Researchers at MIT have developed a programming language that will allow the toolmakers of the future to “program” living cells—outfitting them with DNA-encoded circuits that confer a host of new functions on the “hacked” organism.
Christopher Voigt, professor of biological engineering at MIT, explains: “It is literally a programming language for bacteria. You use a text-based language, just like you’re programming a computer. Then you take that text and you compile it and it turns it into a DNA sequence that you put into the cell, and the circuit runs inside the cell.” (source)
Essentially, you start with the ability you want to program into the bacterium—say, detecting the presence of certain harmful chemicals. You write up a program describing it, and a DNA sequence is created that will achieve the desired function.
So let’s say you want to get rid of a certain disease. All you have to do is program the germ to snif out and eliminate the disease, just like coding a program to execute a certain function. The best thing about this breakthrough is that it’s INCREDIBLY easy to use!
You don’t need to have any training in genetic or biological engineering. Hell, you don’t even need to know what a gene is. ANYONE can use it!
It’s genetic engineering for the masses. The designers even plan to make the language’s user interface universally available on the Internet. Who knows, maybe we’ll each have a bacteria-programming-kit at home in the future.
The ice bucket challenge was a phenomenon in the summer of 2014 in which people dunked a bucket of iced water over their heads in order to solicit donations before nominating others to do the same.
Scores of celebrities including Mark Zuckerberg, Anna Wintour, Tom Cruise, Charlie Sheen, Robert Downey Jr and hundreds more made videos, but the campaign was criticised by some.
People said it’s a scheme for money and videos going viral, seeking attention, some even saw it as offensive to people suffering from ALS. Well, all those naysayers will be really shocked when they hear that exactly the funds raised from “The Ice Bucket Challenge” helped researchers come to an ALS breakthrough just recently. They found a new gene that is present in both inherited and sporadic forms of the disease.
“It’s very exciting because it shows everyone who contributed to the ice bucket challenge that their donation had an impact on the research,” said Brian Frederick, executive vice-president of communications and development at the ALS Association. “The work that Project MinE is doing is really important, and the discovery of this new gene will help us better understand ALS.” he continued claiming that the discovery was significant.
He added that “it’s still very early in our understanding of this particular gene, and we still have a ways to go with understanding ALS generally.”
This is a proof that if we all work together towards a mutual goal (be that through game, fun or research) we can progress in solving most of the world’s problems in no time. Together we are stronger than anything we have faced. If we find a way to unite, humanity can truly make this world a paradise for one another.
This may come as a SHOCK to some people, but you are not getting fat because of the calories you eat. You are getting fat because of where those calories come from. 100 calories from spinach are not the same as 100 calories from added sugars. In fact, we shouldn’t necessarily even be focusing on counting calories; we should be focusing on the ingredients in our food.
While sugar may be advertised as “fat free” it becomes stored as fat within the system, especially if you are ingesting more than your liver can process at a time (which is very little). According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation it’s recommended no more than 10% of the calories we consume to come from added sugars, which is about 12 grams; to put this into perspective, one can of soda is about 85% of that.
Let’s clear something out: Added sugar is bad for you! You don’t need it. You never did! Only 10 days without sugar gives INCREDIBLE benefits. In a new study that was targeted towards children, researchers were able to see dramatic improvements in just 10 days. (source)
Dr. Robert Lustig and his team of researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, were able to:
Decrease triglyceride levels by 33 points on average;
The LDL (bad) cholesterol dropped 5 points;
As well as the diastolic blood pressure;
In only 10 days, all of the children who participated in the study drastically reduced their risk of type 2 diabetes. How? Simply by being sugar free for no more than 10 days. This proves how bad added sugar really is for our bodies.
That’s not all! A new study has found that consuming high levels of fructose (from added sugars) harms a whopping 940 brain genes. (source)
The researchers found that 734 hypothalamic genes were altered as well as 206 hippocampal genes. These genes govern separate but extremely important areas of the brain: cell metabolism, cell communication, inflammation, and overall brain function. In other words, these are not genes that you want to be altered in any way.
According to The Health and Sciences Academy, “…certain alterations can lead to leptin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and brain diseases such as Parkinson’s, depression, and bipolar disorder.”
The same study discovered something positive too. Omega-3 oil DHA “has the potential to normalize the genomic impact of fructose.” This means that including enough DHA in your diet can help to offset the gene alterations caused by the added sugars.
DHA can be found in fish, fish oil supplements, and some egg and dairy products like ghee. Don’t worry about eating fruit because the sugar inside fruits is naturally accompanied by fibre, which helps slow the body’s absorption of sugar. That’s why they are an IDEAL substitute for a sweet snack.
