TED2017: The future you 4/20/17, 12:07 PM " = = David Brenner sees the good and the bad sides of radiation for health care, and his goal is to optimize radiation for situations where the 4 ‘ benefits can be large and the risks small. ‘ r - alt) Radiation is very much a two-edged sword -- used in the right way it has revolutionized modern medicine -- such as through CT scans and Wy } “a as a cure for many cancers. But radiation used in the wrong way can be harmful. To maximize the benefits of the many different types of ‘ k y, radiation, we need to understand exactly how they affect us -- from our DNA to the whole person. ee FZ — ven! Brenner directs the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University Medical Center. He started his career in theoretical physics -- applying quantum mechanics to radiation therapy. While he has no doubt forgotten everything he knew about quantum mechanics, he has retained his love for applying hard-core physics concepts to solve biological problems. David has designed new “patient friendly” approaches for prostate cancer radiation therapy that are now in common use worldwide, and he is currently very excited about the prospects of beating pancreatic cancer with new types of radiation. Over the past 6 years, Brenner has also been working towards a safe way to kill drug-resistant bacteria such as MRSA, as well as airborne viruses such as influenza, using a unique type of ultra-violet light. columbia.edu/~djb3 @CRR_CUMC i... =< Levon Biss . Photographer ry os aS P With his "Microsculpture” series, Levon Biss photographs the incredible details of insects. 1 ; Levon Biss is a British photographer who works across many genres, including reportage, sport and portraiture. His passion for nature and lwo | photography have come together to create Microsculpture. For the project, a unique photographic process composites thousands of images mn using multiple lighting setups to create the final insect portraits. Each specimen was mounted on