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 ...
W00t!
But that’s because I was reading a story about a kitten who had been burned in the Carr fires, and was rescued by a worker at a shelter.
Poor little waif had his paws burned and several patches of hair had been burned off his body. Maybe he was about four months old, and in so much pain.
But the happy ending is that the man who coaxed him out from under a burned out car kept him. And named him “Vulcan.”
That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.
It was an all gray kitteh, just like today’s!
I dreamed about young-adult family members who need to find themselves other lodging if they ever want to be real adults.
For my next thing, the library, followed by Nap With Jake.
Why would ANYONE want to become an adult? This is a problem that has vexed the Martian half of the species since we started getting together.
Oh, we do it, but it’s usually because we fall under the spell of a Venusian who convinces us that it’s become adult or leave. But we don’t really understand it.
Nap With Jake sounds like a program that’s about my speed. Is it available via streaming?
Now it sounds like a business opportunity.
There’s a high likelihood you could get sufficient YouTube hits on such a show that you could get some revenue for advertising.
As long as Jake isn’t conservative, that is.
Oh. My. Golly.
What a Murphy’s Law day this has been so far! I had dropsy before I left so it seems everything I tried to do slipped through my fingers. It had me so rattled it wasn’t funny and I left here without the need Allen wrench to loosen the bolts on the license plate. As far as I was when I remembered it, it was easier to just stop at Walmart and get another set.
So I stopped at Walmart to see if I could find a package of Allen wrenches but nope. All I could find was a package of bits with a driver, and because there were so many, I figured one HAD to fit. So I got it, along with the yogurt and water I needed. Then it was on to the DMV.
That went well...I shot right past it by over a mile, and I have to say this: the gas mileage on the BB SUV will go down because one can’t get anywhere without driving uphill. I took a pic of the scenery outside the DMV because the sun was hitting the cliffs just right!
The registration cost me $83 because they are changing the title over to Utah, and first time registration, and, and, and... I have no idea how long it will take for the title to come back, but I now have Utah plates on the truck.
The DL wasn’t quite so easy. They want my birth certificate, two items that prove I live at this address, my 1099 to prove my SS# and a bank statement. So the truck is legal but the ‘Face isn’t. All of this took two hours and all of my patience. So Wednesday, I’ll go back and trade all the documents for a Utah DL. Oh goody. :o|
Haven’t you been following the Democrat talking points?
No human being is illegal!!!!!
Certainly not you.
Good gravy, what a fuddle. They certainly don’t want to make it easier for you!
I lounged in the library too long and missed Nap With Jake. He doesn’t care.
It’s still raining, sometimes heavily.
Well, you know how it is in Utah. They can afford to be patient.
If they don't take care of your paperwork in this life, they'll do it in the next one.
Well, yes, but see, once upon a time, when I lived in St George, I decided to drive to Vegas, to Nellis AFB for groceries. I was listening to music and the day was beautiful, and I saw a NHP going north. Out of habit, I looked at the speedometer: 87 mph. In the rear view, I saw him make a U-turn.
So what, you ask, since there was hardly any traffic. I lived in UT so my DL was UT, but the car still had AZ plates on it, and I was in NV. My ticket? $35. WAY expensive back then!
I don’t want a repeat, thanks.
Uh...no. All documents have to be in order HERE, or "they" won't let me in up "THERE!" ;o]
No, they don’t make it easy, but I’m here, and here is where I’ll stay. Now of course, I want to get my curtains up so it will feel a little more like “home.” I need a longer curtain rod for the living room, though.
We’re supposed to have rain on Sunday, but Beaker and Gonzo don’t want to go out in it.
Ohdang. I can’t go to DMV on Wednesday. That’s the day Beaker goes to the salon! I may not have enough to get the DL when I get out of there. Though the sign said at the DL office (separate from the DMV office by about 40’) said the cost was $23. And I’m still waiting for my utility bill. :o|
We are scheduled to get your rain in a more solidified version beginning around 1 AM or so tomorrow morning.
My cache of magic melting crystals is almost depleted..
Breathtaking!
Exactly.
It's already spoiled milk..
See?
Little Miss Muffet said something about it’s the company you keep.
Frappy Hiday! After following the story of an adorable baby hippo, no attempts to liberate no way no how and particularly if the parents are anywhere around. Besides, they feel slimy.
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