Today’s Tech Sightings:
Scientists Create Million-Year Data Storage With DNA
Floppy disks may be dead and hard drives may not be far behind. In an effort to save digital human knowledge from eventual extinction, researchers at ETH Zurich have found a way to use DNA as a storage medium to hold data possibly for more than one million years in a frosty, 18-degree Celsius vault.
Can GMOs End Hunger in Africa?
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) have been a controversial topic for decades. Proponents argue that they could end world hunger, while opponents warn against unintended consequences for health and the environment. Writer Elizabeth Lopatto wonders if GMOs are a possible answer to Africa’s food insecurity.
DARPA is Developing a Sensing Bionic Hand
Project HAPTIX, or Hand Proprioception and Touch Interfaces, is the latest effort from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to help users of prosthetic limbs get the same sensation other users get from tactile or haptic feedback in devices like gamepads, for example.
An App That Lets Kids Report Bullies Anonymously
Stop!t is a mobile app that lets students report bullying anonymously, thereby revealing the identities of the bullies and their victims without giving themselves away. Some U.S. schools report a sharp decrease in bullying reports since the app was adopted in their schools.
Five Startups That Are Reimagining the World
Some of these companies saw the light, thanks to Kickstarter campaigns; and they have some seriously innovative ideas to make cities more livable and sustainable.
Biohacking: the Connected Body is ‘Here to Stay’
Biohacking, or implanting chips under the human skin, is still in its early stages. Swedish company BioNyfiken is leading the way with experiments in this field. Recently, more than 300 people volunteered to take part in the experiments and allow the company to embed chips in their hands, in the skin between their thumb and forefinger.
New Cryptocurrency CLAM Rising Without a Hitch
CLAM is a new Proof-of-Stake (POS) cryptocurrency that is gaining popularity. The newcomer started by sending CLAM tokens to 3.1 million unique addresses from Bitcoin, Litecoin and Dogecoin blockchains. Many of its existing users say it is a “clean” cryptocurrency.
