March 21, 2024

Touchpoint 1
GTC 2024: Nvidia Highlights AI ‘Revolution’ in Drug Discovery, Genomics

What is it?
NVIDIA, an AI graphics card maker, has a platform called BioNeMo that is designed to analyze very large amounts of DNA and predict new drug discoveries.

Potential message to students:
Are we moving too fast using AI in biology? Why is a tech company building this model and not a group of scientists? Do you think this will lead to rich people getting custom drugs that are not available to all?

Touchpoint 2
Ultrasound technology shows promise in detecting thoracic surface vibrations

What is it?
The stethoscope has not changed in many decades. Almost every exam starts with breathe in, hold, exhale, as the doctor listens to your lungs. New technology may be used to analyze sounds and vibrations from the thorax and used to better identify any respiratory problems.

Potential message to students:
Do you think scientists should walk through a hospital and make an inventory of every tool and device that is over 10 years old, then study ways to make improvements. Do you think every medical device should be using technology or at least electricity to power at this point in 2024?

Touchpoint 3
Air pollution in Austin neighborhoods raises asthma-related ER visits, study finds

What is it?
UT Austin has discovered air pollution is leading to more cases of asthma and both Black and Latinx residents are being impacted. Many believe this is because heavy industry is placed close to minority neighborhoods.

Potential message to students:
Do you think the federal government, by law, should be required to put out a street-by-street pollution report and even update it throughout the day? Do you think citizens in very high pollution areas should be offered home buyouts and money to relocate? Do you think poor communities can sue local governments and win?

Touchpoint 4
Cannibal Cells Inspire Cancer Treatment Improvement

What is it?
White blood cells hunt down and destroy millions of old red blood cells. Cancer tumors will take over healthy cells and grow. White blood cells don’t hunt cancer cells. But scientists believe they can modify white blood cells to attack and destroy cancer cells.

Potential message to students:
Instead of medicine, treatments and cures for cancer coming outside the human body, do you think we should be partnering with the body to turbo-charge it to fight diseases? Are there cures for many diseases already inside the human body, but we just need to activate and help them along?

Scroll to Top