You meet a lot of interesting and famous people in 'The Bubble' that is Cambridge University.
There are many Nobel Laureates around or passing through giving talks, and in the free flow of academic ideas, their filters can be off, and they really can say the darndest things.
Professor John Walker won the Nobel Prize for discovering the process of ATP synthesis in cells. ATP can be thought of as an energy currency for the machinery inside cells. He gave an interesting talk about the molecular motor he discovered that is part of the synthesis process. Yes, it spins, and this engine's power-to-weight ratio is phenomenal. Each cell in your body has an enormous number of these motors spinning around.
Afterwards, I asked a question along the lines of "given the global epidemic in obesity, what future do you see for methods or devices to artificially burn off energy". Personally, I was thinking along the lines of a patch that slowly burns a fixed number of calories by directly extracting it. I can see a number of ways to go about building such a patch.
Professor Walker surprised us all by instead suggesting the recreational drug Ecstasy (MDMA). It messes with the proton pump inside mitochondria, directly converting the energy into heat. It works so well that in high doses, ecstasy takers can die from heat-stroke complications due to overheating, but that heat is coming from burning off calories. People often drink water to 'cool down' but this is the worst thing one can do because MDMA messes with water retention and can lead to water toxicity. He suggested that people take Ecstasy and then regulate their temperature with a cold bath instead, as an effective weight-loss technique. Noting the surpised looks from the audience, he was then quick to say that, one should really try to lose weight by eating less food instead...
You have to wonder though - before it became a recreational drug, MDMA was widely prescribed by psychiatrists. In a controlled setting, with doctors and nurses carefully measuring intake and monitoring body temperature and reaction, it might very well make for a viable weight-loss clinic. Afterall, the weight-loss market is huge, with people willing to pay large sums to lose their extra pounds. Heck, you could even throw in a free glow-stick or two. :)
Mandatory Disclaimer: I'm not an expert on MDMA. I certainly don't recommend people go out and take Ecstacy to lose weight - as there may be many other side-effects to worry about. If that doesn't discourage you, and you are still inclined to try it out, please ensure you seek close medical supervision and advice.
There are many Nobel Laureates around or passing through giving talks, and in the free flow of academic ideas, their filters can be off, and they really can say the darndest things.
Professor John Walker won the Nobel Prize for discovering the process of ATP synthesis in cells. ATP can be thought of as an energy currency for the machinery inside cells. He gave an interesting talk about the molecular motor he discovered that is part of the synthesis process. Yes, it spins, and this engine's power-to-weight ratio is phenomenal. Each cell in your body has an enormous number of these motors spinning around.
Afterwards, I asked a question along the lines of "given the global epidemic in obesity, what future do you see for methods or devices to artificially burn off energy". Personally, I was thinking along the lines of a patch that slowly burns a fixed number of calories by directly extracting it. I can see a number of ways to go about building such a patch.
Professor Walker surprised us all by instead suggesting the recreational drug Ecstasy (MDMA). It messes with the proton pump inside mitochondria, directly converting the energy into heat. It works so well that in high doses, ecstasy takers can die from heat-stroke complications due to overheating, but that heat is coming from burning off calories. People often drink water to 'cool down' but this is the worst thing one can do because MDMA messes with water retention and can lead to water toxicity. He suggested that people take Ecstasy and then regulate their temperature with a cold bath instead, as an effective weight-loss technique. Noting the surpised looks from the audience, he was then quick to say that, one should really try to lose weight by eating less food instead...
You have to wonder though - before it became a recreational drug, MDMA was widely prescribed by psychiatrists. In a controlled setting, with doctors and nurses carefully measuring intake and monitoring body temperature and reaction, it might very well make for a viable weight-loss clinic. Afterall, the weight-loss market is huge, with people willing to pay large sums to lose their extra pounds. Heck, you could even throw in a free glow-stick or two. :)
Mandatory Disclaimer: I'm not an expert on MDMA. I certainly don't recommend people go out and take Ecstacy to lose weight - as there may be many other side-effects to worry about. If that doesn't discourage you, and you are still inclined to try it out, please ensure you seek close medical supervision and advice.
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