In search of new forms of longevity medicine, an Israel-based biotech company says it intends to create embryonic versions of humans to harvest tissue for use in transplant treatments.
Renewal Bio deals with the latest advances in stem cell technology and artificial wombs, as demonstrated by Jacob Hanna, a biologist at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot. Earlier this week, Hanna showed that by starting with mouse stem cells, his lab can create highly realistic mouse embryos and keep them growing in a mechanical womb for days until they develop a heartbeat, flowing blood and cranial folds.
This is the first time such an advanced embryo has been simulated without sperm, eggs or even a uterus. Hanna now aims to extend this technology to humans — he is already experimenting with human cells and hopes to eventually create artificial models of human embryos. “We think of the embryo as the ultimate 3D bioprinter,” he says. Read the story in its entirety.
— Antonio Regalado
Automated techniques can facilitate AI development
Machine learning researchers have to make many decisions when developing new models, meaning that complex models end up being developed by human intuition rather than systematically. A growing field called automated machine learning, or autoML, aims to remove that guesswork by letting algorithms take over the decision-making, which could both simplify the process and make machine learning more accessible.
Big Tech is paying attention. Companies like Amazon and Google already offer low-code machine learning tools that take advantage of autoML techniques, and computer scientists are excited about the ability to simply specify a problem before letting a computer figure it out. But researchers still have a lot of work to do before autoML becomes more widely available. Read the story in its entirety.
—Tammy Sue
Required reading
I’ve combed the web to find the funniest/important/scary/interesting tech stories for you today.
1 The United States has declared monkeypox a public health emergency
It has surpassed 7,100 cases, more than any other country. (WSJ$)
+ Many freaks failed to get vaccinated. (vox)
+ Some people will be at risk of contracting monkeypox and covid. (Atlantic dollar)
+ So far, there is no evidence that monkeypox has become more virulent. (slate)
+ Everything you need to know about monkeypox vaccines. (MIT Technology Review)
2 Alex Jones must pay $4 million to Sandy Hook victim’s parents
A conspiracy theorist is finally facing consequences for calling the massacre a hoax. (BBC)
+ The jury could also award additional damages. (Buzzfeed News)
3 Elon Musk accused Twitter of fraud
He also claims he was “tricked” into signing the sales agreement. (Bloomberg $)
+ A tool used to rate Twitter bots has reportedly flagged Musk’s account as one. (FT$)
+ Twitter lawyers are not holding back. (The Verge)
+ Meanwhile, Musk predicts that the US will experience a “mild recession” within 18 months. (Insider)
4 The UK cost of living crisis has spawned a wave of fraud
Which seems particularly cruel, though unfortunately inevitable. (FT$)
5 Your brain seems to discover new realities when you die 🧠
The new dimensions of reality that some dying people experience are not the same as hallucinations. (Neo.Life)
6 We buy fewer video games than we used to
With less disposable income, shoppers are cutting back on non-essential items. (WP$)
7 The animals we know the least about are the most endangered
Many of them are thought to have died out before we could discover them. (motherboard)
+ Machine learning can help identify the species most at risk. (The Verge)
+ Understanding how species mate is critical to ensuring their safety in the future. (Knowable magazine)
8 The Internet is obsessed with tracking celebrity flights
Aviation enthusiasts reveal details that the rich and famous prefer to keep secret. (The Guardian)
9 Hollywood is getting better at portraying young people’s lives online
Being very online is no longer a single person’s privilege. (Atlantic dollar)
+ How the next generation is reshaping political discourse. (MIT Technology Review)
10 TikTok can’t get enough of young farmers 🐄🐏
Their village life is amazing. (pounds dollars)
+ Elsewhere on TikTok, users pay money to wake people up. (Wired $)
