De-extinction startup Colossal Biosciences is reportedly in talks to raise new funding at a $20-$30 billion valuation, a significant increase from its previous $10.2 billion. The company has begun generating revenue from conservation technology, spun-off startups, and plans for artificial womb technology and biodiversity credits.
Humans remain fascinated by dinosaurs and the possibility of de-extinction, driven by curiosity, scientific aspiration, and climate concerns. While reviving dinosaurs is impossible due to DNA degradation, biotech firms are attempting to resurrect recently extinct species. Ethical debates surround resource allocation, survival challenges, and the potential impact of genetically modified creatures.
This week's science news includes Colossal Biosciences hatching chicks from 3D-printed eggs, the launch of the Smile spacecraft to study Earth's magnetic shield, and new doubts cast on water vapor plumes on Europa.
Colossal Biosciences announces it has hatched chicken chicks from an artificial egg, a step towards de-extincting the moa bird. Experts call for peer-reviewed evidence.
Colossal Biosciences, a Dallas-based biotech startup backed by the CIA and Peter Thiel, has announced a new de-extinction project for the bluebuck, an extinct South African antelope. The project represents a strategic shift, with CEO Ben Lamm emphasizing that the reproductive technologies developed will be open-sourced for conservation. However, the company continues to face criticism from ecologists who argue that flashy de-extinction announcements distract from efforts to save critically endangered species that still exist.
