Latest news with #UC Berkeley
Fox News
7 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
At-home test works like coffee rings to spot serious illness faster
Have you ever noticed how a spilled cup of coffee leaves behind a telltale brown ring? While those stains might be annoying, the science behind them, known as the coffee ring effect, has sparked innovations in health technology. UC Berkeley researchers recently turned this everyday phenomenon into a breakthrough medical test, making rapid and reliable disease detection as easy as brewing your morning coffee. Curious how a simple coffee stain could inspire cutting-edge diagnostics and revolutionize at-home testing? Let's look at how a forgotten mug on your desk might just save lives. Ever wondered why spilled coffee, wine or tea dries in a ring rather than evenly? This common pattern is known as the "coffee ring effect." The phenomenon occurs because of the liquid's surface tension. As the drop begins to dry, water at the edges evaporates more quickly since that area is thinner. To keep up, liquid from the center flows outward, carrying tiny particles with it. Once the drop is completely dry, these particles settle along the edge, creating the signature ring stain you see on tables and countertops every day. Surprisingly, that annoying coffee ring on your table has inspired a major breakthrough in medical technology. Researchers at UC Berkeley transformed this everyday nuisance into a powerful new at-home diagnostic test. This innovative test can identify diseases like COVID-19, prostate cancer and sepsis with remarkable accuracy. In fact, it is up to 100 times more sensitive than many current rapid tests. Even better, it delivers results in just twelve minutes, depending on the test. The idea began with Kamyar Behrouzi, a former Ph.D. student at UC Berkeley. While developing a COVID-19 biosensor in 2020, he noticed that virus particles, much like coffee particles, tend to gather at the edge of a droplet. By using this natural effect, the researchers designed a test that captures and concentrates disease markers, making detection much easier. Thanks to this stain-inspired science, fast and reliable testing is now possible right at home. So, how does this innovative test actually work? First, you place a small sample from your nose or cheek onto a special membrane. As the sample dries, disease proteins concentrate at the edges to form a visible ring. Next, you add a second droplet containing light-reactive particles. If certain disease biomarkers are present, these nanoparticles light up when exposed to light. You can see positive results with the naked eye in some cases, or verify them more accurately using a special AI-powered smartphone app. This rapid test does more than detect COVID-19. It can also identify early signs of sepsis, a life-threatening infection that needs quick treatment. To make home testing accessible, the UC Berkeley team even created a 3D-printed prototype for easy use on your kitchen counter. According to professor Liwei Lin, this innovative approach could transform regular health screening, with no lab visit required. This coffee ring-inspired test brings hospital-level disease detection right to your home. With results ready in under twelve minutes, you can quickly check for diseases like COVID-19 and even early signs of sepsis. You no longer need to schedule lab visits or wait days for results. Instead, you can take charge of your health from the comfort of your kitchen, using a simple, affordable tool that could catch problems early and help keep your family safe. As technology like this becomes widely available, routine screening could become as easy as making your morning coffee. It's incredible how a common coffee stain inspired a breakthrough in medical testing. Science proves that even life's little messes can spark big innovations. With these advances, you can look forward to faster, easier health checks at home and maybe appreciate your next coffee spill just a little more. Would you trust a coffee stain to help catch disease early? Let us know by writing us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UC Berkeley graduates celebrate campusewide commencement
The Brief UC Berkeley graduates marked commencement with celebration, little sleep, and lasting school spirit. Many face a more competitive job market, prompting some to pursue advanced degrees. BERKELEY, Calif. - UC Berkeley's campus was buzzing with excitement Saturday morning as thousands of students gathered for the university's campuswide commencement ceremony - a defining moment marking the end of years of hard work and the start of a new chapter. The mood was a mix of celebration, exhaustion, and reflection, with students running on adrenaline, and in some cases, very little sleep. "It's unbelievable. I finished a 7 to 10 p.m. final last night, so I got out less than 12 hours before I graduate," said Oli Maynard, a graduating student. Many students spent their final night before commencement soaking up the last moments with classmates. "Three hours," said Sydney Wittington when asked how much sleep they got. "We were at the Campanile. We were all hanging out with the class for the last time last night… It's been electric, it's been amazing. We were all at Tap Haus earlier, the bar near campus. We were all in photo booths, we were drinking mimosas. It's been a great morning." Among those graduating was 2024 Olympic gold medalist Jack Alexy. "I'll be swimming professionally," Alexy said of his post-graduation plans. While the atmosphere was largely celebratory, there was an undercurrent of economic reality. Graduates are entering a job market more competitive than it has been in recent years, with many companies cutting back on hiring. "It's been extremely tough. A lot of companies don't have the same positions that they were able to a couple months ago, so it's been kind of dealing with that - but staying persistent, obviously," said Nicholas Sweet, another graduate. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, fewer companies plan to hire recent graduates this summer compared to last fall. The unemployment rate for recent grads neared 6% in March, slightly lower than the year before. Some students are opting to continue their education rather than head straight into the workforce. "It's just been really difficult, and increasing your degree has always been beneficial. You can do a doctorate or a master's," Maynard said. For many families, the day marked a proud milestone. "I'm a Cal State grad. I went to Cal State Humboldt - now Cal Poly, thank you - and she went to Davis. So we're all California public school folks, and we think it's wonderful that Berkeley is also a public school and one of the most amazing institutions to go to," said Evan Pinto, who traveled from Laguna Beach, to watch his son graduate with an economics degree. And as with any Cal celebration, school pride was on full display - often at the expense of their cross-Bay rivals. "It's a lot of hard work to graduate here, especially in four years. We're blessed and lucky to go to the best school in America, and thank God we don't go to Stanford," said graduate Tanner Kenin. "Go Bears!" echoed across campus as students celebrated the end of one journey and the beginning of another.
TechCrunch
13-05-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
Attend TechCrunch Sessions: AI with this new, limited-time discount
We're excited to announce a big surprise for the AI community — TechCrunch Sessions: AI is getting a limited-time discount to broaden the number of people who can attend and learn from some of the brightest minds in the industry. For just $292, you can get a general admission ticket — plus a 50% discount on a second — to attend our flagship AI-centric event at UC Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall on June 5. We're looking for everyone from those working in the industry to founders, academics, AI die-hards, and beyond to get the chance to learn from and engage with a full day of programming, including: Anthropic co-founder Jared Kaplan, taking attendees through a behind-the-scenes look at hybrid reasoning models. A peek behind the scenes of how OpenAI works with startups, with Hao Sang of their GTM team. Tanka founder and CEO Kisson Lin, on why your next founder will be an AI. The two winners of our competitive Audience Choice competition: Cohere's Yann Stoneman on using generative AI in privacy-driven companies, and the Global Innovation Forum's Hua Wang on moving swiftly while maintaining compliance. And that's on top of our consistent focus on networking opportunities, with attendees getting the chance to set up 1:1 sessions, meet with peers and potential partners, and start the relationships that lead to big deals down the road. When the event itself is done, you'll also get the chance to keep the momentum rolling with side events hosted by partners across Berkeley, California, including Tanka, Toyota, and MyHomie. Just because our event is done doesn't mean your perks for getting a ticket should, after all. Remember, this pricing is a limited-time offer, so act now and head here to reserve your slot at one of the most exciting events within the AI space this year!
