Prof. Ed Boyden Discusses Tool Development in Biology

‘I can’t get started without a coffee.’

For many people, this statement is a standard morning greeting. But the mass consumption of coffee can make us forget what caffeine really is- a drug. So how does it compare to other drugs, namely cocaine and cannabis?

Reactions is looking at the science behind the most popular drug: caffeine. Delicious coffee chemistry!

Northwestern University and Washington University School of Medicine researchers have developed the first example of a bioelectronic medicine: an implantable, biodegradable wireless device that speeds nerve regeneration and improves healing of a damaged nerve. Their device delivered pulses of electricity to damaged nerves in rats after a surgical repair process, accelerating the regrowth of nerves and enhancing the recovery of muscle strength and control. The device is the size of a dime and the thickness of a sheet of paper and dissolves in the body after about two weeks.