Latest news with #LordCarnarvon
Forbes
27-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Prototype: King Tut's Curse Might Kill Leukemia
In this week's edition of The Prototype, we look at cancer-killing fungi, robots that perform surgery on your eyeballs, genetically modified bacteria that turn plastic into Tylenol and more. You can sign up to get The Prototype in your inbox here . Getty Images W hen I was a kid, I was obsessed with King Tut's tomb–and the legends of the curse put upon the team that discovered it. Of course, the stories were false and many of the tomb's discoverers lived long lives after finding it. But King Tut may have claimed at least one victim, Lord Carnarvon, thanks to a toxic fungus called aspergillus that had lain dormant for centuries. Now that 'curse' may be hitting a different target–leukemia. A new study published this week found that chemical compounds in aspergillus, when purified, show anti-cancer properties. And if a fatty molecule is added to the purified fungus the resulting compound demonstrates cancer-fighting activity similar to that of drugs currently used to treat leukemia. Next up, the scientists plan to take the most promising chemical candidates and test them on cancer in animals. If successful there, the chemicals could one day be used to treat human cancer patients. Forsight Robotics C ataract surgery is one of the world's most common medical procedures, with more than 4 million of them done each year in the United States alone, but there simply aren't enough doctors available to meet the demand for everyone who needs the surgery. An Israeli startup is betting that robots can someday easy that demand by doing the procedure better and cheaper than human doctors. ForSight Robotics on Tuesday said it had raised $125 million led by Eclipse Ventures to expand Oryom, its robotic surgery platform for cataracts and other eye diseases . The funding is the second-largest Series B investment in a surgical robotics startup, and brings ForSight's total investment to $195 million. The new money values the company at an estimated $500 million—a substantial increase since it last raised funds in 2022 at a $162 million valuation, according to VC database PitchBook. Additional investors include Fred Moll, the cofounder of Intuitive Surgical and pioneer of robotic surgery, who has joined the company's strategic advisory board. ForSight has been testing its robot on pig eyes, and plans to complete its first full robotic surgery on a human patient later this year. It's targeting the U.S. market and is in early conversations with the FDA. While ForSight's robots would be the first for cataracts, robotic surgery has become increasingly commonplace since $185 billion (market cap) Intuitive Surgical received FDA approval for its Da Vinci robots, which enable precision procedures, 25 years ago. 'At first people were intimidated by robotics' advancement,' Dr. Joseph Nathan, ForSight's cofounder, president and chief medical officer, told Forbes. 'Now they are seeing robotics as the thing that will get them the best outcomes.' Read the whole story at Forbes DISCOVERY OF THE WEEK: TURNING PLASTIC INTO PAINKILLERS Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have genetically engineered a bacteria that can take waste plastic and turn it into an ingredient used in acetaminophen (aka Tylenol). To make this work, they chemically broke down PET, a common plastic used in food packaging, into a simpler molecule and added it to a cell culture. The bacteria then produced special enzymes that interacted with the plastic molecule, transforming it into the painkiller ingredient. The researchers found that over 90% of the plastic was transformed into the drug, and the process used less energy than the conventional way to produce it from crude oil. The team's next step is to develop a way to scale the process to provide a more sustainable way to manufacture acetaminophen, with the backing of pharmaceutical companies like AstraZeneca. FINAL FRONTIER: FIRST PHOTOS FROM VERA RUBIN OBSERVATORY The Vera C. Rubin observatory, a giant telescope built in the mountains of Chile, released its first images of space this week. The observatory used a $168 million car-size digital camera tag of –paired with a unique three-mirror telescope to not only capture the unprecedentedly high-resolution images of a cluster of galaxies in the constellation Virgo, but also monitor changes in that part of the sky thanks to its ability to record time-lapsed videos. WHAT ELSE I WROTE THIS WEEK In my other newsletter, InnovationRx, Amy Feldman and I looked at health insurance companies promising to improve the prior authorization process (again), how Bell Labs plans to commercialize its massive IP portfolio, American attitudes towards vaccinating kids, and more. SCIENCE AND TECH TIDBITS NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has discovered its first planet outside the solar system. About the size of Saturn, the new world is circling a red dwarf star about 111 light-years away. Self-driving taxi company Waymo has begun operating in Atlanta, marking the fifth major U.S. city its services are available in. The Trump administration has terminated millions of dollars of government subscriptions to the Springer Nature group, which publishes major scientific journals such as Nature . After months of delays, SpaceX launched its fourth mission with