DTN 169: A cell built from scratch grows and divides

“If everyone already agrees it's a great idea, you're probably too late. Our job is to recognize the people and missions that will seem obvious in hindsight, long before they become consensus."

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For the First Time, a Cell Built From Scratch Grows and Divides

“For the very first time, biologists packed nonliving components into a cell-like membrane, piece by piece, and witnessed the bag of molecules start to behave like life. The lab-made synthetic cell grew, replicated its DNA, and divided, demonstrating the basic functions of a cell cycle.

It’s “an impressive step,” said Jack Szostak, who studies the origins of life at the University of Chicago and was not involved in the research. “I don’t know of any other effort to put together an artificial cell from biological components that has progressed so far.”

The cell is not alive by any definition. It can’t survive without constant deliveries of food and ribosomes, the machinery needed to make proteins. It has no defenses or a good waste removal system. But it’s the strongest demonstration yet that it is possible to generate life from nonlife, a goal that synthetic biologists have been chasing for decades. (via Quanta)

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An Esh-Tech DroneLite system mounted on what appears to be a variant of FFG’s PMMC G5. Image: Esh-Tech

Esh-Tech, a new Israeli defense startup, unveiled its DroneLight laser defense system, aimed at countering unmanned aerial vehicles, at the Eurosatory exposition last month.

DroneLight combines high effectivity with very low energy consumption and a cost structure that is dramatically lower than traditional laser systems. The technology is based on a pulsed laser that uses only 4kw of energy and was developed internally by Esh-Tech.

“Most other lasers are continuous-wave systems that burn the target, meaning you need 10-15 seconds on target,”Erex Riahi, the CEO of Esh-Tech said. “[DroneLight] is making holes in the target like a bullet, but with light. There are no munitions limitations. We do five pulses per second and create multiple holes in a drone, which allows us to kill it efficiently.” (via BreakingDefense)

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