Human genome editing offers tantalizing possibilities – but without clear guidelines, many ethical questions still remain

Following the controversial births of the first gene-edited babies, a major focus of the Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing was responsible use of CRISPR.

Gary Skuse, Professor of Bioinformatics, Rochester Institute of Technology • conversation
March 8, 2023 ~8 min

Will brain organoids soon become biocomputers?

Brain-powered computers would be faster, more efficient, and more powerful than silicon-based computing and AI, researchers say.

Johns Hopkins University • futurity
Feb. 28, 2023 ~6 min


Wolf restoration in Colorado shows how humans are rethinking their relationships with wild animals

Less than a century ago, Colorado hunted, trapped and poisoned all the wolves within its borders. Today it’s restoring them – a change that reflects a profound shift in human thinking.

Christopher J. Preston, Professor of Philosophy, University of Montana • conversation
Feb. 28, 2023 ~9 min

ChatGPT is great – you're just using it wrong

ChatGPT and other AI chatbots are remarkably good at answering your questions. Just don’t take the answers seriously. Sometimes, though, potentially fact-free answers are just fine.

Jonathan May, Research Associate Professor of Computer Science, University of Southern California • conversation
Feb. 2, 2023 ~8 min

ChatGPT: our study shows AI can produce academic papers good enough for journals – just as some ban it

Some think ChatGPT threatens education, but it might benefit educators and students alike.

Michael Dowling, Professor of Finance, Dublin City University • conversation
Jan. 26, 2023 ~7 min

How the ‘trolley problem’ applies to self-driving cars

Our existing social contract around driving should apply to automated vehicles, say researchers, essentially solving the "trolley problem."

Stanford • futurity
Jan. 26, 2023 ~11 min

Interfering in big decisions friends and family take could violate a crucial moral right, philosopher argues

We have a moral duty to allow others to make ‘transformative choices’ such as changing careers, migrating and having children, a new study argues. This duty

Cambridge University News • cambridge
Jan. 25, 2023 ~6 min

ChatGPT: students could use AI to cheat, but it's a chance to rethink assessment altogether

We need to embrace the use of AI in higher education because the positives can far outweigh the negatives.

Sam Illingworth, Associate Professor, Edinburgh Napier University • conversation
Jan. 19, 2023 ~6 min


Are the fish in your aquarium happy? Five things to look out for

Why an exploding aquarium in Berlin should destroy prevailing myths about the inner lives of fish.

Matt Parker, Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience and Sleep Science, University of Surrey • conversation
Jan. 18, 2023 ~6 min

Did He Jiankui 'Make People Better'? Documentary spurs a new look at the case of the first gene-edited babies

Scientific and public uproar resulted when the Chinese scientist announced the births of the first human babies with heritable edits to their genes. A new documentary reexamines the saga.

G. Owen Schaefer, Assistant Professor in Biomedical Ethics, National University of Singapore • conversation
Dec. 20, 2022 ~11 min

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