Breakthrough could prevent 30% of cancer deaths

Plus: 100-year-old error could change how we see color Sep 12, 2022 [Blueprint]( As cancer-care breakthroughs go, [this could be big](. I say this because muscle fatigue is estimated to be the cause of around 30 percent of cancer fatalities – and now we might be able to change that. The severe muscle loss and weakness commonly associated with underlying cancer growth (which is called cachexia), might now be preventable. It’s thought to affect up to 80 percent of people with advanced cancer, and causes up to 30 percent of cancer deaths, as a result of cardiac or respiratory failure brought on by muscle loss. But before you check out that breakthrough, take a look at this one. [This video]( shows two new innovations that might mean clean water could be accessible for everyone. Good morning. I’m Alice, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s dive in. Last Sunday, Blueprint subscribers had an exclusive insight from Ryan Harne, one of the lead researchers on the recent development of the material that can “think and feel”. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+ today]( to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. [Play]VIDEO OF THE DAY [These 2 breakthroughs may make fresh water available to all.]( [Clean water innovations.]( If everyone could have clean water it would be a pretty big step forward. [Must Read]MUST READ [Cancer causes muscle fatigue — and one small tweak could block it.]( [Cachexia breakthrough.]( A [new study conducted at the Indiana University School of Medicine]( has shown that cachexia, (the severe muscle fatigue commonly associated with having underlying cancer growth) could be prevented if the patient is deprived of FNDC5, which is the precursor of the exercise hormone irisin. This matters because it affects around 80 percent of people with advanced cancer, and causes up to 30 percent of cancer deaths, as a result of cardiac or respiratory failure brought on by muscle loss. The study used mice with damaged or knocked-out versions of the protein-coding gene FNDC5 (fibronectin type III domain‐containing protein 5). These genetically altered mice were unable to produce the hormone that burns calories. → Although these mice were shielded from the effects of tumors that caused muscle atrophy, they displayed little to no protection against tumor-related bone loss, indicating a targeted effect on muscle. The findings also implied that FNDC5/irisin affects muscle differently depending on sex, so it might protect only males from cancer cachexia, not females. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Linkedin]( [SCIENCE]SCIENCE [Scientists discover a 100-year-old math error, changing how humans see color. [premium]]( Correcting this mistake [could have important ramifications]( for televisions, other devices reliant on image and video processing, textile and paint manufacturers, as well as visualizations of scientific data. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Science - The [brains of first-time fathers]( may shrink, reveals new study. - How seahorse fathers [use their unique body and behavior]( to give birth. - Hubble Space Telescope discovers spiral of star formations [150 light-years in diameter](. [INNOVATION]INNOVATION [IBM builds the world's largest dilution refrigerator for quantum computers.]( IBM has built a [super-fridge known as project Goldeneye]( that is capable of cooling future generations of quantum experiments and that surpasses the issues found in today’s dilution refrigerators. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Innovation - This new technology [detecting deadly landmines with 92% accuracy]( could help Ukraine. - Dubai will be home to the world’s largest [net-zero carbon urban tech district](. - The engineer who [built an airplane in his backyard]( is flying around Europe with his family. [premium] [MAIL & MUSINGS]MAIL & MUSINGS Cancer causes muscle fatigue, but one small tweak could block it. What do you think the most significant wider implication of curing cachexia might be? [HIV and MS treatment]( [Heart failure prognoses]( [Eating disorder recovery]( [Something else entirely]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS On Saturday, we asked you if you think a new x-ray technique for detecting explosives might be an effective way to identify tumors, as scientists hope. And 39 percent of you said sure, why not! 39% Sure, why not? 38% It’s worth a try 21% I don’t know more tests need to be done 2% No, you can’t do two things well at once. [QUOTE OF THE DAY]QUOTE OF THE DAY “The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder.” Ralph W. Sockman, 1889–1970, American clergyman. [THINGS WE LOVE]THINGS WE LOVE [image]( [DONGKE Plastic Hardshell Case]( [image]( [HP Laptop]( [image]( [Graco Car Seat]( [image]( [Sun Joe Electric Garden Tiller]( [AND ANOTHER THING]AND ANOTHER THING - [Plasma-powered oxygen harvesting]( could help humans live on Mars. [premium] - How to make [recyclable plastics out of CO2]( to slow climate change. (Science News) - China and Russia just announced a [joint plan to build a Moon base](. Here's what to know. [premium] - Huge satellite [could outshine all stars]( and planets in the night sky. (New Scientist) - How did the universe begin? Study reveals [why the ‘bouncing’ theory is wrong](. [premium] - [Black hole discovery]( helps to explain quantum nature of the cosmos. (Scientific American) - [Air pollution can cause lung cancer]( in non-smokers, a new study finds. 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