Lifeboat Foundation: Safeguarding Humanity
Toggle light / dark theme

Blog – Page 218

A new study by Tel Aviv University reveals how bacterial defense mechanisms can be neutralized, enabling the efficient transfer of genetic material between bacteria. The researchers believe this discovery could pave the way for developing tools to address the antibiotic resistance crisis and promote more effective genetic manipulation methods for medical, industrial, and environmental purposes.

The study was led by Ph.D. student Bruria Samuel from the lab of Prof. David Burstein at the Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research at Tel Aviv University’s Wise Faculty of Life Sciences. Other contributors to the research include Dr. Karin Mittelman, Shirly Croitoru, and Maya Ben-Haim from Prof. Burstein’s lab. The findings were published in the journal Nature.

The researchers explain that genetic diversity is essential for the survival and adaptation of different species in response to environmental changes. For humans and many other organisms, sexual reproduction is the primary driver of the genetic diversity required for survival. However, bacteria and other microorganisms lack such a reproduction mechanism.

Read more | >

RNA in cells performs an astounding number of functions. Messenger RNA carries the sequences of active genes to cellular machinery that turns it into proteins. And transfer RNA molecules are an essential part of the construction of those proteins. RNA molecules that have nothing to do with proteins can also help regulate genes and perform other cellular functions. Researchers have now shown that some RNA in cells also helps defend against viral infection, by aiding in the control of antiviral signaling. The findings have been reported in Science.

The researchers noted that RNA can be seen not only as a drug target, but also as a drug. RNA presents an opportunity for treating infections, or autoimmune diseases, they suggested.

Read more | >

Researchers have developed an innovative therapeutic platform by mimicking the intricate structures of viruses using artificial intelligence (AI). Their pioneering research was published in Nature on December 18.

Viruses are uniquely designed to encapsulate genetic material within spherical shells, enabling them to replicate and invade host cells, often causing disease. Inspired by these complex structures, researchers have been exploring artificial proteins modeled after viruses.

These “nanocages” mimic viral behavior, effectively delivering therapeutic genes to target cells. However, existing nanocages face significant challenges: their small size restricts the amount of genetic material they can carry, and their simple designs fall short of replicating the multifunctionality of natural viral proteins.

Read more | >

Summary: A new study reveals that humans think at a rate of 10 bits per second, while sensory systems process a billion bits per second—100 million times faster. This highlights a paradox: why does the brain process thoughts so slowly when sensory input is so vast?

Researchers propose that the brain’s evolution prioritized focusing on single “paths” of thought, akin to navigating abstract concept spaces. These findings challenge notions of brain-computer interfaces enabling faster communication, as the brain’s inherent speed limit persists.

Read more | >

Are we on the path to becoming one with machines? 🤖✨ In this video, we dive deep into the concept of The Singularity—the point where humanity and artificial intelligence merge into one seamless entity. From advanced neural interfaces to AI-driven biological enhancements, we’ll explore the technologies paving the way for this future transformation.

Read more | >