Lifeboat Foundation

An ambitious effort to sequence the genome of every complex organism on Earth was officially launched on 1 November in London.

“Variation is the fount of all genetic knowledge,” says project member and evolutionary geneticist Jenny Graves of La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. “The more variation you have the better — so why not sequence everything?”

The Earth BioGenome Project aims to sequence the genomes of the roughly 1.5 million known animal, plant, protozoan and fungal species — collectively known as eukaryotes — worldwide over the next decade. The initiative is estimated to cost US$4.7 billion, although only a small proportion of that money has been committed so far.

One part publicity stunt, one part solid planning ahead.

A mammoth dig is underway that is expected to unearth 60,000 skeletons from a 230-year-old cemetery in London.

The bones of 1,200 people have so far been exhumed from the burial ground near Euston Station to make way for the new high-speed railway between the capital and Birmingham.

Recently released photos of the major dig show archaeologists clearing thick clay from coffins and brushing dirt from remains.

Continue reading “Mass dig of 60,000 skeletons from 230-year-old cemetery set to expose London’s secrets” »

Scientists have created the coldest spot in the universe, giving them the opportunity to study the universe’s rare fifth form of matter.

The Kepler Mission introduced us to a dazzling array of solar systems.

• By Michael D. Lemonick on November 2, 2018

Peanuts, rugby ball, bagels and spheres — now that’s an odd menu!

A roving spring of bubbling mud is moving around like a geologic poltergeist in southern California.

Florida has lagged in renewable energy use, but declining solar costs are set to change that.

• By John Fialka, E&E News on November 2, 2018

A key protein that keeps “jumping genes” in check could also prevent the formation of tumors and potentially lead to new cancer treatments.