Friday Futures: suicide pods, DNA editing made easy, and seaweed

seaweed
You'll be eating a lot of seaweed in the future, you know. Image credit: gowithstock / Shutterstock.com

Welcome to Friday Futures, our weekly guide to the latest visions of  The Future from around the web. This week: we are not immortal after all, but we can buy a printed suicide pod, edit our DNA, live in a foldable home, watch a washing machine movie and solve world hunger with seaweed.

Bummer, it turns out we can’t live forever

A new paper published by a team of multidisciplinary researchers claim that humankind has reached a peak in physical development and lifespan. The limit is a product of genetic constraints, combined with environmental conditions. Find out why…

Mind you, you can order an Open Source Death Pod

The founder and director of pro-euthanasia group Exit International has co-developed a 3D-printed euthanasia machine called Sarco you can order online (once you complete a questionnaire stating you’re of sound mind). Add to basket?…

Crispr DNA editing system is ready for human testing

For nearly five years the “big three’ Crispr biotechs have been promising precise gene therapy solutions to inherited genetic conditions. And now, one of them says it’s ready to test the idea on people. Read more…

Your tattoo can monitor your symptoms

Genetically engineered bacteria cells programmed to light up when in contact with certain stimuli have been successfully 3D printed by a team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Read more…

Seaweed could solve world hunger

Seriously! Watch the short video…

Meanwhile, you could live in a foldable house

From tiny homes to bio-houses, architecture is getting futuristic. This is apparent with the new M.A.Di homes, which can fold down completely and be transported economically and easily. Read the M.A.Di homes story…

Turns out the Mirai botnet was a plot to scam Minecraft

You know those guys that were just convicted over the Mirai botnet that ended up crippling DNS servers and showed us just how insecure the Internet of Things is? To hear Wired tell it, the defendants hadn’t intended to bring down the internet—they had been trying to gain an advantage in the computer game Minecraft. Get the story…

And finally, here is a movie of a washing machine! Washing!

OK, it might not make it onto any recommended movie lists, but for fans of really slow cinema, Washing Machine: The Movie may be the perfect flick for a Saturday night in. Relax, and let it wash over you….

(Compiled by Alex Leslie; Edited by John C Tanner)

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