stage presentations by Mona Hanna-Attisha — the pediatrician-turned-whistleblower who publicized Flint’s water crisis — and Bill Nye were interspersed between sets by Jon Batiste and Stay Human. (You might know them better as Stephen Colbert’s Late Show house band.) Questlove, drummer for The Roots and unabashed science nerd, was on hand to keep the program flowing smoothly. And yes, as you’d expect, the signs were almost all incredible.

As the last of the speakers exited the stage and the throng of people moved off the monument grounds and started marching down Constitution Avenue, a ripple of excitement surged through the crowd. People were genuinely happy to be out in this April mess, chanting and clapping and drumming for the cause. Sharon O’Shaughnessy, a former speech scientist clutching a blue “Christians for Science” sign quickly got caught up in the energy.

“All of these big movements just make everybody say hey, there’s enough of me to actually do something,” she said with a broad smile as she cruised down Constitution. “More importantly, it gives people hope.”

Chris Velazco/Engadget

Ultimately, what the march didn’t give its participants was a clear sense of what should happen next. When the massive crowd finally parked on a broad expanse of grass overlooking Capitol Hill for a photo op and a few, final moments chanting “We! Made! History!”, the march’s organizers proclaimed that this was only the beginning. They didn’t lay out more detailed plans on-site (the March for Science website has vague details for a subsequent “week of action”), but the people in attendance had their own ideas about how to keep the movement going strong.

More than anything, the people I spoke to believed the most important step would be to open up new — and more elegant — lines of communication about what science means for commerce, quality of life and more. I caught up with Seitz, the astronomy graduate, at the end of the march, and he already knew what he and others like him should do when they get back home.

“We definitely need to keep the momentum going,” he said. “I think it’s really great for people to see others like them who believe the same things, and take that energy back with them into their cities and their towns and start talking to local legislators. I know I’ve started talking to my local congresspeople all the time about these important issues that matter to me.”

Naturally, talking to lawmakers is only one part of the puzzle. Some here also argue that in order for the government to fully realize the importance of the scientific method, scientists need to do a better job of explaining to everyone what they’re actually doing.

Chris Velazco/Engadget

“People keep forgetting that science is important,” noted Barry Turniansky. “There’s anti-vaxxers, climate change deniers, people who don’t understand how important science is, that’s our fault in part. Scientists can’t do much about it because their research is necessarily complicated. We need to put more emphasis on science reporting; it’s really science reporters’ jobs to take the complicated stuff and distill it down so everyone can understand.”

“To bring it home, you have to talk to people about how science impacts their future,” added Karen Doherty, a higher education professional who took a detour off the Appalachian Trail to come to the march.

“Science crosses all lines — gender, religious beliefs, everything. If you take one thing you care about, you can tie science into. If you have a belief you care about, there’s a way to make it palatable and to show that science is intertwined.”

Whether politicians take note or policies will change for the better — no one can say for sure. If nothing else, though, the conversations that started here will continue to drive people to do more for the sake of science. That’s a fact.

First gene therapy drug proves a flop in the market

When UniQure launched the first commercial gene therapy drug, Glybera, it promised a minor revolution in medicine. By using custom viruses to deliver genes, it could reportedly cure a rare disease (lipoprotein lipase deficiency) with just one round of treatment. However, it just didn’t live up to the early hype. UniQure has announced that it’s withdrawing Glybera from the European market when its approval ends on October 25th. The company doesn’t beat around the bush with an explanation: the drug’s use has been “extremely limited” since going on the market in 2012, and it doesn’t expect an uptick in the years ahead. If you know how the drug was sold, though, this inglamorous exit was more of an inevitability than a surprise.

You see, Glybera carries a whopping $1 million price. That’s not so bad when it’s a one-time treatment — as CBC points out, there are drugs that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per year that people may have to take for the rest of their lives. However, the rarity of the disease Glybera targets meant that UniQure didn’t exactly have an abundance of medical data to show that the treatment worked as promised. In fact, just one person received the drug in five years. While that was thankfully effective, it’s tough to ask insurers and health care providers to fork over so much money for something so relatively untested.

This doesn’t mean that commercial gene therapy drugs are dead… far from it. There are already late tests underway for treatments that cover more frequent conditions, like Duchenne muscular dystrophy. However, the failure suggests that how gene therapy is sold may be as important as how well it works. While the approach is still relatively exotic, it’s not so exotic that pharmaceutical companies can charge a premium or expect to turn a serious profit. Not for a treatment that targets a rare disease, at least. Until gene therapy drugs are relatively commonplace, pharma brands may have to accept that they won’t get as much of return on investment as their patients.

Via: MIT Technology Review

Source: UniQure

The live-streaming Mevo pocket cam comes to Android, goes 4K on iOS

Why it matters to you

Previously available only on iOS, the miniature Mevo camera will now work with Android devices by way of a public beta, while new features are on the way for iOS.

We rather liked the Livestream Mevo camera when we reviewed it last year. The palm-sized device made it easy to stream to Facebook Live or Livestream through an iOS device, but it wasn’t perfect. It lacked support for Android, couldn’t live-stream to YouTube, and even internal recording was limited to 720p despite using a 4K sensor. Last month, Livestream brought Twitter/Periscope support to the Mevo. And today, April 23, it announced during the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show, that virtually all of the camera’s other limitations will soon be things of the past.

Mevo’s beta Android app finally brings support to more devices (access the public beta here) and Livestream anticipates having the final version of the app ready by the end of this summer. Digital Trends has confirmed with Livestream that the final version of the Android app will have feature parity with its iOS counterpart, although today’s beta version does not.

For now, iOS users have the option of testing the waters with their own Mevo beta. Also available today, the iOS beta brings several new features to the Mevo platform, including the option to save 4K video to the camera’s MicroSD card when using the optional Mevo Boost accessory. Users won’t be able to live-stream in 4K, but the beta does add support for 1080p live-streaming, a nice step up from the previous 720p limit. YouTube streaming support has also been added while a number of new features have come to Facebook Live, including continuous streaming options, scheduled live-streams for pages, geolocation and friend tags, and audience targeting.

Livestream is running a special on the Mevo Pro Bundle through April 30. The bundle includes the camera, the Mevo Boost accessory, and and a carrying case for $600 (normally $700). In addition to adding a MicroSD card slot, the Mevo Boost contains a 10-hour battery and Ethernet port for an even more reliable network connection. The standard Mevo remains priced at $400.