Science brief
Israeli Breakthroughs in Metasurface Optics and Cancer Treatment
Researchers at Tel Aviv University and Weizmann Institute pioneer ultra-fast light steering and discover sildenafil's potential to arrest cancer metastasis.
Science
Weizmann scientists proved Viagra cuts off cancer cell migration — paving the way for low-cost repurposed drugs to fight metastasis.
BackgroundMetastasis accounts for the vast majority of cancer fatalities, yet targeted drugs capable of halting cell migration remain scarce. Weizmann researchers partnered with Clalit Health Services to evaluate real-world patient records across two decades of clinical outcomes.
- The biological mechanism was verified across mouse tumor models, human cellular cultures, and a database of 5 million patient records.
- Epidemiological data revealed significantly higher survival rates among cancer patients taking sildenafil alongside cholesterol-lowering statin medications.
- The findings establish a clear biological rationale for initiating clinical trials to repurpose existing PDE5 inhibitors for oncological treatment.
Science
Tel Aviv University and Caltech built a mirrorless light-steering surface — breaking speed records to unlock ultra-fast optical computing.
BackgroundConventional optical beam steering relies on mechanical micro-mirrors, which severely restrict processing speeds in sensors and telecommunications. Metasurfaces eliminate moving parts by using micro-engineered silicon patterns to manipulate optical waves instantly upon laser excitation.
- The ultra-thin metasurface redirects incoming laser light by up to 13 degrees when triggered by ultrashort laser pulses, eliminating mechanical delay.
- Dr. Lior Michaeli's team controlled light thousands of times faster than existing electro-optical devices, achieving unprecedented speed at nanoscale dimensions.
- The breakthrough provides a foundation for next-generation optical computing processors, high-speed LiDAR sensors, and ultra-fast fiber optics networks.
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