Posted on 10/06/2018 2:02:35 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Pentagon research project called "Insect Allies." Funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the project involves using gene-editing techniques like CRISPR to infect insects with modified viruses that could help make America's crops more resilient. If a cornfield were hit by an unexpected drought or suddenly exposed to a pathogen, for example, Insect Allies might deploy an army of aphids carrying a genetically modified virus to slow the corn plant's growth rate.
According to the DARPA website, these "targeted therapies" could take effect in a single growing season, potentially protecting the American crop system from food security threats like disease, flooding, frost and even "threats introduced by state or non-state actors.
… Insect Allies, is less concerned. "Anytime you're developing a new and revolutionary technology, there is that potential for [both offensive and defensive] capability," Bextine told The Washington Post. "But that is not what we are doing. We are delivering positive traits to plants… We want to make sure we ensure food security, because food security is national security in our eyes."
Insect Allies is still in the early stages of development, and at least four U.S. colleges (Boyce Thompson Institute, Penn State University, The Ohio State University and the University of Texas at Austin)have received funding to carry out research. Bextine told The Washington Post that the project recently achieved its first milestone — testing whether an aphid could infect a stalk of corn with a designer virus that caused fluorescence. According to the Washington Post, "the corn glowed."
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
Addendum to a post from several days ago..
The twenty gallons of off-road diesel kept the furnace fed ‘til our oil delivery yesterday. If it had been colder or more windy the outcome could have and probably would have been different.
Will keep in mind. Currently my go-to emergency heating resource is a kerosene space heater.
The kerosene keeps, although it is a bit pricey. Someone once called it “wind solvent”. I like that.
For a no-power, no heat situation, a kerosene space heater is a real comfort. It provides heat, light, keeps your house warm enough to prevent pipes freezing, and so forth. You can even do a bit of cooking over it.
In a more dire emergency, it also provides a time cushion to get some wood into the fireplace and/or wood stove.
We have used kerosene heaters in the past, but not at this house. We do have the propane space heater which does stay out in the far end of the kitchen most of the time - no heat ducts go there. In that location it can keep the pipes from freezing, or should because of their location in the kitchen and in the kitchen walls going upstairs.
If I remember correctly there is a kerosene heater out in the outbuilding sitting unused so if necessary it could be pressed into service. I will check on that though as you never know if/when it might be needed.
2345
I’ll just draw one card, please.
Coming from you, Bob, I consider that an enormous compliment!
:o])
I, for one, am quite relieved to know the outcome wasn’t dire. Prayer is powerful when done in faith.
OK. Draw it. Choose your weapon: Crayon, pen and ink, charcoal, pastels?
:ducking and running:
The pan the enchiladas are in is aluminum foil and the contents are frozen to it. The sink isn't long or wide enough to put the pan in to thaw out in water. If I use my meat cleaver I might cleave the counter, as well.
Looks like dat floof just got its eyes opened!
Good morning. I twisted the wrong way yesterday and tweaked a muscle or two on my left side, and it’s hard to move. I’m hoping the shower will help ease it.
My sister’s kid and his wife who live in St George are coming over today. I’m going to try and help them get some agencies to provide services for them. I’m excited! I shoved everything I hadn’t put away into one closet! I wish my oven worked. I’m sure they would like a home-cooked meal.
Can you cook on the stovetop? You could make a noodle dish.
Good morning! It’s raining. The cats went out anyway. As soon as I finish eating (and get the cats in), I have to go take care of my friend’s dog.
Beats going out in the rain for a wash.
Good morning. My dog-care customer was happy to see me. He ate all his food and ran around in his back yard for a while, the rain having conveniently paused.
Good morning Everyone. Prayer for a blessed New Year for all of us and our families and Happy New Years Eve Eve
Aww... So squeeful!
The stovetop works. It’s just the oven that doesn’t. When I tested the burners they were all fine.
I don’t have anything here to fix, at least that I can think of. I have no ground beef, but I do have pork chops and a couple of New York steaks. Lin’s had a sale on them at $5 each and I got two because at the time, that’s all the money I had. But though the table will fit them all, I have only four chairs (who cares?) and there isn’t much room in the kitchen. (Where are the TV trays when I need them?)
I’ll do what I can, even if it means taking them out to eat in my newfound half-wealth.
As an aside, I got vehicle and renter’s insurance yesterday through AAA for $11 less than what I was paying for insurance only in NV. Bonus!
I’ve emailed the DMV and asked about the age of the vehicle, considering all vehicles new to the state need an inspection. Of course, it isn’t going to pass the smog inspection, which is why I sent the email. I don’t want to make the drive to the DMV (halfway between Walmart and the state liquor store!) unprepared.
Ping to T-c!
That appears to be a front-loading washer. Maybe the load includes the kittehs’ blankets.
Jake’s could use a wash, if he ever gets out of his bed long enough.
Oh dang. I created a post and got ready to send it and got the message that the laptop wasn’t connected. For whatever reason, the ethernet cord keeps slipping out of the port.
So I lost another thought down the rabbit hole. *sigh*
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