Sugar, most of the time, flies below “the radar” when products are placed on the market. However, these are some of the names through which you can recognize added sugar on products:
Glucose/Fructose;
High fructose corn syrup;
Corn syrup;
Sucrose;
Maltose;
Dextrose;
Beet sugar;
Glucose solids;
Cane sugar;
Dehydrated cane juice;
Dextrin;
Maltodextrin;
Some scientists say that sugar is as addictive as most of the illegal drugs. Some even think that sugar is, actually a drug! It triggers the same centres of your brain as drugs like cocaine or heroin do. It sort of takes over your brain. Just look at people who consume too much sugar, they cannot function without it. They are like junkies. (source)
Whether you are addicted or not, you could do A LOT BETTER with less sugar in your diet. You’ll be healthier and fitter, and you can achieve results even in just 10 days. If nothing else, this is certainly something worth to try!
The same guy who invented PayPal, created the Tesla Cars, plans to create “SolarCities” and developed cars that will make money for you when you don’t use them, has ANOTHER brilliant idea.
Elon Musk plans to launch 4,000 low-orbit satellites in order to give free internet access worldwide.
The billionaire’s company, SpaceX, revealed the initial framework of the plan in January, with the official request being submitted to the Federal Communications Commission last week. If the plan is initiated without any problems, the worldwide free satellite internet system can be operational within five years, according to The Independent.
The worldwide satellite internet model has been proposed by a number of companies already, including tech giants Google and Samsung. However, what makes Musk’s “SpaceX” a formidable contender for the project is the fact that the company already has the existing hardware to pull off the project. In order for the entire world to be fully covered 4,000 low-orbit satellites would need to be launched.
Elon Musk is all about inventing revolutionary projects that have potential to change the world. If this project succeeds, the whole world, even the the most remote parts will have a fast, free WiFi access at any time!
How certain are you that your actions are YOURS? What if we tell you that there may be a parasite in your brain pulling strings? Will that be too much science fiction for you? Well, according to scientists a certain single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, which burrows in the brains of domestic cats, can find its way into humans and control their actions.
According to scientists, these mind control bugs are responsible for, among other things, reckless driving and an increased risk of suicide.
Scientists say that the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, or Toxo for short, living in 40 percent of our brains affects our sense of fear and risk-taking.
Researchers found that rats, with which humans share a number of characteristics with, infected with the Toxo parasite were attracted to the smell of cat urine, instead of being afraid of it.
“Pathways that normally responded to the smell of cat urine with alarm had been damped down, while the pleasure hormone dopamine, normally released in response to female rodent urine, was now triggered by the whiff of cat,”The Telegraph reports.
Scientists say it’s all part of the parasite’s way of spreading from host to host – rats that aren’t afraid of cats are more likely to be eaten by them, thereby spreading the parasite to the cat.
In human studies, the findings were similarly alarming. While men infected with the parasite were more likely to become introverted and dress down, infected women behaved just the opposite – dressing up and acting more sociable. The more likely a person is to interact with others, the better chances the parasite has of passing itself on.
Joanne Webster, professor of parasite epidemiology at Imperial College London, told The Telegraph that parasites prefer the brain because it is removed from the body’s immune system and also because it gives them “direct access” to the mechanisms of behavior.
“There is strong psychological resistance to the possibility that human behavior can be influenced by some stupid parasite,” Flegr told the The Atlantic in March 2012.
He said he first learned of the ability of parasites to control their hosts 30 years ago after reading about how a certain flatworm can control ants by taking over their nervous systems. “It was the first I learned about this kind of manipulation, so it made a big impression on me,” Flegr said.
According to The Atlantic, “If Flegr is right, the … parasite may be quietly tweaking the connections between our neurons, changing our response to frightening situations, our trust in others, how outgoing we are, and even our preference for certain scents.”
According to Big Think global warming could be making things worse. “Schistosomiasis and toxoplasmosis may sound like something you would pick up in a developing country, but the reality is that more and more so-called “third world” parasites are becoming endemic to the United States. Already, some 60 million people — that’s right 60 million — are infected with toxoplasma gondii or, as it’s more fondly known as, the cat poop parasite.”
These parasites may also be responsible for the world “dumbing down” as they have the ability to control the individual’s IQ. These parasites may be creating an intelligence gap of the world population where the infected individuals suffer from reduced attention span, decreased ability to calculate, focus and process visual information. And on top of all this, the parasite stimulates the individual to feel rage and aggression.
