Doubling Our DNA Building Blocks Could Lead to New Life Forms
But first, chemists hope to improve DNA data storage and churn out new medical compounds.
The Great White Shark Genome Is Here—Superpowers and All
Sharks are renowned for their wound healing, lifespans of 70-odd years, and low rates of cancer. Their genes could reveal their superpowers.
California’s Rain Was a ‘Cat 4’ Atmospheric River. Wait, What?
All that rain drenching California this week came from an atmospheric river. A new rating scale would tell you how much water is fueling the system.
How Measles Hacks the Body—and Harms Its Victims for Years
The virus is the most contagious in the world, exploiting the human body's immune system to spread with extreme agility and harming its victims for years.
A New Lab Is Brewing Microbes to Create Makeup and Medicines
At Culture Biosciences, rows of bioreactors are brewing yeast and bacteria so synthetic biology startups can produce their foods, biofuels, and medicines faster.
This Jagged Little Pill Could Make Diabetes Easier to Treat
A tortoise-inspired, needle-carrying pill promises to let people swallow drugs that currently have to be injected.
Should Cops Use Family Tree Forensics? Maryland Isn’t So Sure
As genetic genealogy gains momentum, one state considers barring police departments from using public DNA databases in criminal cases.
The World Might Actually Run Out of People
The United Nations predicts that the global population will soon explode. In *Empty Planet*, John Ibbitson and Darrell Bricker argue they're dead wrong.
The ‘Complete’ Cancer Cure Story Is Both Bogus and Tragic
An Israeli company claimed it will cure cancer in a year, and the internet erupted. But in this latest viral incident, everyone loses.
Why Your Phone (and Other Gadgets) Fail You When It’s Cold
Your phone won't last more than about 5 minutes in weather below –35 degrees F—just long enough for you to also get nibbled by frostbite.