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Mar 10, 2020

Success in Reprogramming a Supercentenarian’s Cells

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, life extension

Researchers from AgeX Therapeutics and other organizations have proved the feasibility of reprogramming banked cells derived from a supercentenarian. Their discovery portends exciting new possibilities for aging research.

What is cellular reprogramming?

Cellular reprogramming is the process of reverting mature, specialized cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which can develop into any cell type found in the human body. Cellular reprogramming technology was pioneered in 2006 by Drs. Takahashi and Yamanaka, who achieved this impressive result by overexpressing just four genes, Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM), which became collectively known as the Yamanaka factors. For this breakthrough, Yamanaka was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2012. Fun fact: Yamanaka called these cells iPSCs – with a small “i” – as a nod to the iPod and similarly named devices.

Mar 10, 2020

If We Can Make Animals Smarter, Should We?

Posted by in category: neuroscience

What do you think?


In science fiction stories, research can accidentally create superintelligent animal species. As the ability to alter animals’ brains grows, some say we should be wary of fiction becoming reality.

Mar 10, 2020

New treatment stalls cellular aging and promotes rejuvination

Posted by in category: life extension

University of Exeter team make senescent cells look younger and begin to divide while exhibiting longer telomeres to reduce cellular aging.

Mar 10, 2020

You Can Soon Grow Human-Animal Hybrids, But You Can’t Breed ‘Em

Posted by in categories: bioengineering, government

Circa 2016 o.o


The federal government just proposed new rules that would allow researchers to grow human-animal hybrids for research, so long as they can’t think, feel, or breed.

Mar 10, 2020

Wait, What? The First Human-Monkey Hybrid Embryo Was Just Created in China

Posted by in categories: bioengineering, biotech/medical, ethics

The news did not sit well with Chinese scientists, who are still recovering from the CRISPR baby scandal. “It makes you wonder, if their reason for choosing to do this in a Chinese laboratory is because of our high-tech experimental setups, or because of loopholes in our laws?” lamented one anonymous commentator on China’s popular social media app, WeChat.

Their frustration is understandable. Earlier in April, a team from southern China came under international fire for sticking extra copies of human “intelligence-related” genes into macaque monkeys. And despite efforts to revamp its reputation in biomedical research ethics, China does have slacker rules in primate research compared to Western countries.

If you’re feeling icked out, you’re not alone. The morality and ethics of growing human-animal hybrids are far from clear. But creepiness aside, scientists do have two reasons for wading into these uncomfortable waters.

Mar 10, 2020

‘Primitive’ Stem Cells Shown to Regenerate Blood Vessels in The Eye

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

Human vascular progenitor cells (green), made from Zambidis’ lab-grown naive stem cells, engraft into blood vessels (red) in a mouse retina. Credit: Elias Zambidis, Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Mar 10, 2020

Someone Will Eventually Use CRISPR to Try to Make a Dragon or Unicorn

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics

O„.o.


So much emphasis has been placed on human genome editing that other types of genetic editing are falling through the cracks.

Mar 10, 2020

DARPA teams with Northrop Grumman to build robotic service satellite

Posted by in categories: government, robotics/AI, satellites

DARPA has entered into a partnership with Northrop Grumman subsidiary Space Logistics LLC to develop robotic technologies for servicing and extending the service lives of orbital satellites. Based on the Mission Extension Vehicle-1 (MEV-1), which recently docked with a communication satellite in geosynchronous orbit, the technology will be used by the agency’s Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) program to develop a dexterous robotic servicer that would be operated by private companies.

Founded in 2016, the RSGS program completed a Payload Critical Design Review in 2019 and is developing key technologies in the run up to the first space launch scheduled for 2023. As part of this effort, DARPA says it is funding the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) to bring together components like the robotic manipulator arms, a variety of interchangeable tools, cameras, sensors, software, and avionics into a functioning robotic payload.

Meanwhile, Space Logistics will provide the spacecraft bus based on the MEV and integrate the robotic payload, as well as providing launch and orbital operation services. Once the spacecraft has been checked out and demonstrated its capabilities, the technology will be marketed to commercial and government organizations.

Mar 10, 2020

17 Responsible Live Visualizations About The Coronavirus, For You to Use

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

Always up-to-date numbers about the COVID-19 cases that you can embed in your own articles.

Mar 10, 2020

Can laser light therapy actually cure pain? We wanted to find out

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, sex

Proponents of the technology claim it can get people off of opioids, improve their sex lives, and make them smarter. Critics say it’s bunk.