A Great Advancement for 3D Printed Organs

3D printing in hospitals is nothing new, but for the first time in history, a woman received a 3D printed windpipe that became a fully functional without the need for immunosuppressants.

Immunosuppressants are used during organ transplants to keep the body from attacking the organ that it see’s as foreign. This means that the organ the woman received was organic and personalized for her, as if she had it her entire life.

This mind-blowing news shows that we are now closer than ever to being able to create full-scale, functional, and complicated 3D printed organs like a heart or lung.

But what about creating a brain?

3D Printing and Organoid Intelligence

Organoid Intelligence, or OI, is an emerging field of study that is focused on creating bio-computers by merging AI with real brain cells called organoids. Organoids are miniature and simplified versions of organs grown in a lab dish. They mimic some of the functions of fully grown organs, like brains. The idea behind OI is that by increase the cells organoids contain, they may begin to function like fully grown brains, and can then be used alongside computers to enhance Artificial Intelligence.

It turns out that the world’s first 3D printed windpipe was so successful that we are now closer than ever to creating the world first organoid intelligent bio-computer.

Here’s why.

The World’s First 3D Printed Windpipe

Transplant patients usually have to take a long course of immunosuppressants that help the body accept the organ. The body see’s the organ as foreign, and so the immune system begins to attack the new organ, which can lead to more complicated health problems.

The woman in her 50’s who received the 3D printed windpipe did so without any immunosuppressants. In just 6 months after the operation, the windpipe healed and began to form blood vessels, and of course, more cells.

The current goal of scientists in the field of Organoid Intelligence is to increase organoids from 100,000 cells to 10 million, and this begs the question:

Can 3D printing help build bio-computers by creating better organoids?

Can 3D Printing Help Build Bio-Computers?

The worlds first 3D printed windpipe shows that advances in 3D printing can create better functioning organs, and this implies that we can also create more intricate organoids to help in the field of Organoid Intelligence and eventually create bio-computers.

Its important to understand the distinction between 3D printing an organ and printing something like a tool or musical instrument.

The difference between printing an organ and printing a non-biological structure depends on the ink being used in the 3D printer.

3D printing non-organic structures will require ink that can be made from plastic, plastic alternatives like PLA, metal, and ceramics. On the other hand, 3D printed organs are made from ink called “bio-inks” that are a mixture of living cells and biocompatible substances like the ones mentioned above.

In the case of the 3D printed windpipe, the ink used was partly formed from the stem and cartilage cells collected from the woman’s own nose and ear. It was because of this bio-ink that the woman’s body did not reject the organ.

The Problem With 3D Printed Organs

Organs created with bioprinting need to function like real organs for the body to safely use them, and this does not happen right away.

The 3D printed organs need to go beyond just a printed structure and become living. They need to form tissues and cells that help create biological functionality, and forming these cells take time.

The problem with 3D bioprinting is that the ink used for the printer needs to be effective at doing this, and if it is not, the organ may not stay functional.

The ink used for the 3D-printed windpipe was made from part bio-ink and part polycaprolactone (PCL), a synthetic polyester material.

PCL is a used in the 3D ink for the purposes of maintain the structure of the windpipe, while the bio-ink is used to help the 3D printed organ to become fully biological in time so that the body can use it.

The PCL maintains the structure while the bio-ink does it’s thing.

The problem with PCL is that it is biodegradable and won’t last forever. In fact, doctors don’t expect the 3D-printed windpipe to last more than five years.

The Solution is Better Bio-ink

The 3D printed windpipe was not just made using PCL, but it contained bio-ink made from living cells too. The hope is that the living cells in the 3D printed organ—which came from the bio-ink—will assist the patient’s body in creating a fully functional windpipe to replace the PCL’s function.

If the organ begins to form cells and tissue by itself, then the function of PCL will be replaced by the biological function of the organ that is growing.

The organ becomes real!

Bio-Ink helps the 3D printed organ mimic it’s natural environment of cells and eventually become a real organ.

3D Printing Organs Will Save Lives

Every year, thousands of people need a lifesaving organ transplant. These transplants cost hundreds of thousand of dollars, and many people who need them don’t make it passed the waiting list.

3D Printing organs could give people the incredible opportunity to receive the help they need when they need it, saving thousands of lives annually, and millions of lives in the long run.

As advances are made in 3D Bioprinting, they will also be made in areas of Organoid and Artificial Intelligence, which shows that the progress being made in one place will once again shine its way to another.

Rising Heat Rising Hope

There is a lot of gloom and doom when people speak about the future of climate change, but a clean energy future is happening right now, and the journey that led up to is remarkable.

There are some really good reasons to be hopeful about the future of renewable energy and climate change, it just needs to be looked at from a clear and new perspective.

Let’s start with 2023.

2023 Was the Hottest Year on Record

In 2015, 194 nations came together and set a goal to limit the global rise in temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. In 2023, global temperature rose to 1.45°C above pre-industrial levels. While it did not reach 1.5°C, 2023 was the hottest year on record for Earth.

