Bio-Hacking Regulators; Communicating Thoughts; Computing Cataracts; I Spy with My Little AI; Free Russian Land; and Detailed Rings

Genetics

The FDA Is Cracking Down On Rogue Genetic Engineers gizmodo

Since the DIY bio community first developed in the early aughts, it has largely avoided government regulation. But in 2017, cheaper equipment and simpler genetic engineering technologies mean that garage scientists can dream much bigger than simply turning yellow yeast red. We now live in a world where anyone can order custom DNA sequences on the internet to tinker with in their home. And the rules that govern genetic engineering today were not written with the foresight that it would one day be possible for 30-year-old hobbyists in Mississippi to try their hand at genetically engineering dogs.

Beetle-Borg; Abnormal Embryo Cells can Still Develop Healthy; Sick Midwest; NK Plans for Famine; Preemptive Nuclear Threats; Iran Missile Ire; US Pushes Pieces Closer to Russia; Russia Flying over Syria; FDA Helps Abortion Along; AI Mines Humanities Maps; Open Micro; Japan Probe Pieces; Walk on Mars; and Wheat

Cyborg

Remote-control cyborg beetle developed by scientists independent.co.uk

Researchers have created a 'living drone' by controlling a beetle's movements using electronics.

If there was such a thing as insect-abuse, this would be it: Scientists Turn Beetle Into 'Cyborg' | Video

Life

Embryo cell abnormalities not necessarily a sign that a baby will be born with a birth defect independent.co.uk

An academic who became pregnant with her second child, aged 44, has shown that abnormal cells in the early embryo are not necessarily a sign that a baby will be born with a birth defect such as Down’s syndrome.

Also read Embryos with defective cells 'can still develop healthily'

Pestilence

Questions remain over deadly mystery bacteria in Midwest cbsnews

The bacteria, called Elizabethkingia, does not usually cause illness in humans, but in recent months it has sickened dozens and killed 17 people in Wisconsin and one in Michigan.

North Korea

North Korea tells its people a new famine may come, they again may need to 'eat the roots of grass' latimes

When Kim Jong Un made his first public speech as North Korea's leader in 2012, he stood in front of a massive military rally in the capital’s main square and told the crowd that they would “never have to tighten their belts again.” Kim was referring to his country’s history of poverty and food shortages, particularly a famine in the 1990s in which hundreds of thousands of people — if not more — starved to death.

We Are Ready for ‘Pre-Emptive Nuclear Strike’ on U.S. breitbart

North Korea has once again asserted that it will use its nuclear weapons arsenal against the United States. Unlike previous statements, however, a note from the rogue state’s foreign minister on Monday insisted that North Korea is fully equipped and ready to use a nuclear weapon on the United States, not just willing to do so.

Iran

U.S., France, Britain and Germany Urge UN Action Against Iran Over Missile Tests haaretz

The United States and three allies called for a UN Security Council meeting to respond to Iran's recent ballistic missile tests which they say were carried out in defiance of a UN resolution.

Also Russia says Iran missile tests 'don’t violate' UN resolution

US

US to increase military presence in eastern Europe bbc

The plan demonstrates "our strong and balanced approach to reassuring our Nato allies and partners in the wake of an aggressive Russia in eastern Europe and elsewhere", said Gen Philip Breedlove, the senior US commander in Europe.

Also see US to station armored brigade in Eastern Europe: Pentagon

Russia

Russian Jets Carry Out 23 Sorties Hitting 54 Terrorist Targets in 24 Hours sputniknews

Russian combat jets deployed in Syria have carried out 23 night sorties in the last 24 hours, hitting a total of 54 terrorist targets, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

Abortion

FDA approves abortion drug label that could undo several state laws bbc

Under the new label, a smaller dose of mifepristone can be used up to 70 days after the beginning of the last menstrual period instead of the 49-day limit in effect under the old label. Also, the second drug can be taken by a woman at home and not be required to be administered at a clinic.

"It looks like this benefits the abortion industry and increases their potential customer base and revenues, but it's not clear that anything here makes it safer for women in the long run, and certainly nothing about a chemical abortion makes it any safer for the unborn child," O'Bannon said.

AI

What Happens When You Combine Artificial Intelligence and Satellite Imagery fortune

Using technology similar to what allows Facebook to recognize faces in photos uploaded to its service, the company sifted through more than 14 billion geospatial images captured by satellite imagery provider DigitalGlobe. The resulting maps reveal the locations of more than 2 billion disconnected people spread across 20 countries, many of them developing nations where even basic mapping data is scarce.

What could possibly go wrong with being able to mine “petabytes of satellite imagery”...?

Tech

Open-source microprocessor phys.org

The new processor is called PULPino and it is designed for battery-powered devices with extremely low energy consumption (PULP stands for 'parallel ultra low power'). These could be for chips for small devices, such as smartwatches, sensors for monitoring physiological functions (which can communicate with a heart rate monitor, for instance) or sensors for the Internet of Things.

Space

Japanese Space Probe Was Smashed Into Five Pieces forbes

JAXA lost contact with Hitomi, or ASTRO-H, on Saturday, when the satellite was due to start operations. Since then, the agency has managed to get two signals from the space probe, one at around 8am EST on Monday and the other at 10.30am EST on Tuesday.

NASA will let you walk on Mars using HoloLens theverge

NASA is teaming up with Microsoft to give you a glimpse of the Red Planet. A new exhibition called "Destination: Mars" will let visitors use Microsoft’s HoloLens augmented reality headsets to take a virtual stroll on Mars, alongside a "holographic" tour guide, astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

Food

Ancient wheat varieties, protected through world wars, could be key to creating drought and disease resistant crops abc.net.au

Dr Lee Hickey and PhD candidate Adnan Riaz, from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, have completed the world's first genome-wide analysis of a collection of wheat seeds stored in Russia for more than a century.