Here's One to Root For
South Korean science really needs a shot in the arm after last year's buzz kill. Let's hope this discovery turns out to be for real:
Anti-Aging Molecule Discovered
A team of South Korean scientists on Sunday claimed to have created a ``cellular fountain of youth,’’ or a small molecule, which enables human cells to avoid aging and dying.The team, headed by Prof. Kim Tae-kook at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, argued the newly-synthesized molecule, named CGK733, can even make cells younger.
Kim developed this molecule using a form of nanotech he developed called, appropriately, MAGIC. MAGIC is short for "magnetism-based interactive capture." Kim said:
We have the magnet-associated technology to identify molecular targets inside living cells, which allowed us to examine the mechanisms of CGK733 directly...
Unlike other research teams that must make candidates materials for drugs without being able to see their intra-cell activities, we know the precise mechanism of CGK733. So we have the better chance of making a success of the substance.
H/T to William Brown
UPDATE (from Phil): Reason at Fight Aging! has an intersting take on this development.