A Laboratory of the Future Human Experience
The research study using DNA analysis has shown that viruses could be implicated as the cause of 40 per cent of the 200 forms of cancer.
Up to forty percent of cancers, including brain tumors and leukemia, may be caused by viruses, scientists claim.
Continue reading… “40% of cancers may be caused by viruses”
A virus? Really?
Wired’s Danger Room has learned that a computer virus has infected the United States’ Predator and Reaper drones. The virus is a keylogger that keeps track of every pilots’ keystroke as they perform missions over Afghanistan and other locations…
Continue reading… “US Drone Fleet infected with a virus”
Scientists have come up with a brand new drug called DRACO that seems to be able to hunt down and destroy any and all viruses.
Antibiotics, such as penicillin, can treat most bacterial infections. But when it comes to viral infections, including influenza, the common cold, and deadly hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola, antibiotics are useless.
Continue reading… “New antiviral drug could destroy nearly any viral infection”
A virus to help you lose weight.
How would you like to trick your brain into making you feel less hungry? Scientists show how a virus could be used to alter your brain so you don’t get as hungry in a new study.
Continue reading… “A Virus Could Help You Lose Weight: Study”
The scale of the shut down is unprecedented.
The world’s most prolific source of spam emails has been shut down in a series of coordinated raids by Microsoft and US federal authorities. The Rustock botnet, an international network of virus-infected computers, had for years generated billions of emails per day, promoting unlicensed online pharmacies and cut-price impotence pills.
Scientists find a way to boost the recall of memories even after they’ve started to fade.
Need to cram for a big test? Trying to learn a new language? Just had a great vacation? Scientists have developed a procedure that may be able to help you remember things, as long as you’re willing to inject a genetically engineered virus directly into your brain.
Continue reading… “Genetically Engineered Brain Virus Can Enhance Memories Made Weeks Earlier”
HLA molecule helps determine whether someone will be able to fight off HIV.
As long as HIV and AIDS have existed, there has been a small minority who have contracted the virus, but not the disease. Their bodies are somehow able to control HIV, making them less contagious and immune to AIDS symptoms, sometimes forever. A new genomic study of nearly 1,000 of these people, known as “HIV controllers,” has found the genetic reason behind this.
Continue reading… “Genetic Secret to AIDS Immunity Discovered”
Virus circulating in the bloodstream recognised by antibodies (yellow) of the immune system.
Scientists say they have made a landmark discovery which could pave the way for new drugs to beat illnesses like the common cold. Until now experts had thought that antibodies could only tackle viral infections by blocking or attacking viruses outside cells.
Continue reading… “Virus Breakthrough Could Mean a Cure for the Common Cold”
Members of a joint United States Army-University of Montana research team that located a virus that is possibly collapsing honeybee colonies.
It has been one of the great murder mysteries of the garden: what is killing off the honeybees?
Since 2006, 20 to 40 percent of the bee colonies in the United States alone have suffered “colony collapse.” Suspected culprits ranged from pesticides to genetically modified food.
Continue reading… “Mystery of the Honeybees Solved”
The new batteries could be used to lighten the load for troops on the ground.
Genetically-engineered viruses could one day be used to make fabrics which act as batteries. Scientists used two harmless viruses to create high-performance, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that could power portable electronic devices like mobile phones or GPS systems for military uses.
Continue reading… “Genetically-Engineered Viruses Used to Make Wearable Batteries”
Scientist infected with a computer virus.
A British scientist claims to be the first human to have been infected with a computer virus after he contaminated an electronic chip which was inserted into his hand. Dr Mark Gasson, of the University of Reading, said the device was programmed with a virus which could transfer itself to other electronic systems it came in contact with. Any other chips that interacted with the infected systems would also contract the virus, he said, raising the possibility that in the future, advanced medical devices such as pacemakers could become vulnerable to cyber attacks.
Roughly 8 percent of your DNA isn’t really human. (How’s that for a morning wake-up call?) Instead, it’s the de-activated remnants of ancient retroviruses. All viruses hijack host cell machinery to replicate themselves, but retroviruses are a little more invasive than most. These viruses trick cells into turning viral RNA into DNA—the reverse of the normal DNA to RNA transcription process—and then snuggle that DNA right into the rest of the host’s genome. They mutate frequently and, sometimes, accidentally deactivate themselves—in which case the “dead” viral DNA just ends up hanging out in the human genome.
It’s a sneaky tactic that makes retroviruses—including HIV—difficult to fight….
Continue reading… “Resurrecting Ancient Viruses”
