måndag 3 december 2012

Dune and Dermatology

I just finished reading The Children of Dune by Frank Herbert. It's the third part of the epic Dune saga of five novels. I swear it is THE best science fiction ever written. There are also a number of prequels, sequels and interquels (new word for me!). I can definitely recommend reading the first five! Haven't got around to reading the new ones yet.





And low and behold there are aslo a few games based on the universe of which I have played Dune II. On of the first real-time strategy games similar to Command and Conquer or Warcraft I and II. 

Anywho, what does this have to do with dermatology then? In the end of Children of Dune, Leto II, lets himself be covered in a leach like type of organism. They go all symbiotic on him and he ends up protected against the harsh desert, resistant to injuries and super strong :). So he get's like an extra skin/exoskeleton. Simple and clean, well not sure about the clean part.

Scientist have had trouble replicating our cool skin. I mean it protects us against heat, cold, dehydration, bacteria and mechanical injury and can heal by itself, which is in itself pretty sci fi. And not to forget it gives us the great sense of touch. If we could make new skin, imagine the benefits for all burn and trauma victims.

So, some scientists have come up with a fake-skin/polymer that is able to heal itself in matter of seconds, like Wolverine or assorted vampires can do. But opposed to our real skin the fake also conducts electricity very well, making it possible to use it to interface with electronic devices. Pretty cool. It could also register touch, which means that it could be used in prosthetics. 

You can read more here: http://news.stanford.edu/news/2012/november/healing-plastic-skin-111112.html


- Thomas

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