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 said that, and then read my email, and the ISS will be able to be seen overhead at 2000 hours tonight. I’ll be watching it in my dreams.
My town didn’t have a bar until recently.
I have never set up a Roku and I don’t have a SMART TV. So I would have to hunt down destructions if I were going to try such things.
For now, I just HDMI my laptop to the TV when I want to watch something.
w00t!
I had a Roku several years ago, but state-of-the-art, and all that, and I have no clue. It appears to be relatively simple, as the website provides step-by-step instructions, no matter what one is using, but the problem seems to be with the cable company that is “included” in the rent. I’m using that company for my ISP, because its simpler to pay one company.
When I learned I could opt out, I decided to get a Roku, and had one picked out on eBay. However, SlingTV was running a promotion that if one signed up for two months of SlingTV, they could get a free Roku, and the whole package was less than two months without the Roku. It was within a couple of dollars of the Roku on eBay, so I opted for Sling.
And now, I have to get rid of the cable company I have in order to install the Roku so I can stream other channels, as well. I will probably also change my ISP as well.
Thanks!
Beaker is back! I tried using the net, but decided it was a stupid tool when Gonzo slipped out the open door. I found him behind the sofa, sitting on the top of the baseboard heater and decided to just use gloves in the future.
When he was back in the cage, I very slowly went after Beaker and she was actually quiet enough for me to pick her up and put her in the travel cage. The temp was 27° when I headed out the door, and when I folded up the sunshield, there was a thick coat of frost on the windshield that I had to scrape off before we could even leave.
The vet said the abnormal growth of the beak was most likely because of her diet before I got her. The birds were being fed dollar store seeds, and I not only fed them better stuff, but I made sure they had conditioners and vitamins. She was smaller than Gonzo when I got them and she’s bigger than he is, now!
(The snow/rain storm was severe enough that all the mountains around us have snow on them and Pine Mountain is absolutely gorgeous!)
I’m glad Beaker is all fixed up. Poor little critter!
The only time she really stressed was in the exam room when there were two other strangers in there. Then she began to pace. So I just covered her and that was that. The vet seemed to be impressed and had no input as to what he thought should be changed, so I’m happy!
She’s taking a little nap now, and Gonzo is no longer mad at me, so all is well in Muppet Birdland. :o]
I think next month, I’ll have Gonzo in for his talons as they are a little long. The vet techs wanted to clip Beaker’s wings but I said no. They are in a flight cage, and I want them to fly if they want to. They can’t fly to Vegas...
Now I’m imagining them packing their little suitcases and taking off for Vegas, which has bars.
LOL! There is an old movie that made it to YouTube, called, “Bill and Coo,” about parakeets, with a crow as a villain. I saw it when I was a very short person, and looked it up! Imagine my surprise when I found it.
I don’t remember much except that as a kid, it was scary. :o]
“Shush, you see nothing!”
And the lights went out.
Now we know what happened!
It was kitty all along!
Kitteh is not happy for the disturbance at the cave entrance!
Good morning. I’ve had my shower so I can face the day! It’s amazing what a hot shower can do for an aching body.
It’s 24° here compared to your balmy 63°. Tomorrow its supposed to rain again, and then taper off for the next two days. I asked Chuck if this is a “normal” winter, and he said no. So I take it to be in my honor. :o]
While I was getting dressed, I fell into the corner of a towel bar. It’s going to be a day to stay home, lest I fall into people when I least expect it.
Yes, be very careful on high-gravity days.
I can’t see the day yet, because it’s still dark, but the spring peepers are peeping.
My niece in St George sent me a message on FB yesterday, asking for my address. She will want to look in my mouth, and then discuss treatment.
There may be a remedy.
It will be nice for you to see another relative.
This one, especially. She has my middle name for a reason: her mother used to love me! I was also the driver when I took her mother to the hospital to give birth.
So we’ll see. Her mother is still ticked off at me, but ohwell. ;o]
There’s a lot of “ohwell” in life.
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