2024 is the Tipping Point for Clean Energy

1.5°C is considered the tipping point for climate change. Some scientists regard this number as the point where global warming begins to have the strongest effect on the Earth. While this might seem like a catastrophe, the world is beginning to see a shift toward a clean energy future. 2023 was the hottest year on record, but it was also the year where renewable energy grew by 50%. This growth is expected to rise in 2024 and further into the future.

Rarely do good things happen without a little bit of adversity—even flowers bloom from soil and manure. A clean energy future is happening right now, and things could not have happened any better. Here’s why.

Why Did Global Warming Happen?

Global warming is the result of burning fossil fuels, and fuel was necessary for advancing the human race. The history of modern civilization is marked by industrial revolution. The first revolution transitioned the world from an agrarian economy to a manufacturing economy. This had a major impact in advancing medicine and sanitation, both of which largely determine life expectancy. It is because of the industrial revolutions that the average life expectancy has nearly doubled in the last century.

But the backbone of the industrial revolution is fuel. Without it, climate change wouldn’t be a problem and the need for renewable energy would not exist. However, life expectancy would be very low, and technology would not have progressed.

You probably would not even be here right now, but you are, and you should be hopeful!

Clean Energy Future

Even though 2023 was the hottest year on record, data shows that the market size of renewable energy is constantly increasing every year. This forecasts a clean energy future on the horizon, and it is marked by lower costs of energy as well as a better quality of life.

Something that shoots up consistently year after year is often too good to be true. In fact, this is exactly what the Berny Madoff Ponzi scheme looked like.

The future of renewable energy looks like the Berny Madoffs Ponzi scheme on paper. It looks so good, that if I gave it to you as an investment fund, it would be completely bogus because it would be too good to be true.

If you ever see an investment graph that shoots up like this, run! But now that you’re seeing it as real progress, you should be happy! It shows that a clean energy future is closer than you think.

Clean Energy is Now Cheaper Than Fuel

While the use of renewable energy has increased, its cost has decreased at about the same rate.

In 2010, the cost of wind energy was 95% higher than fuel-power. Now, its price is more than 50% lower than the cheapest fuel-powered option.

In 2010, Solar energy was 710% more expensive than fuel-power. Now, it’s price is more than 29% lower than the cheapest fuel-fired solution.

How Much Money Can Clean Energy Save?

Renewable energy saved $56 billion in 2022 in the U.S. alone. This amounts to more than $1 trillion saved by 2050. Data shows that the learning rate for solar and wind technology has been remarkable. These Improvements can further increase the $56 billion figure. It is estimated that by the year 2050, nearly $11 Trillion worldwide will be saved by transitioning to renewable energy.

Why is the Price of Clean Energy Going Down?

The price of clean energy is going down because the learning rate of the renewable energy sector is increasing. People are learning how to create and manage infrastructures like solar panels and wind turbines in a more efficient way. This efficiency reduces the cost associated with renewable energy and makes the use of clean energy more widespread.

In other words, things are getting better because people are getting smarter.

What is the Future of Renewable Energy?

We are currently in the fourth industrial revolution—the revolution of the Internet and renewable energy. The future of renewable energy is that it will create the next industrial revolution in a shorter amount of time than the previous one. This is because the internet is increasing the rate of technological advancement. Technology is what leads to revolutions, and it is growing faster than any other time in history.

History is Predicting a Clean Energy Future

Revolutions mean progress, and each of the 4 industrial revolutions have used fuel as its backbone. The only thing that changed was the kind of fuel that was used, and each revolution used a cleaner source of fuel. Moreover, each industrial revolution happened faster than the previous. History is predicting a clean energy future.

• Industrial Revolution 1765: Coal- Coal is the worst fuel and contains much more carbon than gas. Consider that CO2 emissions weigh more than the fuel that creates it, and it becomes clear to see why coal is the dirtiest fuel.
• Industrial Revolution 1870: Gas- After coal mines came cars. Car's need gas, and although gas has been used as the primary source of energy, it is much cleaner than coal.
• Industrial Revolution 1969: Nuclear- Nearly a century later, nuclear energy was created. Nuclear does not emit any CO2, and therefore, is much cleaner than the first two revolutions.
• Industrial Revolution 2000: The Internet & Renewable Energy

It took 105 years to go from coal to gas, 99 years from gas to nuclear, and only 31 years from Nuclear to renewable. How long until the next revolution? If history is any indicator, then it will be less than three decades.

A clean energy future is closer than you think, and the progress that has been made is mind-blowing. Be hopeful!

Brittany’s Baskets of Hope

“We believe that all babies, no matter who they are or how they’re born, deserve to be celebrated and to know that they can achieve anything!”

These inspiring words appear on the website for “Brittany’s Baskets of Hope”. This small organization has an important message to share with families of babies who have Down syndrome. It’s a message that comes from the heart of founder and owner Brittany Schiavone.

Brittany, a native of Long Island, is one of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs with Down Syndrome. She understands what these families are going through intimately, and she created Brittany’s Baskets of Hope as a result.

What is Brittany’s Baskets of Hope?

Brittany’s Baskets of Hope is a non-profit organization that provides information and support to families that have children with Down syndrome.

Baskets are given as a gift to parents who are raising or expect to have a child with Down Syndrome.

