Your World This Week, Feb. 14 – 20

By All That's Interesting | Edited By Savannah Cox
Published February 15, 2016

Researchers Devise “Mini-Brains” That Might Just Save Your Life

If you ever worry you’re losing your mind sometime, try making a smaller one for back up. It might sound like a Jetsons-esque fantasy, but according to new research reported at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting, it’s not exactly unfathomable.

According to research led by Johns Hopkins researcher Thomas Hartung, these “mini brains” — which can be custom-made according to the cells from which they draw — may “soon help scientists study a wide variety of diseases and health problems,” ranging from Parkinson’s to MS to Alzheimers, Ars Technica reported.

The mini brains, or tiny balls of brain cells, may offer a more ethical, cheaper and realistic model for human health testing than mice and other animals, the researchers said.

While the potential for these “mini brains” seems limitless, Hartung’s enthusiasm remains tempered. “I’m selling hopes,” Hartung said.

3 Events To Know About This Week

Lyon Griswold Brawl

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

  • February 15, 1798: The first major physical fight breaks out on the floor of the U.S. Congress when Rep. Roger Griswold of Connecticut attacks Rep. Matthew Lyon of Vermont with a cane. Two weeks earlier, Lyon had hit Griswold with tobacco juice.
    • Huckleberry Finn First Edition

    Image Source: Nate D. Sanders

  • February 18, 1885: Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is published.
    • Us Postal Service Logo

    Image Source: Source Link

  • February 20, 1792: The U.S. Postal Service is created.
    • author
    All That's Interesting
    author
    All That's Interesting
    Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.
    editor
    Savannah Cox
    editor
    Savannah Cox
    Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.
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