Articles

• Superhero Science and Technology: A New Open Access Journal

  I am delighted to announce the launch of the new open access journal Superhero Science and Technology. This journal is published on the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) platform for Open Journal Systems. The primary aim of the journal Superhero Science and Technology is to publish research in the fields of science, engineering, technology and ethics that is motivated by the superhero genre and written in manner so that it is accessible to both the academic community and general public.

  I am delighted to announce the launch of the new open access journal Superhero Science and Technology. This journal is published on the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) platform for Open Journal Systems. The primary aim of the journal Superhero Science and Technology is to publish research in the fields of science, engineering, technology and ethics that is motivated by the superhero genre and written in manner so that it is accessible to both the academic community and general public.

  I am delighted to announce the launch of the new open access journal Superhero Science and Technology. This journal is published on the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) platform for Open Journal Systems. The primary aim of the journal Superhero Science and Technology...

  Barry W Fitzgerald

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• Marine Fish Antifreeze Proteins: The Key Towards Cryopreserving The Winter Soldier

  Along the path to building knowledge and developing new technologies, scientific research is a fountain of reliable information that allows us to probe how entities in the natural world are likely to behave. For instance, several marine fish that inhabit sub-zero temperature waters use ice-binding proteins to prevent damage to their cells and tissues. The antifreeze properties of these ice-binding proteins might hold the key for future cryopreservation applications. The non-profit organization Organ Preservation Alliance (OPA) declared that one-fifth of donated kidneys are wasted and approximately two-thirds of donated hearts and lungs never make it to a patient. Advances in cryopreservation methods would enable us to significantly reduce this donor organs wastage – possibly saving the lives of more than 110,000 people who are currently on the organ transplant waiting list in the Unites States. The establishment of a large organ library could potentially lower the patient rejection response to the transplanted organ since a more suitable donor match would be feasible. In this article, we will give an insight on the different types of ice-binding proteins, their antifreeze properties and their potential role in the cryopreservation of organs while using the fictional character known as the Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as our main protagonist. 

  Along the path to building knowledge and developing new technologies, scientific research is a fountain of reliable information that allows us to probe how entities in the natural world are likely to behave. For instance, several marine fish that inhabit sub-zero temperature waters use ice-binding proteins to prevent damage to their cells and tissues. The antifreeze properties of these ice-binding proteins might hold the key for future cryopreservation applications. The non-profit organization Organ Preservation Alliance (OPA) declared that one-fifth of donated kidneys are wasted and approximately two-thirds of donated hearts and lungs never make it to a patient. Advances in cryopreservation methods would enable us to significantly reduce this donor organs wastage – possibly saving the lives of more than 110,000 people who are currently on the organ transplant waiting list in the Unites States. The establishment of a large organ library could potentially lower the patient...

  Along the path to building knowledge and developing new technologies, scientific research is a fountain of reliable information that allows us to probe how entities in the natural world are likely to behave. For instance, several marine fish that inhabit sub-zero temperature waters use...

  Roma Suris-Valls, Maja Mehmedbasic, Ilja K Voets

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• Importance of 3D and Inkjet Printing For Tony Stark and the Iron Man Suit

  For decades we have used printers to print superheroes on the pages of comic books but could printing technologies actually be used to print real life superheroes? 3D and functional printing technologies have advanced greatly in recent years and even though these technologies cannot be used to print heroes themselves, they can certainly be used for equipment manufacturing. One character that could or may use 3D printing to rapidly produce prototypes and final versions of new technologies is Tony Stark. As the inventor and primary user of the Iron Man suit, Stark has designed a wearable suit that is not only a weapon but also protects him. However, in battle the suit can become damaged and require urgent repairs. To aid in these repairs, Tony Stark could turn to 3D printing technologies to produce new components for the suit. In this paper we will outline 3D printing technologies and describe their current applications. We will then discuss how 3D printing is being used to print electronics and the ramifications for Tony Stark, his Iron Man suit and the potential use for a real Iron Man suit.

  For decades we have used printers to print superheroes on the pages of comic books but could printing technologies actually be used to print real life superheroes? 3D and functional printing technologies have advanced greatly in recent years and even though these technologies cannot be used to print heroes themselves, they can certainly be used for equipment manufacturing. One character that could or may use 3D printing to rapidly produce prototypes and final versions of new technologies is Tony Stark. As the inventor and primary user of the Iron Man suit, Stark has designed a wearable suit that is not only a weapon but also protects him. However, in battle the suit can become damaged and require urgent repairs. To aid in these repairs, Tony Stark could turn to 3D printing technologies to produce new components for the suit. In this paper we will outline 3D printing technologies and describe their current applications. We will then discuss how 3D printing is being used to print...

