X-rays are a common component of diagnostic testing and industrial monitoring, used for everything from monitoring your teeth to scanning your suitcase at the airport. But the high-energy rays also produce ionizing radiation, which can be dangerous after prolonged or excessive exposures. Now, researchers publishing in ACS Central Science have taken a step toward safer X-rays by creating a highly sensitive and foldable detector that produces good quality images with smaller dosages of the rays.

The predominant treatment for prostate cancer, a prevalent malignancy in men, is the surgical removal of the prostate (radical prostatectomy) for which biopsy is a prerequisite. However, the high costs and associated complications of biopsy impose financial and health burdens on patients. A new study developed a diagnostic strategy for patients with prostate cancer to undergo radical prostatectomy without the need for biopsy, potentially decreasing hospital stay duration and reduced expenditure for patients.