Can We Learn About Our Brain With Diapers?

One of the most amazing things about science is that the most novel solutions come from seemingly simple and unexpected places. A team of MIT researchers have come up with a novel way of learning about how the human brain functions—with the help of a brain with diapers! Have you ever noticed the soft super-absorbent polymer material in diapers? Well, scientists have found a way of using it to investigate brain structure.

Its Look Like Bizarre Discovery

While this might seem a truly bizarre discovery to many people, the technique offers significant benefits. For starters, it could help researchers expand their knowledge about neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s by studying the operation of neurons in the brain. Regular people can find the knowledge engaging as well.

The NOVA website presents an interactive feature where users can view interesting images of the brain. Not only are these images surreal to look at, they can also inspire people to learn more about their brain with diapers.Neurosciences is perhaps one of the most fascinating fields mainly because it studies the most complex human organ and yet so little is known about it. It’s a truly exciting moment when you realize you are at the brink of moving beyond the limits of your knowledge. With this new discovery, the possibilities of learning something new about our brain every day have become limitless.

Ed Boyden Neuroengineer

Ed Boyden, a neuroengineer, is interested in understanding how the small biomolecules in our brains produce emotions, ideas, and sensations. He also wants to identify the molecular abnormalities resulting from diseases like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s. Instead of using a microscope to magnify these invisible structures, he pondered the possibility of physically enlarging them to improve visibility. Understanding how the same polymers used to create newborn diapers inflate might be the key to understanding our brains.