A new advance from Carnegie Mellon University researchers could reshape how clinicians identify the brain regions responsible for drug-resistant epilepsy. Surgery can be a life-changing option for millions of epilepsy patients worldwide, but only if physicians can accurately locate the epileptogenic zone, the area where seizures originate.
Bin He, professor of biomedical engineering, and his team have developed a unified, machine learning-based approach called spatial-temporal-spectral imaging (STSI) to assist. It is the first technology capable of analyzing every major type of epileptic brain signal within a single computational framework.
Their work, published in PNAS, presents a technical breakthrough and promising new direction for noninvasive presurgical planning.
Goldenberries taste like a cross between pineapple and mango, pack the nutritional punch of a superfood, and are increasingly popular in U.S. grocery stores. But the plants that produce these bright yellow-orange fruits grow wild and unruly—reaching heights that make large-scale farming impractical.
Researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) helped solve that problem. Using CRISPR gene editing, a collaborative team including BTI professor Joyce Van Eck engineered compact goldenberry plants that are 35% shorter than their wild relatives, making them viable for commercial agriculture.
“Goldenberry has tremendous potential as a nutritious crop, but its large, bushy growth habit has hindered commercial production,” said Van Eck. “These new compact plants can be grown at higher density, don’t require extensive staking or trellising, and are much easier to maintain and harvest.”
The microbe Pyrodictium abyssi is an archaeon—a member of what’s known as the third domain of life—and an extremophile. It lives in deep-sea thermal vents, at temperatures above the boiling point of water, without light or oxygen, withstanding the enormous pressure at ocean depths of thousands of meters.
A biomatrix of tiny tubes of protein, known as cannulae, link cells of Pyrodictium abyssi together into a highly stable microbial community. No one knew how these single-celled microbes accomplished this feat of extreme engineering—until now.
A study using advanced microscopy techniques reveals new details about the elegant design of the cannulae and the remarkable simplicity of their method of construction. Nature Communicationspublished the work, led by scientists at Emory University; the University of Virginia, Charlottesville; and Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium.
The Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Sarafan ChEM-H, and Stanford Bio-X have awarded $1.24 million in grants to five innovative, interdisciplinary, and collaborative research projects at the intersection of neuroscience and synthetic biology.
The emerging field of synthetic neuroscience aims to leverage the precision tools of synthetic biology — like gene editing, protein engineering, and the design of biological circuits — to manipulate and understand neural systems at unprecedented levels. By creating custom-made biological components and integrating them with neural networks, synthetic neuroscience offers new ways to explore brain function, develop novel therapies for neurological disorders, and even design biohybrid systems that could one day allow brains to interface seamlessly with technology.
“The ongoing revolution in synthetic biology is allowing us to create powerful new molecular tools for biological science and clinical translation,” said Kang Shen, Vincent V.C. Woo Director of the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute. “With these awards, we wanted to bring the Stanford neuroscience community together to capitalize on this pivotal moment, focusing the power of cutting-edge synthetic biology on advancing our understanding of the nervous system — and its potential to promote human health and wellbeing.”
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive degradation of brain cells, as well as an associated decline in memory and other mental functions. Earlier research found that different forms (i.e., alleles) of a gene known as apolipoprotein E (APOE) are associated with an increased or decreased risk of developing AD.
The APOE gene can be mutated into different variants (i.e., alleles), including APOE2, APOE3 and APOE4. Past studies have linked the presence of two APOE4 alleles to a higher risk of developing AD, while two APOE2 alleles were linked to a significantly lower risk of AD.
Researchers at the University of Kentucky and other institutes genetically engineered a type of mouse that carries a genetic “switch” that can be activated with a drug and that converts the harmful APOE4 allele into the protective APOE2 allele.
Since humanity’s first steps on the moon, the aspiration to extend human civilization beyond Earth has been a central objective of international space agencies, targeting long-term extraterrestrial habitation. Among the celestial bodies within reach, Mars is considered our next home.
The red planet, with its stark landscapes and tantalizing similarities to Earth, beckons as the frontier of human exploration and settlement. But establishing a permanent foothold on Mars remains one of humanity’s boldest dreams and the most formidable scientific and engineering challenge.