These baskets include headbands, swaddles, hats, toys, and baby books. They even include a onesie that says “downright perfect”, and handmade blankets, donated by volunteers across the United States.

How Did it All Start?

The inspiration for Brittany’s Baskets of Hope began when Brittany saw a video about parents who needed support after having a Down syndrome child.

“I went home and told my parents that I wanted to help mothers of babies with Down syndrome; I wanted to give them hope.”

Her parents and older brother, Justin, were all on board. All are active on the board of directors for Brittany’s Basket of Hope.

The initial plan was to give a basket as a gift to local parents of children with Down Syndrome. In 2016, Brittany delivered her first basket to someone in her area. Then, the media drew attention to what Brittany was doing. Soon, something amazing started happening. Requests for baskets started pouring in from all over the United States.

Of course, it was not possible for Brittany to personally visit all these places. So, Brittany’s Baskets of Hope adopted a mail-out model. Today, Brittany has sent over 1900 baskets to all 50 states. They’ve also begun expanding outside of the U.S and into Puerto Rico.

Who is Brittany Schiavone?

When a new baby is born, people usually extend congratulations and good wishes to the mother. When Brittany Schiavone was born in 1989, she was diagnosed with Down syndrome. All her mother heard from family and friends was “I’m sorry.” This was followed by a list of things Brittany would never be able to do.

Today, Brittany has completely defied the doctors’ predictions. She is a high school graduate with plans to attend college courses. She was a pioneer student in her school district’s classrooms. She’s participated in gymnastics, horseback riding, and dancing. She’s even swum in the Special Olympics.

Among the most amazing accomplishments is that Brittany run’s her own non-profit organization. She is hard at work making sure that no newborn baby is ever again greeted with the words “I’m sorry”.

How do Brittany’s Baskets of Hope Help Parents?

The arrival of a newborn baby is an exciting and stressful time for any family. But for the parents of a child with special needs, it’s a unique challenge.

Parents of these children are often unsure what to expect for their newborn child. They’re full of questions and, often, worries.

Brittany’s baskets of Hope brings these parents answers and reassurance to these families.

One of the key items in the baskets is a book that Brittany’s parents started out with when she was a baby. It’s called Babies with Down Syndrome: A New Parents’ Guide edited by Susan Skallerup. It’s a comprehensive guide to the things parents of these special children need to know. It provides these new parents with direction and guidance.

This is a much-needed burst of hope for these parents. Brittany’s Baskets of Hope tells them the truth about one of the most misunderstood conditions in medical history.

The Truth About Down Syndrome

Historically, people with Down syndrome have often been looked down upon and mistreated. They’ve experienced discrimination and neglect in the classroom and the workforce.

A human being has 46 chromosomes. These are strings of genetic material stored in the nucleus of every one of our cells. Down syndrome is a condition that causes a child to be born with a partial or complete copy of chromosome 21. This extra genetic material leads to the condition known as Down Syndrome.

Today, much of the negativity toward people with this condition has faded. Nevertheless, generations of misunderstanding have left many lingering misconceptions.

What is the Biggest Misconception About Children with Down Syndrome?

The biggest misconception about children with down syndrome is the assumption that they are not likely to achieve much in life.

The truth is, that most patients with Down syndrome have mild to moderate mental delays. However, they are still capable of learning to read, write, and take care of themselves. Many graduate high school and college. Some work as chefs, actors, teachers, and entrepreneurs.

Sometimes it takes them a little longer. In some cases, they need a little help from family or teachers. For example, as a child, Brittany struggled with learning how to talk. So, she learned sign language to help her communicate while she worked on her verbal skills.

However, like most kids with Down Syndrome, she got there when she was ready.

Unfortunately, focus is often on the weaknesses and limitations of the child, not on their potential.

These kids are often very good at learning through graphics and images and have a natural adeptness at learning new technology. They’re very social and are sensitive to the feelings of others.

Brittany’s Baskets of Hope on the Today Show

Brittany’s Baskets of Hope celebrates the Down syndrome community, and it hasn’t gone unrecognized.

One of the defining moments of the business came when Brittany Schiavone was a guest on ‘George to the Rescue’. The home renovation show provided a free renovation for her home office. Brittany had been working out of the dim, dusty, unfinished basement of her home. George and his team turned it into an attractive, professional workspace.

She was later invited on the Today Show to discuss the impact Brittany’s Baskets of Hope has had on people. One of the hosts asked her what she says to the families she works with. She said she tells them that babies, kids, and adults with Down Syndrome are “downright perfect”.

That wasn’t the first honour she ever received. In 2019, she was the first person with Down Syndrome to be named the L’Oreal Paris Woman of Worth National Honoree. After a high-profile gala in New York, she was flown to Los Angeles to film a promotional video with Viola Davis where she was awarded $10,000.

What are Brittany’s Plans for the Future?

Brittany has a lot of plans for the upcoming years. She wants to move out on her own into an apartment, keep working, and get married one day. She’s also enrolled in college courses designed to meet her special needs.

Brittany’s Baskets of Hope may one day go beyond the United States and to families all over the world.