Skip to main content

Levitating Cells Could Help With Cancer Testing

Scientists are now able to levitate individual cells with magnets to measure the cell density, which may help increase the reliability of cancer testing and finding which cells survive through drug treatments.

Republish
Associate Professor Sung Jung uses mass spectrometers to measure protein in cancer cells at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston Monday, February 11, 2013. Baylor College of Medicine received a $6 million CPRIT grant to purchase advanced laboratory infrastructure and pay researchers to measure all of the metabolites and proteins in cancer cells at the same time.
Credit: Michael Stravato

Scientists are now able to levitate individual cells with magnets to measure cell density, which may help increase the reliability of cancer testing and finding which cells survive through drug treatments. Although scientists have levitated animals before, the challenge came in finding a way to levitate tiny cells. (Science Magazine)

Texans need truth. Help us report it.

Independent Texas reporting needs your support. The Texas Tribune delivers fact-based journalism for Texans, by Texans — and our community of members, the readers who donate, make our work possible. Help us bring you and millions of others in-depth news and information. Will you support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation of any amount?

Support independent Texas news

Become a member. Join today.

Choose an amount or learn more about membership.

$20 $25 $50 Other
Donate now

Information about the authors

Learn about The Texas Tribune’s policies, including our partnership with The Trust Project to increase transparency in news.

Explore related story topics