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ePaper created 2013-02-01, 09:35:07 | version 1.24.0
3|2012 Research in Jülich Detecting Forest Fires, Beetle-Style J ewel beetles of the genus Melano- philia, also known as black fire bee- tles, are equipped with a special sen- sor: they are able to detect forest fires from great distances, since their larvae feed on the freshly burnt wood. Re- searchers at the University of Bonn and their colleagues at Forschungszentrum Jülich have now calculated that these beetles’ biological sensor for thermal ra- diation could be even more sensitive than infrared sensors currently on the market. The calculations were based on data from a fire at an oil depot in Califor- nia in 1925, which attracted jewel bee- tles from a radius of up to 130 kilo- metres. Using simulations of this inci- dent, the scientists calculated the possible sensitivity of these biological infrared sensors. These beetles have been on the re- searchers’ radar for some time. The sci- entists at Bonn are working on a techni- cal reconstruction of the sensitive infra- red sensor. They have already unravelled its functional principle: the beetles have a special sensory organ that contains tiny, liquid-filled spheres able to absorb infrared radiation. As a consequence, the spheres heat up and expand, result- ing in a change of pressure that is de- tected by mechanosensitive sensory cells. The researchers are now working on a technical implementation of this principle, which would significantly im- prove early warning systems for forest fires. :: NEWS IN BRIEF 5 A new method has been developed to facilitate diagnostics af- ter radiotherapy of metastases in the brain: without requiring a tissue sample, it differentiates between changes in the brain that are caused by the treatment and new metastases. Patients are injected with FET, an amino acid that is slightly radioactive. An accumulation of this substance in the brain can be deter- mined by means of positron emission tomography (PET), which will detect a typical accumulation pattern in the case of new metastases, as shown in a patient study conducted by re- searchers from Jülich, Aachen, and Cologne. According to the scientists, this examination method provides valuable extra in- formation that is required for planning further treatment op- tions without placing a heavy strain on the patient. Metastases in the brain are a frequent consequence of ma- lignant tumours, such as lung and breast cancer, and are often treated by means of radiotherapy. :: Improved Diagnostics for Brain Metastases after Treatment A) A new metasta- sis (white arrow) is indicated by an increased accumu- lation of FET (red) in the PET image. B) In case of a radio- necrosis (bottom), the accumulation of FET (green) visible in the PET image is much lower. Jewel beetle (Melanophila acuminata). The red arrow points to its left infrared organ. At the bottom of this small pit is a field of up to 90 spherical infrared receptors.