2 August 2017

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2017-08-02

Today's Headlines:

Test may spot glaucoma before symptoms begin, study says

Newcastle University researchers create a hand that 'can see'

Blade girl goes to school and impresses the playground

Transcript:

Glaucoma is more comment as you get older. It affects 600,000 people in the UK. If left untreated, nerve cells in the retina die, leading to sight loss. The new test uses a special fluorescent marker to highlight the failing cells, potentially revolutionising treatment. The trials have involved just 16 people so far, so more research is needed but the London team say these are promising results.

A prosthetic with potential – a bionic hand that for the first time can pick up objects almost instantaneously. Doug is one of a number of amputees trialling this new technology. So how does it work? On the face of it, it's very simple and down to a 99p webcam. This is still just a prototype. The team are creating a database of everyday objects so eventually it can learn to pick up something it has never seen before.

Now a heart-warming story for you. Remember how it felt when you wore new shoes to school for the first time? Well, how does it feel when it's not a shoe, but a prosthetic blade? Seven-year-old Anu showed off her new leg to her playground pals here in Britain – they were very impressed.

Words and phrases and definitions:

marker
something used to indicate a position

amputees
people who've had a limb removed

heart-warming
something that makes you feel good

Exercise:

Use one of the words or phrases from Lingohack to complete each of these sentences. Note that you may have to change the form of a word or phrase to complete the sentence correctly.

marker / amputees / heart-warming

1. A British veteran has become the first double leg ______ to run six marathons in as many days in the Sahara desert.

2. Anna Perman from Cancer Research UK told the BBC: "We know that tumours often have an abnormal system of blood vessels, but we also know that increased blood flow isn't necessarily a reliable ______ of cancer.

3. Amidst all the destruction left by the hurricane, there's a ______ tale of solidarity in the worst affected community.

Answers:

1. A British veteran has become the first double leg amputee to run six marathons in as many days in the Sahara desert.
2. Anna Perman from Cancer Research UK told the BBC: "We know that tumours often have an abnormal system of blood vessels, but we also know that increased blood flow isn't necessarily a reliable marker of cancer.
3. Amidst all the destruction left by the hurricane, there's a heart-warming tale of solidarity in the worst affected community.