Synthetic Biology’s Quest for Lab-Made Dairy

It isn’t as if alternative options aren’t prevalent—plant-based milks line the shelves, drawn from soy, almonds, oats and just about everything else. But the proteins in these liquids differ heavily from true dairy. As the New York Times points out, “Researchers at several start-up companies, including New Culture, have begun producing these [true dairy] proteins in the lab, with the aim of creating a new …

Word of Mouth: Fishtown, Philadelphia

From bookstores to pizza, natural wines and boutique hotels, there's plenty happening in this neighborhood

Philadelphia‘s Fishtown crosses many radars when visiting Pennsylvania’s largest city. From landmark venue Johnny Brenda’s to La Colombe, the neighborhood (named for its early fishermen settlers) has associated with live music, culinary delights and creative communities for some time. And, while the dive bars and music venues are essentials, there’s a plenty hidden in plain sight. From book stores to boutique hotels, here are some …

BMW’s One-Off Vantablack X6

On display at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW‘s VBX6 is the “first and only vehicle in the world” to receive a Vantablack VBx2 coating—a sprayable form of the blackest black pigment. BMW partnered with Vantablack inventor Surrey NanoSystems on the disorienting project, wherein the automaker’s third-generation X6 SUV appears almost two-dimensional. It’s spell-binding but there’s just enough reflection for our brain to process some …