Weekly Dose of Optimism #171
Deep Dives
Explore related topics with these Wikipedia articles, rewritten for enjoyable reading:
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Epigenetics
13 min read
The article discusses General Control's work on epigenetic editing using CRISPR to switch genes on or off. Understanding the science of epigenetics—how gene expression is regulated without changing DNA sequence—provides essential context for why this approach to aging and disease treatment is revolutionary.
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Cloud seeding
13 min read
The article highlights Rainmaker's largest cloud seeding project in modern US history. Readers would benefit from understanding the science behind cloud seeding, its history dating to the 1940s, the various methods used, and the ongoing debates about its effectiveness.
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Prometheus
13 min read
Bezos named his new AI venture 'Project Prometheus' and the article playfully references 'flying too close to the sun.' Understanding the Greek Titan who stole fire from the gods to give to humanity provides rich context for why this mythological name was chosen for a company bringing AI to the physical world.
Hi friends 👋 ,
Happy Friday and welcome back to our 171st Weekly Dose of Optimism!
I love sending the Dose on weeks like the one we’ve had in the markets this week. We started this thing in the middle of the last bear market to remind people that there is so much good stuff happening that’s going to take longer than a quarter to pay off, and this week, we have a lot of great reminders: epigenetics to fight aging, Bezos tackling real-world AI, Google DeepMind continuing to cook, robots that will do our chores, and a company making it rain.
Let’s get to it.
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(1) General Control Comes Out of Stealth to Make Epigenetic Medicines for Aging
Ashlee Vance in Core Memory
General Control seeks to develop compounds that can alter numerous genes in the human body to create lasting effects such as increased muscle mass or better liver function. If the company can do what it hopes, General Control would produce aging therapies far more potent than anything available today.
I’m still not sure whether I want to live forever, but I certainly want to stay healthier, stronger, and smarter as I age. Fortunately, Lada Nuzhna is on the case.
Lada is awesome. I spoke to her a few months ago and saw her present at the
...This excerpt is provided for preview purposes. Full article content is available on the original publication.