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Scientists Discover Compound In Baby Diapers Can Enlarge Brain Cells

Posted by samzenpus on from the all-the-better-to-see-you-with dept.

An anonymous reader writes with news of a breakthrough in brain imaging thanks to a compound found in diapers. "A team of researchers has discovered that a compound used in baby diapers to absorb the liquids can help enlarge the size of the brain cells for a better imaging. The scientists work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and were experimenting with new ways that could help them enlarge the brain cells for a better resolution photos. They discovered by accident that sodium polyacrylate, a compound in baby diapers can enlarge brain cells and can be used in their research. The scientists termed the new technique of enlarging the brain cells 'expansion microscopy.' This new technique will help the scientists increase the brain cells tissue samples and see it in a better image resolution."

12 of 75 comments (clear)

  1. Jennie McCarty gets right on that - by the_skywise · · Score: 4, Funny

    By putting baby diapers on her and her children's head to make them smarter.

  2. Stop, just stop by Enry · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Quit making these dumbass comparisons between everyday products and something scientific unless there's really something to be concerned about. Crap like this leads to people like Foodbabe telling us that the same ingredients in water are also used to degrade iron. It's true, but the fact it's true doesn't mean that water will cause us to rust.

    1. Re:Stop, just stop by chad_r · · Score: 2

      ...Or every news site regurgitating the sound bite that "the same chemical in yoga mats is in Subway sandwiches" (which is actually in most bread, and it's hard to find bread without it). What the heck, this is also from foodbabe? Ugh, I just went to her website and I feel gross.

    2. Re:Stop, just stop by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 2

      Quit making these dumbass comparisons between everyday products and something scientific unless there's really something to be concerned about.

      Quit flipping out over a headline without reading the summary. This is "X in Y discovered to do Z" in a scientifically useful way.

      The brain cells they're talking about are dead ones in samples, not live ones in a baby's brain.

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    3. Re:Stop, just stop by mysidia · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Water has always been the main reason people die.

      Dihydrogen monoxide has been maligned numerous times over the years, but the real culprit is Oxygen; DHMO is just one of the many corrupt forms that Oxygen can take.

  3. new meaning for the term.. by Virtucon · · Score: 4, Funny

    Shit for brains.

    --
    Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
  4. discovered by accident by seededfury · · Score: 2

    How does one get diaper mixed in with their brain cells by accident?

    1. Re:discovered by accident by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 2

      They didn't. The chemical is used in diapers to increase absorption. No diapers were killed in the making of this experiment. Hope that clears the air :-)

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  5. It's basically a water absorption compound by azav · · Score: 2

    This compound is used in many areas where holding water is important. It's used in transport of seedlings to provide a water reservoir and keep them moist. It's used in diapers. It's used in many creative areas to absorb and hold water.

    --
    - Zav - Imagine a Beowulf cluster of insensitive clods...
  6. it's interesting to note a compound's everyday use by circletimessquare · · Score: 2

    the fact that someone uneducated will think uneducated things based on noting a compound's everyday use simply means that uneducated people need to educate themselves

    in fact, even if we censored such notable common uses as you ask us to, uneducated people will still think stupid, dangerous, and fearful things. so what you ask us to do doesn't even provide the protection you think it does

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  7. Tissue samples. not live brain by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 3, Insightful

    No, it is not enlarging live brains. It enlarges the cells in tissue samples.

    --
    sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
  8. Re:If you can't eat it, don't put it on your skin. by surd1618 · · Score: 2
    Nonsense, malarkey, and hocus pocus. That's 5 links to articles, all of which make assertions that are not tested or are too vague to be easily testable.

    "Putting chemicals on your skin is actually far worse than ingesting them.

    Which chemicals? This statement could be true for some, and patently false for others. Ditto for all the stuff you said about the liver. (IANAD but I've taken biochem, so, come at me if you like)
    That Dr. Hyman article is BS.... I can't believe how hard that fucking vaccine myth is to stamp out. THE RESEARCH WAS FRAUDULENT! (and abusive!)
    Concerning autism and vitamin D, correlation and causation....
    If I seem shrill about this, well, my brother is autistic, and I am extremely BS-averse.

    "That which is asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence."

    -Christopher Hitchens