A neuron cell diagram – click the image for more details
Neural engineer Matthew Schiefer may have discovered an important lead in one of neurology’s most challenging problems: how to reanimate paralyzed limbs. Working at Case Western Reserve University, Schiefer was able to “hack” a nerve bundle in an unconscious subject’s leg using a small eletrode (image after jump), causing the leg to twitch .
She’s inventing medical devices, helping babies and the elderly, getting her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, and founding a start-up company – all at the age of 24. Sanna Gaspard, recently named one of IEEE’s “New Faces of Engineering,” has been described by her coworkers as an “energizer bunny.” It’s true that she gets an incredible amount done, but she’s also driven by her compassion for others. Her pediatric technology may soon be helping infants – especially those born prematurely – stay healthy and happy.
Next week, NISE Net (Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network) celebrates NanoDays, a nationwide series of events and activities at your local science centers dedicated to the wondrous world of nanotechnology.
So what exactly is nanotech, you may ask, and how is it crucial to the future of engineering? Watch the video above to find out.