  For decades we have used printers to print superheroes on the pages of comic books but could printing technologies actually be used to print real life superheroes? 3D and functional printing technologies have advanced greatly in recent years and even though these technologies cannot be used to...

  Juha Niittynen, Jukka Pakkanen

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• Ant-Man and The Wasp: Microscale Respiration and Microfluidic Technology

  Insects and other terrestrial arthropods, benefitting from millions of years of evolutionary refinement, manipulate fluids efficiently, including their bodily fluids, air, nectar, and water, at the microscale in their daily lives. Microfluidic technology, though far behind insect fluid handling in terms of performance, is a rapidly developing field, which allows traditional laboratory testing spaces, occupying hundreds of square meters, to be shrunk down to chips occupying less than a square centimetre. These lab-on-a-chip microfluidic devices are positioned to revolutionize fields like exoplanetary composition testing and single cell biology studies, and can provide inexpensive, ubiquitous environmental monitoring and global health testing. Microfluidic technology, in addition, has the potential to bridge the gap between Ant-Man and the Wasp’s human respiratory apparatuses, and the more optimal ones that insects use to breath at the microscale, to help them overcome issues when they shrink in their suits like the “death zone dilemma” and a relative air density similar to that near the peak of Mt. Everest.

  Insects and other terrestrial arthropods, benefitting from millions of years of evolutionary refinement, manipulate fluids efficiently, including their bodily fluids, air, nectar, and water, at the microscale in their daily lives. Microfluidic technology, though far behind insect fluid handling in terms of performance, is a rapidly developing field, which allows traditional laboratory testing spaces, occupying hundreds of square meters, to be shrunk down to chips occupying less than a square centimetre. These lab-on-a-chip microfluidic devices are positioned to revolutionize fields like exoplanetary composition testing and single cell biology studies, and can provide inexpensive, ubiquitous environmental monitoring and global health testing. Microfluidic technology, in addition, has the potential to bridge the gap between Ant-Man and the Wasp’s human respiratory apparatuses, and the more optimal ones that insects use to breath at the microscale, to help them overcome issues...

  Insects and other terrestrial arthropods, benefitting from millions of years of evolutionary refinement, manipulate fluids efficiently, including their bodily fluids, air, nectar, and water, at the microscale in their daily lives. Microfluidic technology, though far behind insect fluid...

  Anne Staples, Maxwell Mikel-Stites

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• Real-Life Radioactive Men

  A common perception in modern society is that exposure to any amount of radiation is a bad thing and should be avoided at all costs. In the fictional superhero genre, exposure to radiation has been used as a vehicle to enable superpowers in what were previously ordinary humans. For instance, Dr Chen Lu, a Nuclear Physicist otherwise known as Radioactive Man, exposed himself to increasing amounts of radiation until he could endure a massive barrage, and in the process turned himself into Radioactive Man. In a similar fashion, Bruce Banner was exposed to a large amount of gamma radiation, giving him the superpowers of the Incredible Hulk. Although there is an element of truth in that the body can withstand low levels of radiation without any observable effects, there are many harmful side effects of being exposed to high levels of radiation. These harmful side effects form the underlying fear of the general publics’ understanding of radiation exposure. This article will explore in detail the reasoning behind the principles of radiation safety, and how different types of damage are caused to the human body when exposed to radiation. Furthermore, we discuss how cellular mutations are caused, as well as the potential of organisms to develop resistance to the harmful effects of radiation and the beneficial uses of radiation in the medical field for diagnosis and cancer treatment.

  A common perception in modern society is that exposure to any amount of radiation is a bad thing and should be avoided at all costs. In the fictional superhero genre, exposure to radiation has been used as a vehicle to enable superpowers in what were previously ordinary humans. For instance, Dr Chen Lu, a Nuclear Physicist otherwise known as Radioactive Man, exposed himself to increasing amounts of radiation until he could endure a massive barrage, and in the process turned himself into Radioactive Man. In a similar fashion, Bruce Banner was exposed to a large amount of gamma radiation, giving him the superpowers of the Incredible Hulk. Although there is an element of truth in that the body can withstand low levels of radiation without any observable effects, there are many harmful side effects of being exposed to high levels of radiation. These harmful side effects form the underlying fear of the general publics’ understanding of radiation exposure. This article will explore...

  A common perception in modern society is that exposure to any amount of radiation is a bad thing and should be avoided at all costs. In the fictional superhero genre, exposure to radiation has been used as a vehicle to enable superpowers in what were previously ordinary humans. For instance,...

  Jim O'Doherty, Bruno Rojas-Fisher, Sophie O'Doherty

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