Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common form and it is caused by the loss of sensory hair cells in the cochlea. Unlike birds and fish, mammals do not regenerate these auditory hair cells, so we relied on hearing aids and cochlear implants to aid in these situations. Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School… »

Two researchers at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a living laser, in which a single cell genetically engineered to express green fluorescent protein (GFP). Before you start thinking about sharks with lasers or other science fiction creatures, this technology is used to amplify photons into nanosecond-long pulses of laser… »

Since most of the procedures in modern surgery are performed with remote controlled tools that can be inserted into the body using only small incisions, laparoscopic surgery skips the need for large incisions and, in turn, usually results in shorter recovery times for patients. An interdisciplinary team of researchers, led by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is… »