Tag

Biosafety

All articles tagged with #biosafety

science11 days ago•191 min saved

Researchers Build the First Synthetic Cell From Nonliving Chemistry

Scientists have built SpudCell, a synthetic cell assembled from nonliving chemical components that can feed, grow and replicate for about five generations; though far simpler than natural cells and requiring externally supplied ribosomes, the work marks a milestone in synthetic biology toward understanding life's origins and enabling future bioengineering, with safety safeguards discussed and the core technology to be shared openly via Biotic.

via CNN|

#biosafety #open-source-biology #origin-of-life

space-and-spaceflight19 days ago•16 min saved

Moon Biocontainment Plan: Scientists Call for an Automated Lunar Quarantine Lab

Biologist Frederick Moxley and McGill’s Anthony Ricciardi propose NASA build a self-contained, automated lunar biocontainment facility (BSL-X) on the Moon to quarantine and sterilize potentially hazardous extraterrestrial samples before any Earth return, arguing Earth-based labs may be insufficient to guard against novel alien microbes; they cite a 2018 ISS bacterium mutation as a cautionary example and frame the plan as a precautionary firewall for interplanetary exploration.

via Gizmodo|

#biosafety #biosecurity #lunar

health1 month ago•3 min saved

Two government scientists charged with smuggling deactivated mpox into the U.S.

Two virologists at a U.S. government lab were charged in Detroit with smuggling vials of deactivated mpox from Africa into the United States and lying to investigators after being stopped at Detroit Metropolitan Airport; the samples were not declared and proper authorization was lacking, with NIH cooperating in the ongoing case and the defendants slated to appear in Missoula, Montana.

via ABC7 Los Angeles|

#biosafety #deactivated-virus #federal-charges

politics1 month ago•6 min saved

NIH Lab Researchers Charged Over Alleged Mpox Smuggling

Two NIH scientists at Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Montana, Vincent Munster and Claude Kwe, were charged with conspiring to smuggle deactivated mpox from the Republic of Congo into the U.S. and making false statements after authorities found 113 vials (some mpox, chickenpox, and human DNA) during a Detroit-bound shipment; the virus was reportedly deactivated. The case underscores biosafety questions at the lab, with potential penalties up to five years if convicted, and NIH stating it activated enhanced safety protocols and is cooperating with investigators.

via Politico|

#biosafety #department-of-justice #monkeypox

health1 month ago•6 min saved

Century-scale biosafety study links inactivation gaps to outbreaks and deaths

A century-long review of 1,126 lab biosafety incidents (1900–2025) finds outbreaks are mainly driven by failures to inactivate dangerous pathogens, plus leaks and poor decontamination; personnel type and lab setting influence outbreak risk, while deaths are driven by pathogen virulence (notably prions and RG4 pathogens). The authors suggest risk assessment frameworks and targeted training to improve containment.

via CIDRAP|

#biosafety #health #lab-incidents

science2 months ago•6 min saved

Recovered virus samples spark biosafety questions after Unicamp theft

Brazilian police recovered missing virus samples from Unicamp’s high-security BSL-3 lab—including chikungunya and dengue—after a researcher, Soledad Palameta Miller, was arrested and later released on bail; the case has raised questions about access controls at secure facilities as Brazil plans its first BSL-4 lab nearby, while investigators probe motives and security gaps and regulators say the samples did not pose health risks.

via Nature|

#biosafety #brazil #bsl-3

science8 months ago•12 min saved

Scientists Explore the Promise and Perils of Mirror Cells in Synthetic Biology

A researcher at the University of Minnesota and a group of scientists have raised concerns about the potential dangers of creating mirror cells, which are synthetic organisms with reversed biomolecular structures. While such cells could advance scientific understanding and medical research, experts warn they might pose significant ecological and health risks if released, leading to calls for strict regulations and ethical considerations to prevent potential existential threats.

via CNN|

#biosafety #mirror-cell #mirror-life

science9 months ago•4 min saved

NIH Criticized for Labeling Gain-of-Function Research as Dangerous

Sarah Stanley, a UC Berkeley researcher, criticizes the NIH's decision to halt her TB research, arguing that the work involves standard, safe techniques that are crucial for developing treatments and that the broad classification of her work as 'dangerous' is misleading and could hinder important medical progress.

