Upgrading Dogs, Strawberries, and Homes.

Author

Jae Lee
February 16, 2024

Imagine yourself, 10 years into the future.

It’s another bright summer day with no smoke in the air.

You’re out for a picnic, eating juicy strawberries, looking at all the latest discovery of fossils and Mars photos on your phone.

Your dog that you’ve had since childhood is zooming around the park.

The future looks bright.

What’s on the menu?

  1. Anti-aging pills for senior dogs in clinical trials.

  2. Editing strawberry genes for better quality.

  3. 400 fossils unearthed in France.

  4. Flame retardant technology breakthrough.

  5. NASA captures a Martian solar eclipse.

  6. Technological gratitude.

Anti-aging Pill for Senior Dogs is Now in Clinical Trials.

TL;DR:

A biotech company, Loyal, is conducting a trial featuring a daily pill named LOY-002 to improve the metabolic fitness of senior dogs, possibly extending their lifespan.

Designed for dogs weighing at least 14 pounds and aged 10 years or more, owners will be giving their dogs a flavoured chewable anti-aging pill daily.

So what…?

I don’t think I need to work hard as to explain why this is an immense positive for the world; man’s best friend will get to live longer.

It could also pave the way for an equivalent human treatment that extends our life span.

“back in my days, we used to go outside for real walks instead of the walking in virtual reality - elderly senior dog“

CRISPR Breakthrough Leads to Better Strawberries.

TL;DR:

Netherlands-based company Hudson River Biotechnology has announced a significant achievement via the successful regeneration of strawberries from gene-edited cells using its CRISPR-based technology.

Strawberries have a complex genetic structure (eight sets of chromosomes, as opposed to humans’ diploid), thus traditional methods of enhancing quality and disease resistance has been slow.

HRB’s technology offers a fast and efficient alternative for incorporating desired traits into strawberries.

Big whoop, and…?

What, you don’t like strawberries? Pffft.

This advancement could potentially deliver fatter, juicier, more nutritious strawberries that could also be easier to grow with less environmental footprint.

“harder, better, faster, stronger strawberries“

400 Well-Preserved Fossils Unearthed in a Mountain Range in France.

TL;DR:

Two amateur palaeontologists have made a discovery of over 400 well-preserved fossils in the Montagne Noire mountain range in France's Hérault department.

The site, referred to as Cabrières Biota, holds remnants of an ancient marine ecosystem during the Early Ordovician period, which occurred between 485 and 470 million years ago.

The fossils represent a range of species; from insects, crustaceans, and arachnids, among many other things.

Who cares…?

This gives us a better understanding of the Earth’s past.

Studying the global ecosystems that existed nearly 470 million years ago can offer profound insights into historical patterns of global climate and evolution.

“one of them looks like it's straight out of ‘Aliens’, another looks just like a dungeness crab I ate last week.“

Breakthrough in Fire Retardant Technology.

TL;DR:

Texas A&M University's Thomas Kolibaba has made significant progress in fire retardant technology that limits the flammability and smoke production of wood used in buildings.

His team used an eco-friendly solution, causing the wood to develop a char layer that blocks heat and eliminates the fire's oxygen supply.

This treatment, which can be applied by dipping, spraying, or pressure treatment, could potentially revolutionize home safety and significantly reduce wildfire damage.

Why does this matter…?

The frequency and severity of wildfires are increasing and advancements in fire prevention and containment is crucial.

This could also provide homeowners with extra time to escape during a fire and reduce property damage, potentially saving lives and financial costs.

“if i drink this do i stop getting heartburns”

NASA's Perseverance Rover Captures Footage of Martian Moon Eclipsing the Sun.

TL;DR:

NASA's Perseverance Rover, stationed on Mars since 2021, has captured incredible footage of the Martian moon Phobos passing in front of the sun, a visual spectacle distinct from solar eclipses on Earth.

These observations contribute to measuring changes in Phobos' orbit and understanding its influence on Mars' geological composition.

Struck by the mystery surrounding the formation of Phobos, Japan's Aerospace Agency plans to send a mission to the moon in 2026 to gather further data.

And that means…?

Exploring our solar system in every angle provides us with an opportunity to gain better understanding into the workings of our own planet and the wider universe.

Plus, more chances to capture a candid photo of an alien spaceship flying by.

“pffft our solar eclipses are way better - earthlings“

TECHNOLOGICAL GRATITUDE.

Today, I am grateful for…

That’s it for this week!

I’m still tweaking around my writing style for these emails so I’d appreciate it if you could reply to this email if you’ve enjoyed it, hated it, or just wanna say “hey”!

Cheers,
Jae

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