Bio Engineering

Before becoming an instructor in the Navy's Topgun program, Dave "Bio" Baranek was just another kid with a dream. Upon graduating from college, he joined the Navy with the goal of becoming a fighter pilot. But, his eyesight waning, he knew that he would never be able to reach that goal. Undaunted, he plowed ahead and found his niche as a radar intercept operator in the backseat of the sleek, new Grumman F-14 Tomcat.

They thought revealing New Origins' plans would be enough, that they could go on to live normal lives. But nobody knows Space Station Horus like Marick and Alicia, and they're asked to lead the assault. It's time to return to space, now with an army at their backs. Meanwhile, their war isn't the only one they have to worry about, as the criminal leader of Space Station Ramiel is on a warpath against Marick and any who would stand on his side. But now he has his own team, a ragtag group of enhanced super soldiers, hackers, and former criminals with access to alien technology.

The theme of this volume is Bio Sci-Fi. As machines and computers grow ever more sophisticated, how might technology change our bodies and our attitudes towards them? Let's find out together.

Was hat der Inhalt unseres Gemüsefachs mit moderner Pflanzenbiologie zu tun? Warum ist die Tomatenzucht auf dem Balkon ein Ringen gegen die Natur? Und weshalb müssen auch Pflanzen geimpft werden? Der Pflanzenbiologe und Science Slammer David Spencer erzählt unterhaltsam und anschaulich von unserem täglichen Obst und Gemüse und seinem faszinierenden Leben. Er ist sich sicher: Wenn wir das Hightech-Wissen aus der Forschung mit Ökolandbau kombinieren, können wir zu einer grünen Landwirtschaft und klimafreundlicher Ernährung gelangen.

Undercover in de harde realiteit van de bio-industrie. We hebben wel een vermoeden waar ons kroketje, onze cappuccino en ons eitje vandaan komen, maar daar laten we het liever bij. Zo niet Roel Binnendijk. Drie jaar lang werkte hij undercover in stallen, veetransporten en een groot slachthuis. Met een verborgen camera verzamelde hij talloze bewijzen van ernstige dierenmishandeling en intimidatie van medewerkers. Zijn werk werd opgepikt door internationale media, leidde tot grote opschudding in de Nederlandse politiek en vormt inmiddels de aanleiding voor nieuwe regelgeving.

In Fit for a Purpose, biochemist Fazale Rana fearlessly pushes the boundaries of the anthropic principle beyond cosmology. In the process, Rana invites the listener to discover the world of chemical and biochemical fine-tuning, as well as to contemplate this question: If the universe is fit for life, and biochemical systems are fit for their role in life, is it possible that everything is “fit for a purpose”?

In Frankenstein's Cat, journalist Emily Anthes takes us from petri dish to pet store as she explores how biotechnology is shaping the future of our furry and feathered friends. Through her encounters with scientists, conservationists, ethicists, and entrepreneurs, Anthes reveals that while some of our interventions may be trivial (behold: the GloFish), others could improve the lives of many species - including our own. So what does biotechnology really mean for the world's wild things? And what do our brave new beasts tell us about ourselves?

In het bijbelse boek Prediker was de vraag retorisch: “Wie kan recht maken wat God krom heeft gemaakt?” In onze tijd begint het er sterk op te lijken dat de mens hiertoe wel degelijk in staat is. Sinds de ontrafeling van de structuur van DNA in 1953 is de kennis van het erfelijke materiaal van levende organismen spectaculair toegenomen. Wat in de 19e en vroeg 20e eeuw begon met erwten en fruitvliegjes, resulteerde in het begin van de 21e eeuw in de ontrafeling van het menselijke genoom.