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- Jumbokaryote | Bulbabot | Nanotubes - The Convo Kit #38
Jumbokaryote | Bulbabot | Nanotubes - The Convo Kit #38
“Last year, it sold out in 10 minutes” is all I could think about as I hammered F5 at 8:59am. Registration opens, promptly at 9, and I rush to fill out forms. “Hmm, how old am I?”, no time, it could fill up, just guess. Submit. Yes, I’m sure. No, I’m not a robot. OMG is the corner part of the traffic light?!…
Successfully registered!
Googles “how to bike up Mount Washington”
-Steve
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Jumbokaryote
Scientists poking around Caribbean mangroves discovered a bacterium as big as a peanut. Along with its alarming size, Thiomargarita magnifica’s cell structure challenges the general division of life into eukaryotes and prokaryotes.
Eukaryotes: no cell limit, has nucleus, packaged DNA (humans & most life)
Prokaryotes: single cell, no nucleus, free-floating DNA (bacteria)
T. magnifica: single cell, no nucleus, DNA is contained in a designated membrane sac
T. magnifica’s “karyote” defying DNA storage may be a missing link in cellular evolution. Scientists believe it could grow much larger if it weren’t eaten, crushed, blown away, or destroyed by me…just to be safe.
Bulbabot
Have you ever wanted your houseplant to be a little more like a pet? Vincross’ HEXA robot gives plants legs to wander your home and satisfy its own heliotropic desires.
Heliotropic = growing towards the light
Navigates using a camera and 6 jointed legs
Price: $1,920
The shell was adapted to accommodate a flower pot and can even be programmed to dance when thirsty. Robot savvy plant-parents can mod their own HEXA, though Vincross does not sell this set up. As I write this, I can’t shake the feeling that my desk succulent is giving me puppy eyes.
Nanotube Armor
How can something be more bulletproof? Make it lighter. University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers have developed a lightweight bulletproof fabric better than Kevlar.
Scientists synthesized Kevlar into carbon nanotubes at varying ratios
Best ratios maximized hydrogen bonds between fibers
Hydrogen bonds can break and reform to dissipate extreme impact velocity
Providing bulletproof functionality to fabric has obvious combat implications, but researchers suggest it can also protect spacecraft. More importantly, this makes John Wick’s bulletproof blazer a lot more feasible.
Cabbage Cabinet
Vertical farming enables us to grow plants in environments that would otherwise be impossible. Just Vertical brings this into any home with enough space for a bookshelf. Instead of books, it holds LEDs, water, and, of course, plants.
Generates up to 10 lbs. of produce per month
Watered once every 2 weeks
Price: $600 or $1,000 depending on the model
Just Vertical provides an app to let house-farmers know when to tend to crops. Both models even include cabinet storage. Caring about the environment is great, but think of all the half-eaten boxes of leafy greens you’d save!
Bacteria Buster
Researchers successfully prevented antibiotic resistance in some bacteria. A breakthrough that could improve future antibiotic treatments in individuals who would otherwise build up resistance.
Bacteria fight antibiotics by folding “resistance proteins” into specific shapes
DsbA proteins act like a director in resistance folding
Block DsbA = no antibiotic resistance
DsbA blocking proved successful against some big bacteria hitters, E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa. While the chemicals used in this study are not safe for humans, this acts as a proof of concept in our future battles against antibiotic resistance. Looking forward to an Osmosis Jones sequel to break this down further.
1 More Thing
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