🐁 World’s 1st woolly mice, new magnetic state, graphene-enhanced road

Researchers at Colossal Biosciences have successfully engineered mice to express key woolly mammoth-like traits, bringing the field of de-extinction one step closer to reality.

Seven gene edits enabled the “Colossal Woolly Mice” to express cold-adapted traits, replicating key genetic features of the extinct woolly mammoth. This breakthrough demonstrates the ability to recreate complex genetic combinations that took millions of years to evolve in nature.

The success also provides proof of concept for the company’s ultimate goal: bringing back the woolly mammoth.

“The mouse is validation that our de-extinction pipeline is successful,” Dr. Beth Shapiro, chief science officer at Colossal, told Interesting Engineering (IE). Let's take a closer look at this Must Read

Reading Time: 4 mins

Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? Subscribe here.

MUST-READ

🐁 World’s 1st ‘woolly mice’ born out of mammoth genes, Colossal defends ‘playing god’

To create cold-adapted traits in mice, scientists investigated 121 genomes of mammoths and elephants to pinpoint genetic divergences. They employed sophisticated methods of gene editing to alter seven genes at once.

The modifications resulted in astonishingly mammoth-like features, such as longer, thicker, and curlier fur, due to gene changes that control hair growth and follicle structure.

The researchers did not stop there—they also engineered a lighter color for the fur by altering a melanin-regulating gene, akin to some preserved mammoth specimens.

🧲 Vortion: New magnetic state to make computers cooler and smarter

According to estimates, 2.5 quintillion bytes of data is generated every day, indicating the need for highly efficient data storage solutions. Researchers have now developed a voltage-controlled magnetic memory as an energy-efficient alternative.

The research led by scientists from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) introduces a new magnetic state called a magneto-ionic vortex, or “vortion.”

Modern data storage relies on magnetic materials to store data, with information encoded on the magnetic moments of the atoms in the material. Magnetic moments are like compass needles and can point in two directions, representing bits (0 or 1).

🛣️ UK tests world’s 1st graphene-enhanced road for pothole-free driving

The road construction could soon be more durable and sustainable than ever before, thanks to an innovation from the United Kingdom.

In a major first, a new graphene-enhanced road surface has been successfully tested on a public road in Teesside, North East England. This enhancement promises to extend road lifespan, reduce potholes, and create a smoother driveway for vehicles.

The “world-first” graphene road is the result of a collaboration between Redcar-based graphene company, Universal Matter GBR Ltd, partnering with the UK’s leading road construction firm, Tarmac, and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council.

Love what you're reading, but too many emails? Sign up to IE+ to get Blueprint Weekly, our exclusive weekly premium newsletter that gives all the insights you love in a more digestible weekly format– plus, enjoy an Ad-Free experience on our website. Try IE+ today for just $1 in the first month. Subscribe here

HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Ancient frog relatives were among the 10% that survived and thrived after the end-Permian extinction. (More)

> A new study has found that water came into being in the universe earlier than researchers in the field thought to be possible. (More)

> Researchers in Denmark have confirmed that poor semen quality, rather than low quantity, poses a significant risk to men’s lives. Their findings come from the largest study ever conducted on the subject. (More)

ENERGY

> Aqueous organic flow batteries (AOFBs) are gaining attention as a sustainable solution for storing renewable energy. (More)

> US firm Aptera has completed the first round of real-world validation testing for its solar electric vehicle (sEV). (More)

> Scientists at the United States Idaho National Laboratory (INL) have announced a breakthrough for the world’s first critical fast-spectrum molten salt reactor. (More)

INNOVATION

> Zero Robotics has unveiled the V-Copter Falcon Mini, a lightweight bi-copter drone that weighs under 250 grams and promises swift acceleration alongside agile performance. (More)

> The SS United States, a 1,000-foot (305-meter) trans-Atlantic liner renowned for its record-breaking speed and advanced engineering, has commenced the first stage of its final mission. (More)

> Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) have unveiled a superconducting quantum computing prototype that is a million times faster than Google’s Sycamore quantum processor. (More)

VIDEO

> A student at Penn State University has cracked a 100-year-old math problem, which will enable higher efficiency in wind turbines. (More)

> Renewable energy’s rise brings a challenge: storage. What happens when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing? (More)

FROM THE WEB

> One of South Dakota's largest wind farms just got the green light

> New Assassin’s Creed game sparks backlash in Japan over historical inaccuracies

> Robo-companion: humanoid robot gets chatty to help elderly hospital patients

> Voice-controlled drones a military game-changer, Primordial Labs says

> "Make-up sex" helps our ape cousins resolve their issues, too