The five most-read stories this week on Scope were:
Stanford bioengineer develops a 50-cent paper microscope: Manu Prakash, PhD, assistant professor of bioengineering, has developed an ultra-low-cost paper microscope to aid disease diagnosis in developing regions. The device is further described in a technical paper.
Free DIY microscope kits to citizen scientists with inspiring project ideas: Through the Ten Thousand Microscope Project, Manu Prakash is giving away 10,000 build-your-own paper microscope kits to citizen scientists with the most inspiring ideas for how to use his new invention, called the Foldscope.
The brain whisperer: Stanford neurologist talks about his work, shares tips with aspiring doctors: Last week at Med School 101, neurologist Josef Parvizi, MD, PhD, shared with high-school students how he collaborated with musician Chris Chafe, PhD, on a "brain stethoscope" that can translate brainwaves into music.
Bad news for pill poppers? Little clear evidence for Vitamin D efficacy, says Stanford’s John Ioannidis: A large study of vitamin D led by John Ioannidis, MD, DSc, found that more well-designed studies and trials are necessary before firm conclusions can be drawn about its efficacy.
Double vision: How the brain creates a single view of the world: Carla Shatz, PhD, Stanford Bio-X director, has shown that a protein originally known for its role in the immune system, called MHC Class I D, or D for short, is present in the nerves of the developing brain.
And still going strong – the most popular post from the past:
The mystery surrounding lung-transplant survival rates: A 2012 article in the San Francisco Chronicle offered a look at the challenges facing lung transplant patients and explored why a significant number don’t live beyond the five-year mark, despite improvements in survival rates.
