Right here in San Diego biologist Craig Ventre teeters on the verge of creating the first artificial life form on Earth. His group has created the first synthetic chromosome from lab materials, a feat in itself that is nothing short of magnificent.

They’ve previously introduced the genome into dead bacteria, completely changing its makeup. Now the trick is to introduce that same genome into a living host cell, where it will take over to become a new species.

So how is this brave new species going to be put to work? The bacteria could be released in the upper atmosphere, absorbing carbon dioxide in the battle against global warming. The process could also be used to create cures for life threating illnesses.

Dr. Ventre told the Guardian that this is “a very important philosophical step in the history of our species. We are going from reading our genetic code to the ability to write it. That gives us the hypothetical ability to do things never contemplated before”

Don’t be confused, Dr. Ventre isn’t in this racket for charity. In 1999 he was the founder and president of Celera Genomics, a company that was run parallel to the Human Genome Project. He tried to privatize the data and charge a fee to access the databases. The scientific community lashed out and produced a full sequence with full open access.

A similar concern is that he has already filed for a patent on the new species that he is about to create. Is he dipping his hands too far into the cookie jar again and this time will the scientific community have the power to gain access to the research?

Call me crazy but I’m concerned about a group of individuals that plan to legally own several types of living species.

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[Froodee]

Heath care records have just gone to the next level, or at least IBM wants it that way. They have developed software that turns medical data into a visual 3D image for doctors.

The Anatomic and Symbolic Mapper Engine allows doctors to look under the skin to review previous injuries, the cardiovascular system and muscle tissue. All this from old text records that are already stored in the system from when you were a wee little one. They can also update via the image itself.

Soon when you go in to complain about the old trick elbow the doc will simply click a few buttons and see all of the scar tissue, previous tension and surgical procedures that have been preformed.

Comprehensive records are hard to compile and review upon examination, especially for a busy office or ER. This truly revolutionary model will allow for better diagnoses and decisions in future actions.

[Gizmag]

Those wacky Japanese are at it again this month at the Tokyo Auto Show. The Suzuki Shared Coach made its debut as an electric car… with a car inside it. If you’ve ever watched The Jetsons it may look familiar.

This concept vehicle is the next generation in fuel efficiency and sustainable mobility. The idea is that two drivers will use the larger vehicle over long distances together. The smaller 3-wheeled pods, dubbed the PiXY, will be used for one person while inside the city.

It is a social project whereby multiple people can effectively carpool just outside of a busy area, ditch the larger car and ride into town in a smaller pod that finds parking with ease. Not to mention that it may be small enough to be used on sidewalks and in buildings, similar to a Segway.

This bold departure from traditional design may be initially marketed to older generations who find it difficult to navigate over long distances. Yet the idea behind sustainable mobility may catch on with just about everyone as major cities become more dense and populated.

Suzuki also intends to release a sports car version for the pods, the SSF for those who want to travel in style. A marine unit, the SSJ, will allow people to glide over water to their destination of choice.

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[Yahoo France] (Warning: Link is in French)

Picture this, you’ve been on a flight for the last few hours and your restless as you land. Like most people you are looking out the window to take a look at the city you are flying into. But wait, what is that on the ground? If British based Ad Air has their way it will be a giant 5 acre sized billboard. That’s about the size of 4 football fields.

The concept is an interesting twist on the growing field of outdoor advertising, where we are seeing ads on everything from car wraps to coffee cups. They say that it is unlike roadside billboards that are seen by a large field of people day by day. Air Ad advertisements are to be seen by a much more unique demographic. Reasoning suggests that very few people fly on a daily basis and thus it will make a much lasting impression on them.

The company has the go ahead in a handful of major airports, including Heathrow, Dubai International, Charles de Gaulle in Paris, Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, Denver International, Los Angeles International, Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok, Haneda in Tokyo. Ad Air is still negotiating so that they will ultimately have 30 ads placed in the world’s busiest airports. Next month an ad in Dubai will debut as the first site.

Costs for one of these big boys range from $80,000 – $150,000 a month. They will be printed on plastic mesh and will sit on metal frames.

Is this just a desperate attempt to utilize every possible space that isn’t already being used? Ad Air makes claims that the viewers will be drastically different in demographics, which may be true. For the first few times I look down at a huge billboard I’m going to remember what I see. But will this become a novelty? Another buzz in the sea of noise that constantly surrounds us?

I want to see gorilla campaigns come to life by using these ads creatively. Very edgy marketing would work well with this type of product. For instance, instead of boring crop circles you could always step it up to make people believe aliens really have landed there. Don’t worry, two weeks later you can tell them it was all a hoax, but to still go see the next Alien movie out in theaters.

[International Herald Tribune]