Lifeboat News: The Blog – Safeguarding Humanity

First bacterial genome created entirely with a computer

Posted by Genevieve Klien in biotech/medical, computing

Apr 1
2019

All the genome sequences of organisms known throughout the world are stored in a database belonging to the National Center for Biotechnology Information in the United States. As of today, the database has an additional entry: Caulobacter ethensis-2.0. It is the world’s first fully computer-generated genome of a living organism, developed by scientists at ETH Zurich. However, it must be emphasised that although the genome for C. ethensis-2.0 was physically produced in the form of a very large DNA molecule, a corresponding organism does not yet exist.

How to ice-proof the next generation of aircraft

Posted by Genevieve Klien in energy, transportation

Apr 1
2019

35,000 feet is standard cruising altitude for a commercial jet airplane, but at those lofty heights the air temperature plummets below −51 degrees Celsius and ice can easily form on wings. To prevent ice formation and subsequent drag on the aircraft, current systems utilize the heat generated by burning fuel. But these high-temperature, fuel-dependent systems cannot be used on the proposed all-electric, temperature-sensitive materials of next-generation aircraft.

The Newest AI-Enabled Weapon: ‘Deep-Faking’ Photos of the Earth

Posted by Genevieve Klien in robotics/AI

Apr 1
2019

The Newest AI-Enabled Weapon: ‘Deep-Faking’ Photos of the Earth | RealClearDefense.

Interesting Engineering

Posted by Quinn Sena in robotics/AI

Apr 1
2019

This robot works wonders in logistics as it can autonomously locate, grasp and place boxes onto pallets via BostonDynamics.

Astronomers Are Teasing the First-Ever Photo of a Black Hole

Posted by Quinn Sena in cosmology

Apr 1
2019

The international team behind the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project is gearing up for a huge announcement next week — and according to ScienceAlert’s analysis, it’s likely to be the first-ever photo of a black hole’s event horizon.

If that prediction is correct, the April 10 event will be a monumental moment for science — providing a glimpse of one of the most epic objects in the known universe.

Are We Ready For An Implant That Can Change Our Moods?

Posted by Quinn Sena in health, neuroscience

Apr 1
2019

Deep Brain Stimulation For Depression, Mood Disorders Could Be Ethically Fraught : Shots — Health News Deep brain stimulation offers relief from some neurological problems and is being tested for mood disorders. But the treatment — an implant in the brain — raises ethical questions.

Try Not to Laugh

Posted by Quinn Sena in futurism

Apr 1
2019

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This one’s a hoot 😂.

Building blocks of DNA and RNA could have appeared together before life began on Earth

Posted by Genevieve Klien in biotech/medical

Apr 1
2019

Scientists for the first time have found strong evidence that RNA and DNA could have arisen from the same set of precursor molecules even before life evolved on Earth about four billion years ago.