The red planet, once draped in a thick atmosphere, has undergone dramatic transformation over billions of years. Its protective blanket vanished, leaving behind an environment nearly unrecognizable to terrestrial life.
Dr. Michael Levin explores goals as drivers of expanding intelligence at the 6th Woodenfish conference on Buddhism, Bioengineering and Biological Science.
A team of scientists have developed a simple method for automated manufacturing of lung organoids which could revolutionize the development of treatments for lung disease. These organoids, miniature structures containing the cells that real lungs do, could be used to test early-stage experimental drugs more effectively, without needing to use animal material.
In the future, patients could even have personalized organoids grown from their own tissue to try out potential treatments in advance.
“The best result for now—quite simply—is that it works,” said Professor Diana Klein of University of Duisburg-Essen, first author of the article in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology.
Genetic engineering and human enhancement are no longer science fiction — they’re here right now. In this episode of Longevity Science News, we explore the rise of gene therapy, anti-aging biotechnology, and the first wave of GMO Humans using real genetic enhancements to increase muscle, extend telomeres, boost IQ, and slow biological aging.
If you’re interested in longevity, life extension, biohacking, genetic modification, or cutting-edge anti-aging research, this video breaks down everything you need to know about the future of human evolution — and the people already jumping in.
HUME BODY ANALYZER: Use Code: LONGEVITY for up to 50% OFF https://humehealth.com//discount/LONG… FEATURED: BioViva Keynote by Liz Parrish Watch the full keynote here: • The First Person to Take Gene Therapy for… This talk covers viral vectors, telomere extension, muscle-growth gene therapies, cognitive enhancement, dementia treatment, and the global expansion of experimental genetic clinics. Chapters: 00:00 – Cold Open — FDA Gene Cures 00:35 – Liz Parrish & BioViva 01:35 – Sebastian A. Brunemeier 02:48 – HUME Body Pod 03:55 – Currently Available Genetic Cures 04:48 – How To Get Access 08:00 – Safety & Pricing 08:22 – Right to Try Debate 09:20 – Follistatin Results 10:50 – Telomere Extension 11:50 – Klotho & IQ Boost 13:26 – IQ & Society 14:35 – Dementia Gene Therapy 15:40 – Custom Therapies 16:20 – Conclusion • FDA-approved genetic cures • BioViva’s gene enhancement results • Follistatin gene therapy for muscle growth • Telomerase (TERT) for biological age reversal • Klotho gene therapy for cognitive enhancement • Dementia gene therapy case studies • Medical tourism for experimental gene treatments • How to access unapproved gene therapies • AI’s role in designing next-gen genetic interventions • Personalized & bespoke gene therapies • Ethical questions about enhancing IQ, strength, and lifespan • The future of human evolution & GMO humans 👤 EXPERTS & SOURCES FEATURED Liz Parrish — BioViva Sciences LinkedIn: / lizlparrish Sebastian Brunemeier — Cambrian Bio / Long Game Ventures LinkedIn: / sebastianlongbio Long Game Ventures: / longgame-vc Wired Magazine — Medical Tourism & Gene Therapy Pricing https://www.wired.com/story/bioviva-g… Extended Interview: Montana Senator Ken Bogner • Ken Bogner Full Interview 🔗 FULL INTERVIEWS & BONUS CONTENT Get extended conversations, deep dives, and behind-the-scenes research on Patreon: 👉 / u29506604 💬 JOIN THE DISCUSSION Would you use gene therapy to slow aging? Would you enhance your muscle, intelligence, or longevity? Do you think we should expand access to experimental anti-aging treatments? Let me know in the comments. 🧪 Longevity Science News PRODUCTION CREDITS ⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺⎺ Executive Producer – Keith Comito @Retromancers Host, Producer, Writer – @emmettshort
🔬 FEATURED: BioViva Keynote by Liz Parrish. Watch the full keynote here: • The First Person to Take Gene Therapy for…
This talk covers viral vectors, telomere extension, muscle-growth gene therapies, cognitive enhancement, dementia treatment, and the global expansion of experimental genetic clinics.