via statnews.com|

#biosafety #gain-of-function #nih

science9 months ago•8 min saved

Debate Over Mirror-Image Biology and Its Potential Risks

Experts are debating the risks and benefits of researching mirror-image molecular biology and the potential creation of mirror-image organisms, which could have significant scientific and medical applications but also pose unknown risks. Current scientific challenges make the creation of fully functional mirror-image life forms unlikely in the near future, but ongoing research offers promising benefits in drug development and biotechnology. Caution and responsible regulation are emphasized to balance innovation with safety.

via Nature|

#biosafety #chirality #mirror-image-biology

science10 months ago•5 min saved

Scientists Warn of 'Mirror Life' Microbes Threatening Humanity

Scientists warn that creating 'mirror life'—organisms with reversed molecular chirality—poses significant risks, including potential environmental invasion and unchecked replication, which could threaten humanity and ecosystems. Despite current safety measures, experts advocate for a global ban on such research to prevent irreversible harm.

via Yahoo News Canada|

#bioethics #biosafety #existential-risk

science11 months ago•0 min saved

Mirror Life: Scientific Risks, Benefits, and Policy Implications

Scientists are warning against research into creating 'mirror life' microbes due to potential unprecedented risks to Earth’s biosphere, with experts like Kate Adamala reconsidering their involvement amid safety concerns.

via The Guardian|

#biosafety #genetics #mirror-life

science1 year ago•6 min saved

Scientists Warn of Catastrophic Risks from 'Mirror Bacteria' Research

Scientists have issued a warning about the potential dangers of lab-created 'mirror bacteria,' synthetic organisms with mirrored molecular structures that could bypass immune defenses and cause widespread ecological harm. Although the creation of such organisms is at least a decade away, rapid advancements in synthetic biology have prompted 38 Nobel laureates and experts to call for a pause in research. They argue that the risks, including potential lethal infections and ecological destabilization, outweigh the benefits.

via Daily Mail|

#biosafety #ecologicalrisk #mirrorbacteria

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Scientists Urge Caution on Synthetic 'Mirror Life' Threats

Leading scientists, including Nobel laureates, are urging a halt on research into creating 'mirror life' microbes due to potential unprecedented risks to life on Earth. These synthetic organisms, constructed from mirror images of natural molecules, could evade immune defenses and cause lethal infections in humans, animals, and plants. The call for a moratorium is based on a new risk assessment, highlighting the need for a global debate on the safety and ethical implications of such research.

via The Guardian|

#biosafety #mirrorlife #publichealth

health-research2 years ago•7 min saved

"Colorado Virus Lab Staff Bitten by Covid-Infected Hamsters and Disease-Ridden Bats"

Documents obtained by the White Coat Waste Project reveal at least 50 incidents involving safety control lapses at Colorado State University's taxpayer-funded lab between 2020 and 2023, including workers being bitten by Covid-infected hamsters, splashed with blood from mice with tuberculosis, and scratched by rabies-infected cats. The reports were not disclosed to the public, raising concerns about transparency and public trust in America's public health institutions. The university's plan to construct a new bat lab has sparked safety concerns, as the facility has been fined for violating the Animal Welfare Act and has a history of lab accidents involving infectious agents.

via Daily Mail|

#biosafety #colorado-state-university #health-research

health-science2 years ago•5 min saved

"Risks of Lab Leaks: America's Potential Role in the Next Pandemic"

Official data reveals a high number of lab leak incidents at top virus labs in the US, with over 600 releases of controlled pathogens recorded in the eight years leading up to 2022. Concerns are raised about the potential for deadly pathogens to escape from labs and spark a new pandemic, as safety lapses continue to pose a serious threat to human, animal, and plant health. Calls for stricter oversight and regulation of high-containment laboratories are made to prevent further accidents that could lead to another public health crisis.

via Daily Mail|

#biosafety #health-science #lab-leaks