Researchers at the University of Edinburgh’s MRC Centre for Inflammation have developed new imaging probes that light up specific parts of a cell in a matter of seconds. The probes attach a fluorescent tag to the target being detected so that researchers can track where it’s being produced.

The new approach is more sensitive than existing tools and could help researchers detect illnesses such as cancer at a much earlier stage. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.

The surgical robot market is anticipated to reach $20 billion by 2021, according to market forecasts. While predictions that robot technology would enable surgeons to perform operations on the other side of the world have not come to pass, surgeons confirm that robot technology is improving their work. Check out the video below (6:00 minutes) which explores how the worlds of biology and robotics are coming together:

The impact of 3D printing in the field of medicine has been impressive; from fully customized implants, medical supplies and braces to bioprinting blood vessels, the list of objects that have already been successfully printed in this field demonstrates the potential that this technology holds for healthcare in the near future. This technology stands to revolutionize the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, with possibilities that sound straight out of science fiction. The first 3D printed pill was approved last year by the Food and Drug Administration to treat epilepsy. While there are several significant concerns that need addressing before 3D pharmaceutical printing technology goes mainstream, the benefits are well worth exploring.