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Jul 13, 2016

DNA Origami Used To Create A Miniaturized Version Of Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, computing, nanotechnology

The researchers say that the monochrome painting — a dime’s width across — is a proof-of-concept that the extremely precise technique can be used to build nanoscale chip-based devices like computer circuits, conductive carbon nanotubes, and for extremely efficient targeted drug delivery.

In order to reproduce the painting, the researchers used a technique first described by Rothemund and colleagues at IBM in 2009. The first step of the process involves folding DNA strands to create the desired shape, with short “staple strands” being used to literally staple the molecules. Then this pattern, which, at this stage, is floating in a saline solution, is poured into patches on a chip whose shapes match the DNA origami’s.

The folded DNA now acts as scaffolding onto which researchers then install fluorescent molecules inside microscopic light sources called photonic crystal cavities (PCC) — much like putting light bulbs into lamps.

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Jul 13, 2016

Quantum is Coming

Posted by in categories: computing, encryption, quantum physics

Google to run Chrome Canary experimentally for the next two years to address post-quantum cryptography.


Alphabet’s forthcoming Chrome Canary browser is just the “canary” in the coalmine—quantum computing is coming faster than you might think.

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Jul 13, 2016

Can technology help fashion clean up its act?

Posted by in category: economics

Tech making fashion industry cleaner and greener.


Suzanne Mancini, Rhode Island School of Design

Chemical waste, mass production and consumerism are all byproducts of an industrialized global economy.

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Jul 13, 2016

Repurposing the ribosome for synthetic biology

Posted by in categories: bioengineering, biological, education, sustainability

Over the past several years, Northwestern Engineering’s Michael Jewett did the seemingly impossible. He overcame the critical barrier to making mutant ribosomes, the core catalyst in cells that are responsible for life.

Now, with funding from the Department of Defense’s Multidisciplinary University Research Initiatives (MURI) program, Jewett is ready to take this research to the next level. Along with a multi-school team, he plans to use engineer and repurpose the ribosome to make new kinds of polymers for flow batteries.

“We are in a new era of biomaterial design,” Jewett said. “So far, the ribosome has been this untouchable biomolecular machine — one that we couldn’t engineer or modify. Now, armed with recent advances in our ability to construct new versions, new applications may only be limited by our imagination.”

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Jul 13, 2016

GM-NASA RoboGlove amplifies grip of astronauts, factory workers

Posted by in categories: cyborgs, robotics/AI

Robotic glove doubles or triples the gripping force applied, reducing hand strain. Up next: full exoskeletons for more powerful workers.

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Jul 13, 2016

5 New Technologies That Will Revolutionize Medicine

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

Bio-engineered blood vessels.


These new technologies will be released in the market by the next 5 years.

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Jul 13, 2016

Alzheimer’s breakthrough: Vaccine developed

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, government, neuroscience

Experts at Adelaide’s Flinders University have made an Alzheimer’s breakthrough that may result in world’s first dementia vaccine. Developed by Australian and US scientists, this vaccine may not only prevent but also reverse early stages of Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia.

The Alzheimer’s vaccine may be tested on humans within the next two to three years after being bankrolled by the US Government. Scientists from Flinders University and America’s Institute of Molecular Medicine and University of California developed the vaccine by targeting proteins in the brain that block neurons.

The formula targets tau proteins and abnormal beta-amyloid that cause Alzheimer’s. The scientists are confident that the vaccine would eventually be used as preventative vaccine. According to Flinders University medicine professor Nikolai Petrovsky, the proteins must be removed from the brain as Alzheimer’s, and dementia sufferers have lots of these broken down proteins inside.

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Jul 13, 2016

FDIC was hacked

Posted by in category: cybercrime/malcode

I knew about the hack; however, CIO covered it up is a new twist to this story.


Problems uncovered after employees walk off job with thousands of SSNs on flash drives.

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Jul 13, 2016

Russian hypersonic bomber can launch nuclear attacks from space

Posted by in categories: military, space

Military bosses claim the engine for the craft has already been tested, and a prototype could take to the air in six years.

It would be able to travel anywhere in the world in two hours and drop a devastating nuclear warhead before returning to base, it is claimed.

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Jul 13, 2016

The Threats That Artificial Intelligence Researchers Actually Worry About

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

Slate summary of the debate on AI Safety:

Fears about A.I. take a very different form depending on whom you ask.

Some researchers think that the benefits of developing an A.G.I. far outweighv the risks, and the question of control is a moot point. Intelligent systems will be developed by humans and controlled by humans, so there is nothing to worry about.

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