The futuristic sounding treatment would work by switching on LED lights embedded close to a tumour, which would then activate biotherapeutic drugs. These new treatments would be highly targeted and more effective than current state-of-the-art cancer immunotherapies. New research published today reveals the science behind this innovative idea.It shows how the UEA team have engineered antibody fragments -- which not only 'fuse' with their target but are also light activated. It means that in future, immunotherapy treatments could be engineered to attack tumours more precisely than ever before. The principal scientist for this study, Dr Amit Sachdeva, from UEA's School of Chemistry, said: "Current cancer treatments like chemotherapy kill cancer cells, but they can also damage healthy cells in your body such as blood and skin cells. "This means that they can cause side effects including hair loss, feeling tired and sick, and they also put patients at increased risk of picking up infections. "There has therefore been a very big drive to create new treatments that are more targeted and don't have these unwanted side-effects. "Several antibodies and antibody fragments have already been developed to treat cancer. These antibodies are much more selective than the cytotoxic drugs used in chemotherapy, but they can still cause severe side effects, as antibody targets are also present on healthy cells." Now, the UEA team has engineered one of the first antibody fragments that binds to, and forms a covalent bond with, its target -- upon irradiation with UV light of a specific wavelength. Dr Sachdeva said: "A covalent bond is a bit like melting two pieces of plastic and fusing them together. It means that drug molecules could for example be permanently fixed to a tumour.

Stefan Thomas, a German-born programmer living in San Francisco, has two guesses left to figure out a password that is worth, as of this week, about $220 million. The password will let him unlock a small hard drive, known as an IronKey, which contains the private keys to a digital wallet that holds 7,002 Bitcoin. While the price of Bitcoin dropped sharply on Monday, it is still up more than 50 percent from just a month ago, when it passed its previous all-time high of around $20,000. The problem is that Mr. Thomas years ago lost the paper where he wrote down the password for his IronKey, which gives users 10 guesses before it seizes up and encrypts its contents forever. He has since tried eight of his most commonly used password formulations — to no avail. “I would just lay in bed and think about it,” Mr. Thomas said. “Then I would go to the computer with some new strategy, and it wouldn't work, and I would be desperate again.” Bitcoin, which has been on an extraordinary and volatile eight-month run, has made a lot of its holders very rich in a short time, even as the coronavirus pandemic has ravaged the world economy.

The Philadelphia 76ers overcame an 18-point deficit Saturday to snap the Milwaukee Bucks’ 16-game win streak, winning 133-130. Here’s what you need to know: The Bucks’ 16-game win streak was the longest in the NBA this season. With the win, the Sixers are 41-22 and sit in third place in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks are 45-18 and remain atop the Eastern Conference standings. The Athletic’s instant analysis: ‘No lead is safe in the NBA’ Whenever the Sixers cough up a big lead, Doc Rivers is quick to mention that no lead is safe for any team in the NBA, not just the Sixers. His team has proven that this year, as they have climbed out of double-digit holes in most of their big wins this season. This one was a 14-point hole at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The 48 points are a season-high for the Sixers in any quarter. — Hofmann Evaluating Harden’s performance There were two big reasons the Sixers were able to take over the game late, but James Harden was the primary one. The Sixers put the ball in Harden’s hands late, hunting mismatches, and the veteran made the right decision on every possession. After an inefficient first half, Harden finished with 38 points on 11-of-26 shooting and 10 assists. Harden, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each scored 26-plus points. — Hofmann

China's leader Xi Jinping has secured a historic third term as president from the country's rubber-stamp parliament. It follows a consolidation of power that has made Mr Xi, 69, China's most dominant leader in generations. In the Chinese system of governance, the functions of the president are largely ceremonial. Mr Xi's power comes from him being General Secretary of the Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC). Confirmation of his third term as president had been widely expected. The naming of a new premier and various ministers in the coming days is considered more important. The new appointees are all expected to be Xi Jinping loyalists. This includes Li Qiang, who is tipped to serve as Mr Xi's number two. Mr Xi has solidified his rule as China reopens from his bruising zero-Covid policy that has fuelled anti-government protests. The so-called Two Sessions of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) this week is closely watched as it provides a glimpse into China's direction in the coming years. Since Mao Zedong, leaders in China had been limited to two terms in office. When Mr Xi had this restriction changed in 2018, it transformed him into a figure with a reach not seen since Chairman Mao.