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`Study of binaries can have several spin-offs'

MUMBAI, JAN 20 . X-ray technology in the study of binaries could result in several spin-offs in the medical field, according to delegates at the international COSPAR colloquium on "Spectra and Timing of Compact X-ray Binaries".

The technology could result in better X-ray and imaging systems which could be beneficial to patients, they said.

The study of binary stars had unravelled several exotic kinds of matter found in neutron stars, black holes and white dwarf stars. In the X-ray binary system, the scientists are using and developing extremely sensitive X-ray instruments to study X-ray emitted by two stars.

Speaking to UNI, Dr Mayank Vahiya, astronomer at the TIFR, said, "Astronomy is heavily technology driven. All major technologies have come from astronomy like the CCD cameras, X-ray detectors, and medical X-ray equipment.''

Lots of technology will eventually find its way into medical X-ray know-how, he said, while adding that even satellite technology is largely driven by astronomy.

In the past, he pointed out, patients were subjected to very high doses of X-ray which was harmful to the body. Today, we use very small dosage and it gives much better results in medicine. Right dosage and higher resolutions of X-ray films is the spin-off from astronomy, he added.

Dr Vahiya lamented that research on astronomy had not received adequate funding in the last two decades. "Now that astronomical research has matured, the Government is putting in more money,'' he said. It also prevents brain drain as the best minds in the country are attracted to this pulsating field, he added.

Spin-offs from scientific research are happening in various areas. High technology-driven NASA programmes had created maximum spin-offs with wide range of applications from artificial limb replacement to water recycling.

Dr Jean Swank, project scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said that better Mammograms are being developed using these X-ray techniques. Gamma-ray, which is high energy X-ray, is now being used as Gamma knives in medicine to fight tumors.

Dr Edward P Heuvel, Director of Astronomical Institute, University of Amsterdam, said, ``X-rays which come from the outer space to the earth are very faint, we have very good detectors to catch them. My colleagues in Holland from space research have developed X-ray cameras which are now being used in medicine.'' -- UNI

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`Study of binaries can have several spin-offs'

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