Axiom Space, sending four astronauts to the International Space Station where they will conduct a wide variety of scientific experiments for Axiom's customers. PRO SCIENCE TIP: MAKE YOUR BUSINESS MORE PROFITABLE WITH AN IPO A new study of the brains of mice suggests that one of the best ways to learn a new task is to devote time to not learning it. The researchers found that mice learned more quickly when they were allowed to explore new environments without focusing on any particular task. Evidently areas of the brain developed during unstructured activities can help expedite the completion of specific tasks. If that holds true in humans, it may be a good idea to stay productive by making sure you take the time to be unproductive. WHAT'S ENTERTAINING ME THIS WEEK I recently finished the novel The Book Censor's Library by Bothayna Al-Essa. It's set in a dystopian future where censorship is the norm. The story follows the titular censor, who in his ambition to be good in his new job finds himself falling in love with reading. That leads him to a resistance movement, where he struggles to protect both books and his own daughter, who displays far more imagination than society will allow. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes Elon Musk Has Fired One Of His Top Tesla Lieutenants By Alan Ohnsman Forbes Why The U.S. Should Copy Canada To Fix Its Broken Air Traffic Control System By Jeremy Bogaisky Forbes The 36 Colleges Most At Risk From Pell Grant Cuts By Fiona Riley
The National
24-06-2025
- Health
- The National
How toxic fungus in Tutankhamun's tomb can help fight cancer
A deadly fungus behind the so-called curse of Tutankhamun 's tomb can be harnessed to fight cancer, scientists have discovered. Aspergillus flavus, a toxic fungus linked to deaths in the excavations of ancient tombs, can be transformed into a potent cancer-fighting compound, they found. Researchers at Penn University, Pennsylvania, believe it opens up new frontiers in the discovery of more fungal medicines. The mould, named for its yellow spores and long considered a microbial villain, has been found growing in sealed tombs in Egypt and was thought to be responsible for the deaths of several people who entered, including Tutankhamun's in 1923. Aspergillus spores grow especially well on grain, the supply of which was abundant in Tutankhamun's tomb, with offerings of bread and raw grain stored in numerous baskets. From curse to cure The idea of a pharaoh's curse had endured from the 1820s, with the discovery of dire warnings on the walls of tombs intended to deter robbers. After Tutankhamun's tomb was opened, there followed a series of deaths of those among the excavation team, including expedition patron Lord Carnarvon, financier George Jay Gould and Egyptologist Arthur Mace, giving fuel to the idea of a curse. Decades later, doctors theorised that fungal spores, dormant for millennia, could have played a role. In the 1970s, a dozen scientists entered the tomb of Casimir IV in Poland. Within weeks, 10 of them died. Later investigations revealed the tomb contained A. flavus, the toxins of which can lead to lung infections, especially in people with compromised immune systems. The mummy of Ramses II was taken to Paris in 1976 and 89 species of fungi were isolated from it, including aspergillus. Now, that same fungus is the unlikely source of a promising new cancer therapy. 'Fungi gave us penicillin,' said Sherry Gao, of Penn University, senior author of a new paper in Nature Chemical Biology on the findings. 'These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found.' Pharaoh's curse British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened. He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia. Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from 'pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes'. Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse. Hunting for chemicals The researchers scanned a dozen strains of Aspergillus, to find promising candidates that may lead to a medicine. They found identified could be modified to create cancer-fighting molecules called asperigimycins. Even with no modification, when mixed with human cancer cells, asperigimycins demonstrated medical potential against leukaemia cells. Another variant, to which the researchers added a fatty molecule found in the royal jelly that nourishes developing bees, performed as well as two drugs that have been used for decades to treat leukaemia. Disrupting cell division Through further experimentation, the researchers found that asperigimycins can disrupt the process of cell division. 'Cancer cells divide uncontrollably,' said Ms Gao. 'These compounds block the formation of microtubules, which are essential for cell division.' The compounds appeared to have a specific effect on leukaemia cells but had little to no effect on breast, liver or lung cancer cells. Qiuyue Nie, a postdoctoral fellow and the paper's first author, said the compounds had 'strong bioactivity'. 'This is an unexplored region with tremendous potential,' she added. The next step is to test asperigimycins in animal models, with the hope of one day moving to human clinical trials. 'Nature has given us this incredible pharmacy,' said Ms Gao. 'It's up to us to uncover its secrets. As engineers, we're excited to keep exploring, learning from nature and using that knowledge to design better solutions.'
