A*STAR scientists have developed a new method to directly and efficiently read DNA containing non-standard “letters” (bases) using AI and nanopore sequencing. Until now, DNA sequencers (reading machines) could only recognise the four natural bases (A, T, C, G). This breakthrough removes that limit, enabling scientists to explore an expanded genetic code.This advancement could accelerate drug discovery, improve disease treatment, and enable new approaches to data and information storage.

As humans, we are constantly navigating social status, using subconscious strategies to assert either our dominance or prestige. We often use voice or body language to communicate this. Imagine a politician with a slow, booming voice, expanding their chest and extending their arms, quickly asserting authority over their audience. We also use our sense of smell, according to new research from the University of Victoria (UVic), published in Evolution and Human Behaviour. This study examined whether scent cues associated with levels of circulating testosterone impact people’s social status judgments. It found that both male and female participants perceived men with higher levels of testosterone to be more dominant than men with lower testosterone levels.