Fiberlines Blog: A Microscope Made From Paper? Yes, and It Can Save Lives for 50 Cents.

We know that paper can have many uses, and we usually like and share the ones we find interesting, funny or unusual. But this one has really stuck out for us at Domtar. Stanford bioengineer Manu Prakash and his colleagues were able to create fully functional microscopes that fit in a single sheet of paper, ready to cut and assemble. Street price: 50 cents. People at risk that need a microscopic blood exam: billions.

Malaria kills more than 500,000 people every year globally. Unfortunately, a vaccine and an easy cure have yet to be found. But before thinking of administering proper medication, a diagnostic has to be made by looking at a single drop of blood through a microscope, provided that you have a microscope handy and in good condition.   Professional microscopes are expensive and fragile. Unlike the paper microscope – or FoldScope – they cannot be stomped on or dropped in water. Manu Prakash and his students are now able to put fully functional microscopes in the hands of health care workers who need them to save lives.  

Discover the fascinating story of this invention by looking at the following links:

• An article in Wired Magazine: “How to Make a Microscope Out of Paper in 10 Minutes”, by Greg Miller
• A TED Talk by Manu Prakash featuring a live demo of the FoldScope
• An interview with Manu Prakash

 

This article was first published on our blog Fiberlines: an online space where you’ll get insights about our business and our products, stories about our host communities, and opinion about industry innovation and sustainability trends.

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