Times
24-06-2025
- Health
- Times
Toxic fungus linked to ‘pharoah's curse' could help fight cancer
A toxic fungus linked to the mysterious deaths of archaeologists who opened ancient tombs including that of Tutankhamun could be used to make a drug to tackle blood cancer. The theory of a 'pharoah's curse' grew after a series of untimely deaths struck down several members of the team who excavated Tutankhamun's tomb in the 1920s. In the 1970s, 12 scientists entered a tomb in Poland that belonged to Casimir IV, who was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440 and King of Poland from 1447. Within weeks, ten of them were dead. It emerged that the tomb contained Aspergillus flavus, a toxic crop fungus with yellow spores that can lead to lung infections, particularly in those with weakened immune systems. However, researchers have found that the fungus could contain one of a class of peptides known as RiPPs, pronounced 'rips', that can be modified to attack cancer. 'Purifying these chemicals is difficult,' said Dr Qiuyue Nie from the University of Pennslyvania, an author of the paper published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology. 'The synthesis of these compounds is complicated, but that's also what gives them this remarkable bioactivity.' A number of these RiPPs had been found in bacteria but few had been found in fungi. They found that a particular protein within the Aspergillus flavus fungus was a promising candidate. Howard Carter, the British archaeologist, led the team that explored Tutankhamun's tomb. His benefactor, Lord Carnarvon, died six weeks after they entered the tomb TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER BILL WARHURST, COLOURISED BY UNSEEN HISTORIES/JORDAN J LLOYD AND JOSHUA BARRETT 'Even with no modification, when mixed with human cancer cells, the asperigimycins [protein] demonstrated medical potential. Two of the four variants had potent effects against leukaemia cells,' the research showed. After adding a fatty molecule to another variant, they found that it worked as well as 'two drugs that have been used for decades to treat leukaemia'. It appears that the protein may disrupt the division of the cancer cells. 'Fungi gave us penicillin,' said Sherry Gao, a professor at the university. 'These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found.' It could be many years before a drug can be produced for testing and use in humans, however. 'The next step is to test asperigimycins in animal models, with the hope of one day moving to human clinical trials,' the researchers said. 'Nature has given us this incredible pharmacy,' Gao said. 'It's up to us to uncover its secrets. As engineers, we're excited to keep exploring, learning from nature and using that knowledge to design better solutions.'
