Sherman Cleveland

New Research On Synthetic Urine Some of the newest research on synthetic urine shows that it may have more uses than what we expected. Scientists have discovered that this particular type of urine could be used to recognize kidney problems, prostate cancer and other serious illnesses almost immediately. Brighham Young University scientists have been working on a particular innovation, which allows the monitoring of urine flow distances in microfluidic devices. Their discovery can create a unique new model, that can basically extend to the previous one. Their device can measure unamplified DNA analogs of specific miRNAs biomarkers. The quantity of bodily biomarkers changes when abnormalities are present, such is the case while a person is experiencing some types of cancers and liver disease. Researchers were able to measure the flow distance of urine while using nucleic acid receptors inside of microchannel surfaces. The urine distance depends heavily on DNA concentrations, which then allows them to find out if there is a correlation with the target levels of specific diseases. Perhaps the biggest advantage of this recently developed tool is the incapacity of it to produce any false positive results. The next leap of evolution for this new technology would be to check if any diseases could really be found with this new method. Uric acid is a very important indicator for the presence of different disease processes in our body, it is however also the main part of good synthetic urine. As the body begins breaking down substance named “purine nucleotides”, uric acid is naturally produced and then dissolved into the blood, which then travels to the kidneys and ends up in the urine. Unstable uric acid levels often indicate issues with bodily processes. Low levels show that the kidneys have become unable to pass uric acid, which eventually can lead to multiple sclerosis or kidney damage. Overly high levels are also dangerous and can indicate quite a few, possibly fatal conditions. Some of them being metastasized cancer, bone marrow disorders, cardiovascular disease and others. High levels have also been known to be diagnostically relevant for certain syndromes, such as “Fanconi” and “Lesch-Nyhan”. Abnormal levels of uric acid can also be used for diagnosing Preeclampsia, a horrible disease known for being the main reason for maternal death, primarily in developing countries. The causes for Preeclampsia are still uncertain, making its early detection quite difficult. The complicated condition involves hypertension and sometimes it can include a variety of other symptoms, such as: The swelling of the mother’s hands and face. Severe headaches Impaired kidney function Nausea Weight gain Abdominal pain and changes in the mother’s vision Preeclampsia progresses slowly, but the onset of its symptoms is quite sudden, making the failure of early detection potentially fatal. Uric acid levels are important for determining a patient’s health. It can be used for early detection of Preeclampsia and many other illnesses and syndromes. The newly developed portable screening method can mean a promising future for developing countries healthcare. The uses of synthetic urine go beyond medicine. NASA partner German research center DLR is studying the potential of urine being used for growing plants in space. Urine can be used for supplying the plants with needed nutrients for their healthy growth, the exact type of urine used in these experiments was synthetic, due to it being more hygienic, easier to store and use. The world’s leading space agencies are all exploring the idea of reaching and living on Mars, however one issue that is always brought up when considering the possibility of it is resupply. Sending supply missions with water, oxygen and food is one of the worst options, due to how expensive they can be and the length of time it takes for the supplies to actually reach Mars. NASA is already planning to send humans on Mars by the year 2030, they are also exploring the possibility of making the mission as self-sufficient as possible. The most obvious solution would be to grow the astronaut’s food right there on Mars. With the help of DLS, NASA is already preparing to test this possibility. By the end of next year these agencies are planning to launch greenhouse stations in space, so that they can study and better understand the impact that extraterrestrial gravity can have on plant growth. With the help of bacteria, the new Mars inhabitants could break down urine to its main components, like ammonia, which then can be turned into nitrites and then to nitrates. Nitrates are known for being perfect plant fertilizers, so with the help of synthetic urine the new inhabitants could keep regenerating their food supply and sustain a life on the red planet.