Good Morning! 🌞 

Are you afraid of needles? If yes - you’ll be very happy to hear that there may be an alternative available soon. Find out more in the article below!

Health Sciences

Leech-Inspired Blood Collection

Researchers in Zurich have developed a new blood-draw device aimed at addressing the shortcomings of traditional methods. Needle phobia can trigger adverse reactions like exhaustion and fainting, while conventional finger prick devices often yield imprecise measurements due to the small amount of blood they collect.

This innovation, which employs suction cups and microneedles, aims to alleviate both issues simultaneously. Inspired by the suction mechanism of leeches, the device gently draws blood without causing significant discomfort or requiring specialized training.

The design, featuring microneedles within a small suction cup, minimizes penetration into the skin when placed on the upper arm. According to Nicole Zoratto, a postdoc at ETH Zurich and the lead author of the project, this approach is not only effective but also cost-efficient.

Zoratto envisions the device being particularly beneficial in low-income regions like sub-Saharan Africa, where diseases such as malaria are diagnosed through blood samples. Its user-friendly nature and reduced risk of needle-related injuries make it a promising tool for widespread use.

However, before deployment, further optimization of the device's material composition and thorough safety testing with a small group of subjects are essential. The research team is actively seeking additional funding partnerships to support these crucial steps.

World News

Japan’s First 6G Device

A group of Japanese tech companies has introduced a high-speed 6G prototype device capable of transmitting data at an ultra-high speed of 100 Gbps. Operating in the 100 GHz and 300 GHz bands, the wireless device boasts a range of up to 100 meters, marking a significant leap forward from current 5G networks.

With the increasing adoption of 5G technology, the industry is already looking ahead to the next generation of cellular technology.

The consortium behind this advancement includes DOCOMO, NTT Corporation, NEC Corporation, and Fujitsu Limited. The development of this device, underway since 2021, reflects anticipation for the forthcoming 6G era.

While the prototype demonstrates impressive speeds, it's important to note that 6G is still in its early stages of development. Significant work lies ahead before it can achieve mainstream adoption. Researchers suggest that commercially available 6G connectivity may emerge by 2030, requiring optimized hardware to support the higher band frequencies, as well as the deployment of new cell towers and integration of 6G phone antennas.

Environment

A Remarkable Recovery In Our Oceans

After years of decline due to overfishing in the northwest Atlantic, the hake fisheries off Spain's coast are thriving, thanks to effective conservation efforts. These strategies, which could potentially be applied to other economically valuable marine species, have the potential to raise sustainable fishing quotas.

Hake, known for its mild, flaky texture ideal for frying, plays a vital role in both the economy and culinary traditions of Galicia. By 1980, unregulated fishing had drastically reduced hake populations, endangering the species, the broader marine ecosystem, local fishermen's livelihoods, and the region’s culinary heritage.

To combat this, marine conservationists implemented several recovery measures. These included establishing protected breeding zones, imposing strict catch limits informed by scientific research, and using larger mesh sizes in fishing nets to allow young hake to escape and mature.

“Reaching this level of recovery and currently having an abundance of northern hake in the Atlantic isn’t an accident,” explained Marine scientist Javier López from the organization Oceania. “It’s the result of careful management, control measures, and favorable ocean conditions. But credit must also go to the fishing sector which has endured these measures,” López told Euro News.

“The sea is generous; with the right measures in place, resources could be replenished. There are limits we must not cross, but if we act wisely, we can be confident that the fish will return,” López concluded.

Entertainment

Sylvester Stallone’s Watches to Go on Auction

The Hollywood star is putting 11 watches from his personal collection up for auction at a Sotheby’s sale in New York on June 5. Among them is the rare Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, anticipated to fetch up to $5 million, along with watches he wore in some of his films.

Only seven models of the Grandmaster Chime were ever produced, making it the most intricate wristwatch manufactured by the luxury watchmakers. Sotheby’s has labeled it the "holy grail" for watch collectors due to its exceedingly complex mechanisms, which required 100,000 hours to develop, produce, and assemble.

Featuring 20 complications beyond timekeeping, including five chiming mechanisms and a date repeater, the Grandmaster Chime is highly coveted.

Stallone remarked, "This is not easy to come by," noting his efforts to acquire it through appeals and letters to the board.

Another Patek Philippe watch, part of its Nautilus family, is expected to reach $400,000 at auction. It boasts an olive-green dial surrounded by 32 Wesselton baguette diamonds in a stainless steel casing.

Additionally, an Audemars Piguet watch featuring a blue face in a pink gold case is projected to reach up to $200,000.

Several Panerai watches, a brand favored by Stallone and worn in the 1996 movie “Daylight,” are also up for auction. Among them is a model exclusively made for Stallone, commemorated with an engraving on the back, expected to sell for up to $60,000.

Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

I am born in fire, yet I fear the water's touch. I dance in the air, but never with feet. What am I?

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:
A jeweler sells watches. A jailer watches cells

Linda Runatz got the correct answer first!

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected] or reply to email.

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.