Tech Post 5/8

Engineering the Human Gene Pool

Recently, Harvard Medical School Students have been researching genetic code engineering. George Church and Luhan Yang both became key players in developing CRISPR-Cas9; a powerful genetic editing technology.  They have already successfully engineered the genomes of pigs and cattle, by adding beneficial genes and erasing bad ones.
This technology is believed to eventually change/engineer the genes of human beings. This would be beneficial to humans for multiple reasons. CRISPR can correct disease, delete hereditary illnesses, install life-long protection against infection, erase Alzheimer's, and maybe even diminish the effects of aging. The future of gene editing can lead to superhumans and even perfect babies for those who can afford the use of this technology.
You can see the article here.

A recent survey pertaining to the genetic modification for babies

Tech Post 4/24

Scientists Create New Genetic Modifications Through TALENs

Scientists at the University of Minnesota have been working with Cellectis Plant Sciences to create a new form of gene editing for plants. This technology could be a way to engineer plants that avoid the regulations normally associated with genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This technique is known as TALENs (Transcription activator-like effector nuclease).

With the new form of gene editing, small companies can very quickly and easily develop new crops for a fraction of the typical cost-even in species that are uncommonly modified by biotechnology. However, previously modified crops included genes to self-produce insecticides, making them costly to produce. Plant scientists believe this technology will influence more sophisticated engineering, including manipulation of photosynthesis to make plants grow faster and yield more food. Cellectis engineers found that their technology can create new plants in under year, whereas normal genetic modification takes 5-10 years. This technology has a growing importance due to the dependence on food production as populations increase. This technology can easily create faster growing crops to accompany the growth of population.

You can see the article here.

Tech Post 3/27

The Runcible 
Monohm, a startup manufacturer in Berkeley, California, has recently been working on a curved, circular, palm-sized phone named Runcible. The Runcible is currently being referred to as the "anti-smartphone". Phone companies have ben finding new ways to reform the general rectangle shaped appearances, but none
have taken on the challenge of a circular product. The Runcible creators take phone manufacturing to a new level. This device has to be created from scratch yet offers multiple new features.

While smartphones reflect larger, bulkier TV sets, the Runcible looks like a larger pocket watch system. Applications include social media overviews, compass mapping, streamlined information and new interaction systems. However, the most attractive features would be the single lens on the back and the curvature of the device. While smartphones are getting smaller and thinner, Runcible has taken a curvier and more "zen" approach.

Tech Post 3/20

Liquid Based 3D Printer Opens New Ideas for Future Printing

Traditional 3D printers typically create products by the usage of layering and stacking of material. However, Startup Carbon3D has introduced a new way to print 3D objects. This new technology uses CLIP (Continuous Liquid Interface Production) to form 3D objects out of photosensitive resin. The resin results in a smoother printing that emerges from a pool of liquid. This creation of 3D printing is based off of oxygen. The resin directly processes with the use of oxygen and when oxygen is not present in certain areas, the liquid forms a dead zone. This dead zone acts the same way as an ordinary printer skipping over certain areas. The areas then form the open slots to the objects.
This new printer can open new passages to the future of 3D printing. Creators say that the new CLIP technique makes printing 25-100 times faster, offers wider material choices, and delivers better quality materials.

Tech Post 3/13

UC Berkeley creates the Heart On A Chip
Researchers at UC Berkeley have created a quicker, faster, and cheaper device to test human affects from medications. This new device eliminates the necessity of animal testing diminishing the need for costly experiments. The "chip" is an inch long tube containing a small piece of cardiac muscle. The muscle responds to the certain medications in an human-like manner. Rather than testing on animals and having the inaccurate animal responses. The idea of the chip were designed to mimic blood vessels and connective tissue fibers that are present in the human body. More specifically, researchers have been able to take a human's adult stem cells to test and study their personal affects of certain treatments or medications.

Tech Post 2/27

Project Loon

Project Loon is a new breakthrough that will be available in 1-2 years. It is coast effective and will bring billions of new users onto the internet. With the help of solar powered electronics, balloon-like aircraft, and helium, the manufacturers are able to create a high floating internet accessing machine. Project Loon floats at approximately 15 metres in length and 20 kilometers above the ground, just low enough to send telecommunications signals to a ground base. The producers, Google and Facebook, suggest these balloons will have a positive impact on the communities they're above. It will bring internet to areas that do not have the resources to build cell phone towers. Google's goals are to bring economic and social benefits to the poorest 60% of the world. Loons are already floating in areas such as Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand, You can see the article here.

15 kilogram box filled with solar powered electronics

Technology Post 2/12

Researchers at Brown University and Blackrock Microsystems have begun to create a wireless brain transmitter, called BrainGate, to allow handicapped people manage TVs, computers, and wheelchairs through thought commands. Blackrock has yet to receive clearance from the Food and Drug Administration for testing.
The device works by being implanted onto the brain and collecting the signals. The BrainGate processes data at approximately 48 megabits per second, uses 30 milliwatts of power, and is battery operated. The entire device costs about $15,000 and is currently in the trial area of the testing. However, it is only being tested with the help of engineers and supervisors.
You can see the article here.