According to The American Scholar, “When compared with those who did not harbor the virus, those infected were about 10 percent slower to make calculations and had a reduced attention span, suggesting that the virus compromised their ability to calculate, to focus, and to process visual information — disadvantages in the classroom, on the job, and in other familiar learning situations.”
These findings are disturbing on many levels and further reinforce the need for greater access to health care, especially for the nation’s poorest. If parasites aren’t reined in effectively, they not only threaten public health, but also could reduce human capital.
We should all take better care of our hygiene and our pets hygiene. Maintaining our mental health and sharpness with some mental stimulation, from time to time, is not a bad idea too.
You probably never thought about it, but EVERYTHING you consume comes in contact with your intenstines. Over time, toxins and waste will build up and cause an assortment of health issues including constipation, diarrhea, irregular bowel movements, weakened immune system, and low energy.
You don’t have to do a colonoscopy in order to get rid of the toxines inside your body. There is a simpler way that asks for only 2 ingredients: Kefir and Flaxseed.
Kefir
Kefir is a fermented drink usually made with milk and “grains” that are beneficial living organisms. It is also a complete source of protein with many essential amino acids, minerals, and valuable B vitamins.
Kefir is safe to use for people who are lactose intolerant but can be made from fruit juice, coconut water, coconut milk, rice milk, almond milk, and more.
“What’s good about kefir is that it contains several major strains of friendly bacteria and beneficial yeasts. These probiotic organisms help to cleanse the intestine, help balance the intestinal flora and destroy pathogens such as E-coli and parasites. Kefir helps to restore your digestive system, relieves inflammatory bowel disease and helps to boost your immune system.“
Flaxseed
Flaxseed is excellent for cleansing. It absorbs water and expands as it passes through the colon. Flaxseed acts like a scrub brush as it literally scrubs toxins and waste away. It is also rich in ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), a form of omega-3 fatty acids. ALA has anti-inflammatory properties and helps to relieve irritable bowel syndrome.
Flaxseeds are difficult to digest whole, so it is best to grind them in a coffee grinder before use. However, only grind what is needed. They only stay fresh for 24 hours in the refrigerator.
Flaxseed oil is healthy, but not the best for a colon cleanse. Grounded flaxseed is needed to remove toxins and waste from the digestive tract.
“Start with one tablespoon of ground flaxseed mixed with about a quarter or third glass of kefir before breakfast and then again before bed (some people find it helps to first try kefir with meals, such as a little amount with breakfast). You need to make sure to drink at least eight glasses of water each day. Do it for a week or so and then skip for few days here and there to give your body a break. You can use it as an ongoing maintenance or do it periodically.”
The first superheroes that we meet in life are our parents. As kids we see our parents as an unstoppable force. After all, they are the ones who give us life. They are the first people who introduce us to this world here. They are gods for us.
Our father is a hero who will keep us safe no matter what. And this is not far from the truth. Most dads will do anything humanly possible to protect their children.
Sons and mothers have a special bond. However, fathers and daughters have a special bond too.
This connection is sometimes so beautiful to watch, most people silently observe and enjoy it.
To illustrate this special and tender love in the most exquisite way, Snezhana Soosh, a young painter, has drew beautiful watercolor paintings on her Instagram.
Dads are always ready to protect us from anything — whether it’s the bullies at school or the monsters under our beds
Dads are never afraid of doing impossible things for us. Learning how to braid our hair, for example
When you’re with daddy you always feel like you’re on the top of the world
He’s so warm and cozy
A big dad can easily become smaller for his beloved daughter
Dads always find the time to join us at our little tea party, even when they’re very busy
They know exactly what we enjoy
That’s why it’s always so hard to let them go
They play together
The sky is fantasy
Dads can do anything, including crazy freaky things
Or help us deal with something really difficult
They’re always ready to have fun!
Dads use their lifetime to protect and love their daughters
You have probably heard that you are more than you think you are. You can do more than you have ever imagined.
However, you have limits that prevent you. We all do! These limits are mainly inside our minds keeping us from stretching them too much. In a way, they keep us safe.
But it is a thin line between safety and prison. Sometimes you have to work against these mental barriers in order to become something you have a potential to be!
Navy SEALs have a simple rule, they call it “The 40 Percent Rule”. This helps them achieve almost humanly impossible exercises.
Here is Jesse Itzler, a man who has ran super marathons of more than 100 miles (also an author), explaining what “The 40 Percent Rule” is and how you can apply it wherever you feel there is a mental barrier blocking your way towards your goals:
