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Category Archives: Uncategorized

Biological Data Storage

People in the synthetic biology world have been talking about this idea for several years — encoding data for storage in living cells. Biological computing. Science Blog reports on a recent success by Drew Endy’s group at Stanford in creating a bit of rewritable memory in a living cell. His goal is to go from […]

DARPA Puts $30 Million into “Living Foundries”

DARPA has aleady been investing selectively in academic synthetic biology projects. This is a big new investment that should give a boost to research across the field. Science Insider reports that the first phase of the Living Foundries efforts “will support work that advances the tools needed to make synthetic biology more efficient and cheaper” […]

Rats!

Check out the June issue of Fast Company for my story on SAGE Labs, a division of Sigma-Aldrich, and their groundbreaking work engineering rats for medical research. Rabbits, pigs, and even monkeys are next. Sigma also recently announced plans for the commercial development of genetically engineered silkworms that spin high-strength spider silk, for which there […]

This Is Your Art on Drugs

This slide show from the Good website documents work by artist Bryan Lewis Saunders, who for years has been executing rather intriguing self portraits while under the influence of various illicit drugs and prescription pharmaceuticals, and combinations thereof. Below, cocaine. Yikes!

A Life of Their Own

Autonomous, kinetic beach creatures — strandebeests — constructed by Dutch artist Theo Jansen, from a new BBC One show called Wallace & Gromit’s World of Invention. Wow, wow, wow.

What Is a Hackerspace?

Hard to say exactly, but “you know when you’re in one,” says Mitch Altman of Noisebridge in San Francisco’s Mission District. They have one rule: Be excellent to each other. Video by KQED Quest, via Boing Boing.

The Art and Craft of Real Chinese Noodles

Now I’m hungry. Great article from New York Times food section today. Cool video at Times’ site.

Let There Be Light

The new issue of MIT’s Technology Review includes this proposed design for Shenzen Airport in China, an example of the sort of undulating biomorphic structure made possible by parametric design software. This beautiful digital rendering is by New york architecture firm Reiser + Umemoto.

Space Biology

Craig Venter discusses biological tool kits for future space exploration and more in this recent talk at NASA Ames Center. Update: Previous link was changed to password-protected. This video works for now, though is not as good quality.

A Place in the Trees

Amazing writing studio, for a writer who’s doing rather well for herself, I’d say. Gorgeous. Private Library from A Space In Time on Vimeo.