- Carnot-efficient Dyson spheres would emit at the cosmic microwave background temperature and therefore remain invisible to infrared surveys, challenging conventional SETI assumptions (link shared: https://www.tillett.info/2016/08/03/carnot-efficient-dyson-spheres-are-undetectable-by-infrared-surveys/).

- New single-cell connectomic study of mouse primary visual cortex (V1) shows most neurons broadcast information to multiple cortical targets rather than forming “one-neuron-one-target” channels; researchers used whole-brain fluorescence axonal tracing plus high-throughput DNA barcoding (MAPseq) on 595 individual neurons (preprint: http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/06/09/148031).

- Nature Biotechnology review argues that breakthrough organ and tissue preservation methods (e.g., improved cryopreservation, chemical fixation) could transform transplantation, regenerative medicine, and emergency care (article: http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v35/n6/full/nbt.3889.html).

- CRISPR specificity can be markedly increased with chimeric guide RNAs, according to a new bioRxiv preprint that offers a practical route to reducing off-target edits (http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/06/08/147686).

- Structurally nanoengineered antimicrobial peptide polymers (SNAPPs) demonstrate potent activity against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, presenting a synthetic-biology alternative to traditional antibiotics (Nature Microbiology paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/nmicrobiol2016162).

- Larotrectinib (LOXO-101), a first-in-class TrkA/B/C inhibitor, shows high response rates in early-phase cancer trials for tumors harboring NTRK fusions, highlighting the growing impact of precision oncology (ASCO 2017 presentation linked).

- Recent video interviews and talks circulated: Liz Parrish (BioViva CEO) discusses gene-therapy-based human longevity efforts, and Ralph Merkle presents an overview of cryonics as a medical time-travel strategy for future revival.