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Level A1 – BeginnerCEFR A1
2 min
82 words
- Spinal cord injuries can cause severe and lasting disability.
- Nerve cells rarely grow back naturally after injury.
- Scars block nerve fibres from growing again.
- Scientists created tiny microrobots that carry stem cells.
- The stem cells are guided by magnets to the injury.
- Nanoparticles on the robots make small electrical signals for cells.
- Fish treated with the robots swam almost normally in days.
- Mice with serious injuries also showed better movement after treatment.
- More research is needed before doctors try this in people.
Difficult words
- spinal cord — The main nerves inside the spine.
- disability — A long health problem that limits activity.
- scar — Tissue left after a wound heals.Scars
- stem cell — A cell that can become other cell types.stem cells
- microrobot — A very small robot used in medicine.microrobots
- nanoparticle — A very tiny particle too small to see.Nanoparticles
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Would you want doctors to try this robot treatment in people?
- Have you seen a fish swim in a tank or river?
- Do you think small robots could help medicine?
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