Sixteen viruses designed with artificial intelligence have successfully killed E. coli in laboratory tests, including strains that resisted naturally occurring bacteriophages. Scientists at Stanford University created the viruses after training AI models on the genetic blueprints of roughly 2 million bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria rather than humans, then generating thousands of new designs that do not occur in nature. The work could help advance phage therapy, an experimental approach that uses viruses instead of antibiotics to target bacterial infections. Drug-resistant infections are expected to kill roughly 40 million people worldwide by 2050. Bacteriophages are already the most abundant biological entities on Earth, with more than 10 nonillion estimated to exist at any given time. Researchers also caution that the ability of increasingly powerful AI systems to design new viruses raises biosafety and biosecurity questions.
How did America’s capital become a city built on intelligence?
Washington’s spy story starts with information moving through its drawing rooms. During the War of 1812, First Lady Dolley Madison used White House gatherings to keep a close ear on the city’s political elite, and reportedly organized lookouts and messengers as British forces advanced on the capital.
During the Civil War, those same social circles became fertile ground for espionage. Confederate spy Rose O’Neal Greenhow used her access to politicians and military figures to gather Union secrets, passing coded messages through a network of sympathizers until the Pinkerton Detective Agency uncovered her operation.
A century later, Washington became the setting for a different kind of intelligence campaign. British officer and future author Roald Dahl worked in the city during World War II, using charm, social access, and his connections to gather information and influence powerful Americans. The capital also turned its attention inward. In the 1970s, the Church Committee exposed abuses by the CIA, FBI, and NSA, helping create new limits on how America’s intelligence agencies could operate.
Join series producer Joe Foley in this week’s podcast selection, ‘Brief Histories: Spy Cities - Washington D.C,’ for a journey through coded messages, political influence, secret investigations, and the intelligence battles fought inside America’s capital.
Take on immersive games and challenges at SPYGAMES! Test your team's skills and strategy, compete to climb the leaderboards, and recharge with food and drink in your own private space hosted by a dedicated staff member.
Book your next team social.
Take on immersive games and challenges at SPYGAMES! Test your team's skills and strategy, compete to climb the leaderboards, and recharge with food and drink in your own private space hosted by a dedicated staff member.
The Q Type is a personality type, like Myers-Briggs or the Enneagram, except yours comes from how you actually behave under pressure, not just how you answer questions about yourself. Developed with top spy trainers and leading psychologists, it maps your strengths, decision-making style, and hidden potential.
Are you the cryptologist Q Type? Cryptologists are specialists in ciphers—algorithms used to encrypt and decrypt messages. They either build these ciphers to secure their nation’s most important communications, or crack them in order to access the conversations of hostile targets.
Cryptologists work to continually improve the complexity of their country’s ciphers. At the same time, improvements in computer processing power make it increasingly possible to break them. Thus the makers and breakers of ciphers are locked in a constant race to block and unlock each other’s ingenious work. Find out what type of spy you'd be at SPYSCAPE.
Can you find out who’s working undercover for Dr. Evil?
Dr. Evil has set up shop at the annual Villains’ Fair, where he is promoting his latest business venture called: ESPIONAGE—Evil’s Secret Projects, Intelligence Operations, Nachos And Guacamole Emporium. He is not working alone. Two assistants are helping him run the midway booth, both disguised to keep their identities hidden. Solve this week’s SPYSCAPE crossword to uncover who they might be!
Give your party guests an unforgettable experience designed to engage, entertain, and inspire. Our dedicated staff will be on hand to help, and you'll even get your own private space to celebrate.
Host your birthday at SPYSCAPE or SPYGAMES.
Give your party guests an unforgettable experience designed to engage, entertain, and inspire. Our dedicated staff will be on hand to help, and you'll even get your own private space to celebrate.
Can childhood stress leave a lasting mark on the brain?
Researchers have identified a biological change that may help explain why severe stress early in life can make people more sensitive to stress later on. In mice, stressful early environments were linked to higher levels of an enzyme called SETD7 in dopamine-producing brain cells.
Dopamine helps the brain process both rewards and adversity. Higher SETD7 levels made those cells more responsive to environmental stimuli, and the mice showed more anxious behavior throughout their lives. When researchers blocked the enzyme, however, the animals became less sensitive to stress.
The study, published in the journal Neuron, could point to a new target for mental health treatments. Earlier studies have shown that people who experience four or more adverse childhood experiences, such as physical neglect or household substance abuse, face a significantly higher risk of mental health disorders.
History
Roman Shipwreck
How many ancient shipwrecks are hidden beneath the Mediterranean?
A freediving fisherman off the coast of Sicily, three miles from Mazara del Vallo, has uncovered the remains of a Roman-era shipwreck lying about 150 feet below the surface.
Italian authorities have confirmed the find, along with hundreds of well-preserved clay jars scattered around the wreck. The ship, believed to be more than 2,000 years old, measures roughly 70 feet long and 20 feet wide. The jars are a long, cylindrical type commonly used in antiquity to transport goods such as wine, olive oil, or grain. The discovery was recently announced by Italy’s culture minister after cultural heritage divers from Palermo police inspected the site. Authorities now plan to protect and study the wreck in more detail. Watch footage of the dive here.
Try brain-teasing challenges at SPYSCAPE and pulse-racing fun in SPYGAMES.
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