Ok, let’s just agree right now – medical science is cool.. and even more cool when it saves the life of youngsters who haven’t really had much of a chance at life yet.

So, this story reported in Reuters has me smiling: Doctors at Rome’s Bambino Gesu hospital implanted a tiny little artificial heart into the kid until a donor was found.

The tiny titanium pump weighs only 11 grams and can handle a blood flow of 1.5 liters a minute. An artificial heart for adults weighs 900 grams.

I wonder how long it will be before we manage to create heart replacement pumps that can be trusted to work on a permanent basis?

Oh wow.. this is just one of the most awesomest sciency things I’ve ever heard.

So, you’ve heard of stem cells? Those cells that can be thought of as building blocks, and that potentially will allow us to grow whole new organs or limbs for use in transplants?  They are, as I like to think, damn cool biology stuff.

Well, stem cells can get bad press, because the easiest and most heard of method of making them is to create an embryo.. but hold on a gosh-darned-tooting second I hear you cry.. what about all those awkward ethical questions?!?!

Do not fret! I say, because stem cells can be made from skin cells!  Also, researchers at Technion Israel Institute of Technology have managed to turn those stem cells into beating heart muscle!  Awesome!

source – http://www.isciencetimes.com/articles/3081/20120523/can-skin-cells-help-heal-your-heart.htm

via http://science.slashdot.org/story/12/05/23/2221226/scientists-turn-skin-cells-into-beating-heart-muscle?utm_source=slashdot&utm_medium=twitter