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Deadly fungus in Tutankhamun's ‘cursed' tomb can help fight cancer
The toxic fungus behind the 'curse' of Tutankhamun's tomb can fight cancer, scientists have found. Aspergillus flavus is a mould that often grows in long-sealed tombs and can trigger deadly breathing problems or allergic reactions in people with weakened immune systems. It is thought to be partly responsible for the deaths of several people who entered tombs, including Tutankhamun's in 1923, and the 15th-century Polish king Casimir IV Jagiellon's in 1973. Now scientists have found that its deadly spores are also lethal to leukaemia and are hoping to begin testing in animals, before eventually moving on to humans. 'Nature has given us this incredible pharmacy, it's up to us to uncover its secrets,' said Dr Sherry Gao, an associate professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. 'Fungi gave us penicillin. These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found.' Aspergillus flavus can lie dormant for centuries, only becoming active again once disturbed. It is known to grow on cereals, which were often sealed up as grave goods inside tombs. After archaeologists opened Tutankhamun's tomb a series of untimely deaths among the excavation team - including those of British patron Lord Carnarvon, George Jay Gould, the financier, and Egyptologist Arthur Mace - fuelled rumours of a pharaoh's curse. But experts later theorised that it could have been the fungus, which may have lain dormant for millennia. In the 1970s, a dozen conservationists entered the tomb of Casimir IV in Poland and within weeks, 10 of them had died. Later investigations revealed the tomb contained Aspergillus flavus. In the new study, scientists studied a dozen strains of Aspergillus to see if they produced anything that might be repurposed as a medicine. They discovered potent cancer-fighting molecules, which they named asperigimycins. Even with no modification, the asperigimycins showed strong medical potential against leukaemia cells. When researchers added a molecule found in the royal jelly - the substance that nourishes developing bees - the asperigimycins performed as well as cytarabine and daunorubicin, two drugs that have been used for decades to treat leukaemia. Through further experimentation, the researchers discovered that asperigimycins seem to work by disrupting the process of cancer cell division. 'Cancer cells divide uncontrollably,' added Dr Gao. 'These compounds block the formation of microtubules, which are essential for cell division.' The team also found that the cancer-fighting properties only seemed to work on leukaemia, and had little to no effect on other cancers such as breast, liver or lung cancer. The researchers identified similar clusters of genes in other fungi, suggesting that more potential drugs from fungi remain to be discovered. It suggests that natural remedies to individual cancers may be present already in nature and the scientists are keen to explore whether other fungi also produce similar molecules. 'Even though only a few have been found, almost all of them have strong bioactivity,' said Dr Qiuyue Nie, of the department of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. 'This is an unexplored region with tremendous potential.' The research was published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
23-06-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Deadly fungus in Tutankhamun's ‘cursed' tomb can help fight cancer
The toxic fungus behind the 'curse' of Tutankhamun's tomb can fight cancer, scientists have found. Aspergillus flavus is a mould that often grows in long-sealed tombs and can trigger deadly breathing problems or allergic reactions in people with weakened immune systems. It is thought to be partly responsible for the deaths of several people who entered tombs, including Tutankhamun's in 1923, and the 15th-century Polish king Casimir IV Jagiellon's in 1973. Now scientists have found that its deadly spores are also lethal to leukaemia and are hoping to begin testing in animals, before eventually moving on to humans. 'Nature has given us this incredible pharmacy, it's up to us to uncover its secrets,' said Dr Sherry Gao, an associate professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. 'Fungi gave us penicillin. These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found.' Aspergillus flavus can lie dormant for centuries, only becoming active again once disturbed. It is known to grow on cereals, which were often sealed up as grave goods inside tombs. After archaeologists opened Tutankhamun's tomb a series of untimely deaths among the excavation team - including those of British patron Lord Carnarvon, George Jay Gould, the financier, and Egyptologist Arthur Mace - fuelled rumours of a pharaoh's curse. But experts later theorised that it could have been the fungus, which may have lain dormant for millennia. In the 1970s, a dozen conservationists entered the tomb of Casimir IV in Poland and within weeks, 10 of them had died. Later investigations revealed the tomb contained Aspergillus flavus. In the new study, scientists studied a dozen strains of Aspergillus to see if they produced anything that might be repurposed as a medicine. They discovered potent cancer-fighting molecules, which they named asperigimycins. Even with no modification, the asperigimycins showed strong medical potential against leukaemia cells. When researchers added a molecule found in the royal jelly - the substance that nourishes developing bees - the asperigimycins performed as well as cytarabine and daunorubicin, two drugs that have been used for decades to treat leukaemia. Through further experimentation, the researchers discovered that asperigimycins seem to work by disrupting the process of cancer cell division. 'Cancer cells divide uncontrollably,' added Dr Gao. 'These compounds block the formation of microtubules, which are essential for cell division.' The team also found that the cancer-fighting properties only seemed to work on leukaemia, and had little to no effect on other cancers such as breast, liver or lung cancer. The researchers identified similar clusters of genes in other fungi, suggesting that more potential drugs from fungi remain to be discovered. It suggests that natural remedies to individual cancers may be present already in nature and the scientists are keen to explore whether other fungi also produce similar molecules. 'Even though only a few have been found, almost all of them have strong bioactivity,' said Dr Qiuyue Nie, of the department of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. 'This is an unexplored region with tremendous potential.'
