Scientists just discovered a way to smash cancer cells apart using light — no drugs, no chemo.

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Scientists just discovered a way to smash cancer cells apart using light — no drugs, no chemo.
And they had a 99% kill rate in lab tests.

In a striking leap forward for cancer treatment, scientists have developed a new technique that uses light to physically destroy cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.

Researchers at Rice University, working with Texas A&M and the University of Texas, discovered that when dye molecules called aminocyanines—commonly used in imaging—are attached to cancer cells and hit with near-infrared light, they vibrate intensely. This synchronized movement, dubbed “molecular jackhammering,” generates mechanical force that ruptures the cancer cells' membranes.

The approach has shown dramatic results in early experiments, obliterating 99% of melanoma cells in petri dishes and triggering full remission in about half of tested mice. Because it relies on physical force rather than chemicals or genetic modification, it sidesteps the issue of resistance that plagues many existing therapies. Moreover, the use of near-infrared light means the treatment can penetrate deeply into tissue with minimal damage to surrounding cells—raising hopes for non-invasive therapy options. Researchers are now optimizing the method and preparing for human trials, eyeing a future where light becomes a powerful weapon against cancer.