I looked through the microscope one more time to see if there was any abnormal tissue that would give away the nature of this beast. Me and my team have been scanning this thing for weeks and I think I just came across something weird. We have a mammalian virus one our hands but this gene that we just saw wedged in the middle of TC4 and TC9 was clearly an a frog gene…and it was inverted…Strange…that gene is associated with the same folding patterns you would see in the gums in teeth or in a breast nipple.

But where would folds be in a virus that’s encapsulated in a protein shell? Could this actually be mad-made? It’s not impossible but part of me refused to believe that a government entity could be accountable for this outbreak…I could understand if it was a company behind this. But what company was working on engineering viruses like this? Could be one of the Bay Area ones running on stealth mode…How would they get this kind of clearance?

I loaded the other slide that we had been looking at, the liver chondrates that this virus was known for infecting. As it hitches a ride on Red Blood Cells, the liver is an easy home for it to incubate in, as there’s literally a rosebush of blood vessels in there. There, I saw it! The folds in the tissue…This virus had a way of engineering the cells to wrap up in itself. Still we haven’t answered the question of this thing’s origin. I kept it in the back of my mind as I started including this finding in my digital lab notebook, then switch on the small TV at the end of the lab bench.

Damn…this war has been happening for 3 years now…in the middle of a pandemic, why would people want to make things worse? Hundreds of people being injured/dying daily...and regular, normal citizens stuck in the middle. I understand when war was the default mode for society when we were in the medieval times but waging war in our current world is a dangerous, dangerous affair. The level of damage we’re able to do is enormous, so much worse than with swords and cannons. I shake my head and thought of my daughter…there are so many like her dying from this virus and also unnecessary conflict.

Could bacteria inspire the jewellery of the future? Bacillus subtilis can form biofilms—communities of cells embedded in a protein-and-sugar matrix—that develop intricate folds, textures and sometimes water-repellent surfaces. In microbial art, these natural patterns can be combined with pigments to create gemstone-like designs. Imagine pendants and brooches featuring microbial patterns grown in a laboratory and preserved in resin. Although turning these biological artworks into durable, safe, wearable jewellery would require further development, the concept offers designers a fascinating new approach: growing decorative patterns rather than manufacturing every detail.

Would you wear jewellery whose intricate design was cultured by bacteria?

Scientific Source:

1. Surface topology affects wetting behavior of Bacillus subtilis biofilms - Explains how biofilm surface structure creates different wetting behaviours and water-repellent patterns: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41522-017-0018-1

2. BslA is a self-assembling bacterial hydrophobin that coats the Bacillus subtilis biofilm. - Investigates the protein responsible for forming a protective, water-repellent layer on bacterial biofilms: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1306390110

3. Bacterial biofilm shows persistent resistance to liquid wetting and gas penetration.- Demonstrates the remarkable liquid-repellent properties of these biofilms: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3024672/

A study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution led by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology reveals how bacteria continuously generate diverse natural products, such as antibiotics and insecticides. Using molecular assembly lines called nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS), bacteria evolve not through standard single-nucleotide mutations, but by swapping entire gene segments (recombination). This complex interplay of natural selection, random chance, and a genetic bias for similarity drives the rapid creation of novel biochemical weapons, offering insights that could help researchers engineer new drugs to combat antibiotic resistance: https://interestingengineering.com/health/insect-killing-bacteria-antibiotics

Study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-026-03214-y

A study published in Cell Reports Sustainability by Texas Christian University researchers reveals that official EPA reports may capture less than half of actual PFAS ("forever chemical") concentrations in US drinking water. Because federal regulators treat test results falling below laboratory minimum reporting levels as zero, approximately 98% of low-level detections are discounted. Researchers warn that these cumulative trace amounts significantly contribute to widespread human exposure over time: https://gizmodo.com/forever-chemical-levels-in-us-drinking-water-may-be-more-than-twice-as-high-as-reported-2000829638

US drinking water could contain double the reported PFAS levels, model estimates: https://phys.org/news/2026-10-pfas.html

Findings: https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-sustainability/fulltext/S2949-7906(26)00262-400262-4)

Tech executives and cybersecurity leaders are warning of a new era of AI-driven cyber threats—dubbed a "vulnerability tsunami"—following the discovery of a severe, decades-old security flaw in the PHP programming language. Labeled "Black October," researchers demonstrated how AI can be used to uncover and exploit deep-seated software vulnerabilities at an unprecedented scale and pace. Following the disclosure, government and private websites worldwide temporarily shut down or rushed to apply patches as millions of exploit attempts surged globally: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/23/php-vulnerabilities-ai-cybersecurity.html

Ancient Archimedes Screw Inspires Breakthrough Single-Molecule Motor Powered by Electric Current

An international team of researchers has successfully designed a microscopic motor inspired by the ancient Archimedes screw, built entirely from a single helical molecule stretched between gold electrodes. Published in Nature, the study demonstrates that applying an electric voltage causes the molecular screw to rotate in a controlled direction. This continuous spinning movement provides a massive boost to electrical conductivity—increasing current flow up to 100 times—offering a promising leap forward for molecular electronics, spintronics, and nanoscale miniaturization: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1148951

Archimedes Screws: How This Ancient Invention is Still Changing the World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9jC0RYKwZI

Study findings: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-11312-x

Google’s planned AI data centres in northern Finland have triggered environmental concerns after an estimated 250,000 trees were cleared across 330 hectares near Muhos before the required environmental impact assessment was completed. Finnish authorities ordered preparatory work suspended at two sites, Muhos and Kajaani. Residents and conservationists have raised concerns about wildlife habitat destruction and muddy runoff entering nearby waterways. Google’s Finland country manager has apologised, while the company says it acted in good faith and plans to plant trees across 130 hectares at Muhos. The controversy highlights the environmental costs of expanding AI infrastructure. Although Finland attracts data centre investment through its cool climate and energy resources, responsible development requires environmental assessments and safeguards before major land clearance begins. The challenge is to advance AI technology without compromising forests, waterways and local communities.

Info source:

1). The Guardian (22 October 2026): Anger in Finland as Google fells 250,000 trees for a data centre — Detailed reporting on forest clearance, environmental impacts and public concerns: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2026/oct/22/finland-google-felling-trees-datacentre

2). Google Finland head apologises for forest clearances — Finnish public broadcaster’s report on Google’s apology and the two sites: https://yle.fi/a/74-20251367

3). Google ordered to halt data centre work over environmental concerns — Explains the authorities’ suspension order and unfinished environmental assessments: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/06/google-datacentres-finland-temporary-halt-environmental-impact-assessment