A Maryland-based scientist has developed an incredibly accurate mechanism for detecting pancreatic cancer, which is faster than current methods, as well as 100 times more sensitive and 28 times cheaper. Oh, and the scientist is 15 years old.
For his discovery, high school freshman Jack Andraka just won the Gordon E. Moore Award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, which comes with a $75,000 prize.
Andraka’s method uses single-walled carbon nanotubes — which he calls “the superheroes of material science” — to detect a pancreatic cancer marker in urine and blood samples. In a blind test, it had a 100% success rate.
“I did not expect for it to be this good,” he said, “I was blown away by how sensitive it was.” -dw
22 Comments
eric3579says...Just amazing!
siftbotsays...Self promoting this video and sending it back into the queue for one more try; last queued Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012 5:13pm PDT - promote requested by original submitter eric3579.
JiggaJonsonsays...*promote
siftbotsays...Promoting this video and sending it back into the queue for one more try; last queued Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012 5:20pm PDT - promote requested by JiggaJonson.
lv_huntersays...Smart kid, has a promiosing future, but I cant get over his "valley girl" accent.
TheFreaksays...How does a fifteen year old get ahold of carbon nano tubes and mesothelin antibodies?
lucky760says...re-*promote (because a bug prematurely ended the last one)
siftbotsays...Promoting this video back to the front page; last published Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012 11:20pm PDT - promote requested by lucky760.
MilkmanDansays...My grandfather is a 5+ year survivor of pancreatic cancer, which puts him in a lucky 6% according to wikipedia. In his case, he probably owes his life to the fact that the cancer randomly created a bulge/tumor that happened to block a bile duct and made him extremely jaundiced. The skin color got him to make a very rare (for him) visit to the hospital, so if it hadn't blocked that duct it is extremely unlikely that he would have been diagnosed in time.
He had a "Whipple" surgery that (as I understand it) removes the pancreas and notable portions of intestine and stomach. Came through that better than anyone would have any reason to expect and now he's back to maintaining his large cattle ranch, manhandling heavy feed sacks and hay bales every day. Tough guy.
I hope this kid's test makes it so there are more lucky folks like my grandpa. Not to mention more appreciative family members like myself!
Paybacksays...>> ^TheFreak:
How does a fifteen year old get ahold of carbon nano tubes and mesothelin antibodies?
Down at Walgreens, Aisle 4, next to the Anthrax.
The nanotubes he probably made out of pencils, using his microwave and the incredible power of win.
kir_mokumsays...THANKS FOR REMINDING ME I'VE DONE NOTHING WITH MY LIFE ASSHOLE.
EvilDeathBeesays...He looks like the guy that played the Keytar (or Guitboard) in The Flight of the Conchords
Trancecoachsays...babysitting and mowing lawns>> ^TheFreak:
How does a fifteen year old get ahold of carbon nano tubes and mesothelin antibodies?
Trancecoachsays...The kid won the prize. (I suppose if he didn't, then whatever beat him would have been pretty incredible, too!)
Fantomasjokingly says...I refuse to have my life achievements so devalued by some upstart with an awful haircut and accent.
Morganthsays...Huh. That's not exactly what I was concerned with at fifteen.
Esoogjokingly says...Now we just sit back and wait for the pharmaceutical companies to buy up this technology, shove it in a drawer, and never use it again because they cant make enough profit off of it.
DrNoodlessays...I hope he's smart enough to patent it then release it for free.
>> ^Esoog:
Now we just sit back and wait for the pharmaceutical companies to buy up this technology, shove it in a drawer, and never use it again because they cant make enough profit off of it.
bobknight33says...The shit kids think about today. puts me to shame.
When I was 15 all I thought about was pussy.
oOPonyOosays...That is one hot young man. Amazing brain.
albrite30says...“I did not expect for it to be this good,”, “I was blown away by how sensitive it was.”
That's what SHE said!!!!!O.o
gwiz665jokingly says...Democrats, man, fucking democrats.
>> ^TheFreak:
How does a fifteen year old get ahold of carbon nano tubes and mesothelin antibodies?
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