How close are we to successfully editing genes in human embryos?
We can now create human “primordial germ cells”, the precursors to eggs and sperm, from embryonic stem cells.
Calls for global regulation of AI are growing. What exactly could it look like?
There are growing concerns about the ability of AI to escape human control. This comes after a series of high-profile AI cybersecurity incidents.
Scientists have designed a functioning virus from scratch using AI – what you need to know
The result is an important step for a field sometimes called generative biology, in which AI is used to design new biological molecules.
Could AI really kill off humanity within the decade? Expert Q&A
“Wiping out” is a bit extreme but there are some dangerous threats. There are the “bad actor” scenarios where AI is used destructively.
If we want to settle on other planets, we’ll have to use genome editing to alter human DNA
When considering human settlements on the Moon, Mars and further afield, much attention is given to the travel times, food and radiation risk.
People in the world’s ‘blue zones’ live longer – their diet could hold the key to why
But living longer has also come at a price. We’re now seeing higher rates of chronic and degenerative diseases
Can an ancient virus be brought back to life? What 500‑year‑old smallpox DNA reveals
For centuries, smallpox caused devastating epidemics. Its severe form, variola major, killed around 30% of those infected.
Tech leaders are calling for an ‘AI slowdown’ – but what would that mean in practice?
How could AI agents cause widespread damage? They could enable the creation of devastating bioweapons or spread across the internet.
The mRNA Revolution Isn’t Over-Now It’s Targeting Cancer
How a recent study may have just opened the door to a universal cancer vaccine that trains your immune system to kill tumors.
Will humans gradually become part of Superintelligence?
If we do nothing, our species may simply become extinct within this, or the next century, as the consequence of a dozen existential risks.
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