U-M innovation may shed light on cause of cancer, nerve damage

Thursday, December 20, 2007 | Source: University of Michigan

A tiny device developed by University of Michigan scientists has made the impossible possible - using the tiny nano-voltmeter, scientists have been able to measure the electric field inside a cell. That may not sound like much, but the technology may have stunning applications, from shedding light on the causes of diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's to mending nerve damage.

Excerpt:

With a diameter of about 30 nanometers, the spherical device is 1,000-fold smaller than existing voltmeters, Kopelman said. It is a photonic instrument, meaning that it uses light to do its work, rather than the electrons that electronic devices employ.

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