JUST A STRAND of Elvis’s hair would do. Pluck out his DNA and it could be copied millions of times using a technique called the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). That was the business plan pitched in the 1990s by Kary Mullis, an American biologist. Mullis had helped develop PCR in the 1980s; in 1993 he shared a Nobel prize.
TopChallenging the stigma associated with single mothers in China
AT THE AGE of 29 Gavin Ye decided that she wanted to become a mother, but not a wife. She travelled to America and Russia for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and gave birth to two daughters. Ms Ye—also known by her Chinese name, Ye Haiyang—now has more than 7.3m followers on Douyin (Chinese TikTok).
TopChicago hopes to become a world centre for quantum research
TO A CASUAL visitor, the basement of the William Eckhardt Research Centre, at the University of Chicago, might appear nothing special. Whereas the upper floors of the building are a postmodern tower of angled glass, underground the walls are bare-white MDF.
TopThis year’s El Niño will hit Peru especially hard
WINTERS IN LIMA, Peru’s capital, are dreary. By now the city is normally enveloped in a cold mist. This year, though, daytime temperatures are around 21°C (70°F). Ice-cream sellers are still doing brisk business at Lima’s beaches. “Will there be a winter this year?” ask headlines in local newspapers.
TopAmerica has a shortage of lab monkeys
AMERICAN AUTHORITIES arrested Masphal Kry, an official in Cambodia’s forestry administration, last November when he was heading to an international meeting about trade regulations for endangered species in Panama.
What MBS wants from Joe Biden
FEW QUESTIONS in the Middle East evoke such dread as “why aren’t you married?” It signals a judgmental grilling. Anyone can play interrogator: parents, taxi drivers—even an American president.
Brett Cooper
Brett Cooper is an American conservative political commentator, media personality, and actress. ...
Jessica Alba
Jessica Marie Alba is an American actress and businesswoman. She began her television and film a...
Lily Collins
Lily Jane Collins is a British and American actress. Born in Guildford and raised in Los Angeles...
Emmy Rossum
Emmanuelle Grey Rossum is an American actress, director, and singer. She is best known for her p...
Mikey Madison
Mikey Madison is an American actress. She is best known for her starring roles as Manson Family ...
Lucy Boynton
Lucy Boynton is a British-American actress. Raised in London, she made her professional debut as...
TopHow Britain can become an AI superpower
Get ready for some big British celebrations in 2030. By then, if Rishi Sunak is to be believed, the country will be “a science and technology superpower”.
TopThe Federal Reserve decided to leave its key interest rate unchanged
The Federal Reserve decided to leave its key interest rate unchanged at a range of 5% to 5.25%. It was the first time that America’s central bank left the rate on hold following ten consecutive increases, which started in March 2022. However, it indicated that it would probably lift the rate twice again this year.
The world this week:Business
A surge in Nvidia’s share price pushed it briefly past $1trn in stockmarket value. The American co...