Scientists make pufferfish poison (and it took 100 years)

Plus: Can a human beat an anti-lock braking system? Jul 25, 2022 [Blueprint]( Pufferfish, snails, octopuses, newts, frogs and worms produce tetrodotoxin, which is the most poisonous natural neurotoxin known to humanity. [And now, we can make it too](. Although when I say ‘we’, I mean a team of scientists at NYU, not you and I when we suddenly feel a bit angry and want to smite our enemies. And it’s fair to say it’s quite a big deal, as this result has been 100 years in the making. And why do we want to make it? Well, TTX has been described as a “keystone molecule” because of the role it could play in defining the predator-prey relationship in our ecosystem. But before you start attempting to replicate the 22-step process, (for smiting purposes or otherwise), [check out this video]( which pits a professional driver against an anti-lock braking system (ABS), to see which wins. Good morning. I’m Alice, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s get started. If you haven’t already, check out our new [IE+ subscription]( launching soon, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis, premium features, and more. [Claim your free one-month trial here](. [Play]VIDEO OF THE DAY [YouTuber tests to see if a human can beat a vehicle's anti-lock braking system]( [Human vs. ABS.]( [Must Read]MUST READ [After 100 years of trying, scientists have found a way to create the pufferfish neurotoxin.]( [Pufferfish poison recreated.]( To study and harness the power of the mysterious biochemical known as TTX (short for tetrodotoxin), scientists the world over have been trying to recreate it for 100 years. And now they have, [in the most efficient way to date](. In a recently-published study, researchers from New York University (NYU) revealed a 22-step process, in which biologically active, highly efficient tetrodotoxin (and its derivatives) can be created from “commercially available materials”. In doing so, they say they’ve created the most “concise” TTX synthesis method to date (for it has actually been done before, just not as efficiently). They report that they have made the process 30 times more efficient. → Researchers plan to use the development to more accurately define the predator-prey relationship in our ecosystem, describing TTX as a "keystone molecule”. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Linkedin]( [HEALTH]HEALTH [Novel sensor allows the detection of Alzheimer's 17 years in advance.]( A new sensor can identify signs of Alzheimer's disease in the blood [up to 17 years before the first clinical symptoms]( appear — and its developers have very ambitious plans for it. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Health - Zombie cells [fight against cancer as you age]( — here's why researchers want to kill them. - New gene therapy could pave the way to [finally curing hemophilia B](. - Food expiry dates [lead to 20% of food waste]( — and the science behind it is surprisingly weak. [SCIENCE]SCIENCE [Interesting facts about solar flares that are hotter than the Sun's core]( In honor of them taking up a lot of column inches of late, we’ve [compiled a list]( of more than twenty things we think are pretty great/impressive/terrifying (depending on your viewpoint) about solar flares. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Science - New telescope will hunt for [neutron stars colliding](. - Physicists develop a [new quantum computer]( that uses full range of atoms. - Scientists made transparent wood that's [stronger and lighter than glass](. [MAIL & MUSINGS]MAIL & MUSINGS The most poisonous natural neurotoxin has been recreated more efficiently than ever before. Tricky though it is, do you think people will try to make tetrodotoxin at home? [Yes, the world is full of maniacs]( [Someone will surely try]( [No, it’s too hard to do]( [No, why would they?]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday, we asked you if you agree that the monkeypox outbreak is a global emergency. And you were divided, with 30 percent of you saying no, the cases haven’t surged that much yet, and 29 percent saying you aren’t sure. 30% No, the cases haven’t surged that much yet. 29% I don’t know. What will this declaration change? 22% Yes!. The WHO was late in declaring it so. 19% It seems so. [QUOTE OF THE DAY]QUOTE OF THE DAY “Science offers us total mastery over our environment and over our destiny, yet instead of rejoicing we feel deeply afraid.” Edmund Leach 1910–89 English anthropologist: Reith lecture, BBC Radio 4 12 November 1967. [THINGS WE LOVE]THINGS WE LOVE [image]( [Blue Yeti Microphone]( [image]( [DJI Action 2]( [image]( [Hyper X Cloud Revolver]( [image]( [Toshiba 4K TV]( [AND ANOTHER THING]AND ANOTHER THING - The science of [becoming "interplanetary"]( How can humans live in the outer Solar System? - A new [dark matter experiment quashed]( earlier hints of new particles. (Science News) - Tesla to use ‘[Formula 1 pit crew techniques]( to offer same-hour service. - Sticklebacks may [pass information learned from other fish]( to offspring. (New Scientist) - Landsat at 50: 3 ways the space satellite has [transformed life on Earth](. - [How hot is too hot]( for the human body? (Scientific American) - Railroad tracks are struggling under the heat — [here's how they keep cool](. Prepared by Alice Cooke Enjoy Reading? Forward this email to a friend. Was this email forwarded to you? 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