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 ...
I reconsidered. Duct tape! GOLD duct tape! I taped the panels up 13” so there is no chance for “concerns” happening.
So now, I’m going to the USPS and mail the package. But there are still two windows to cover and they may or may not get covered today. However, I’m going to try to get them up. I feel like I’m in a fishbowl.
Brilliant idea! I would not have thought of duct tape. I understand the fish-bowl feeling. We were here around a month before we got blinds in all the windows.
There are blinds, but if I open them too far, I still get the fishbowl feeling, so at least with the sheers up, that will end.
I forgot that I tossed 1/4 of a jar of mayo when I moved, and went to make a sandwich out of one of those big rolls that Walmart sells (Cardena’s called them “bolsas” I think,) and some canned chicken and cream cheese, and realized the top half of the roll needed mayo. So I stopped at Lin’s and got a jar. There must have been a dozen different kinds of mayo/sandwich spread there, in small as well as large jars.
The small jars were almost as much as the large jars, and I’m thinking this store must be Southern Utah’s answer to Trader Joe’s. Some things are just real eye-openers!
... used mustard instead.
Honestly, woman, haven't you learned the ins and outs of bachelerhood yet?
Bachelorhood, that is.
My $0.02 worth..
If it is an electric baseboard I would worry. If hot water (which I doubt) it's probably not a problem.
Reasons for my thoughts: A hot water system can only get so hot - even if for some reason it boils the temp would still be way below the flash point of most normal materials they make curtains out of. (Don't think there are any brands making curtains out of gun-cotton..)
Electric on the other hand could, even though highly improbable, develop a short which can rapidly exceed the flash point of just about anything. I've seen way too many things that I thought impossible happen with things electric thus I've learned that paranoia is the best approach..
;-)
Oh. Umm. I’m trying to not display any bachelorhood tendencies. I mean, I’ve been living alone most of my life, including the years as a military and aerospace wife, and some things just come naturally.... Sometimes.
Like having a good toolbox! ;o]
I think I contracted your paranoia before I finished the comment! So I used duct tape to “shorten” the curtains, so I’m good, thanks! ;o]
Saw that after I posted.
Remember, if duct tape doesn’t fix it, you did’t use enough...
True dat!
That reminds me — I now need to buy more!
Thank you! Gorgeous!
Vlad won the Geography Bee. All the winners at school or group competitions take a test online, and the top 100 scorers compete in the state bee.
Congratulations to Vlad!
It’s important to know about the planet you’re living on, even if you’re only visiting.
Remind him to not bother trying to hire on at CNN. He's way too advanced for them. And was even back in October of 2013.
It is something of an accomplishment.
Hong Kong, Uruguay.
Cute!
Not fair to ancient Egyptian, though. It was a complex and subtle form of writing.
Good point.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.