Overview
A calorimeter conceived by researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) is designed to quantify minute heat signals emitted by living cells. This device can detect metabolic heat signals as small as 100 picowatts (trillionths of a watt).
Research Context
Living cells generate heat during biological processes such as growth, division, or in response to therapeutic agents. These thermal emissions carry information regarding cellular activity. Historically, the extremely low magnitude of these heat signals has prevented their direct measurement.
Approach
The Harvard SEAS researchers developed a calorimeter. A calorimeter is an instrument utilized to measure the transfer of heat between a system and its surrounding environment. The specific design of this new calorimeter enables the detection of metabolic heat signals in living cells at the 100 picowatt scale.
Findings
- The developed calorimeter successfully detected metabolic heat signals in living cells.
- The sensitivity threshold of the device is on the order of 100 picowatts.
Why This Matters
The ability to measure these minute heat signals could provide new perspectives on cellular metabolism. Furthermore, this technology presents a potential method for rapid testing of antibiotic efficacy.