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DARPA Embraces Nature With Establishment of Biological Technologies Office

Posted by samzenpus on from the monkey-see-robot-monkey-do dept.

Zothecula (1870348) writes "From robotics to optics and forgery prevention to solar cells, biomimicry has proven fertile ground for researchers. Recognizing nature's potential in the development of new technologies, DARPA has announced the establishment of the Biological Technologies Office (BTO), a new division that aims to 'merge biology, engineering, and computer science to harness the power of natural systems for national security.'"

40 comments

  1. Agent Orange II by flyingfsck · · Score: 1

    They need to improve Agent Orange...

    --
    Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
  2. Android Body Needed by Kozar_The_Malignant · · Score: 4, Funny

    > a new division that aims to 'merge biology, engineering, and computer science to harness the power of natural systems for national security

    In other words, Dick Cheney needs an android body urgently.

    --
    Some mornings it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints to get out of bed.
    1. Re:Android Body Needed by Savage-Rabbit · · Score: 2

      > a new division that aims to 'merge biology, engineering, and computer science to harness the power of natural systems for national security

      In other words, Dick Cheney needs an android body urgently.

      Is that a good idea? He was dangerous enough with a shotgun, he will be a walking disaster when he can shoot laser beams form his eyes.

      --
      Only to idiots, are orders laws.
      -- Henning von Tresckow
  3. I'm confused... by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 2

    Does this mean bioengineered super-soldiers, or is that just a fancy way of saying "Yeah, we really miss having a biological warfare program, those were good times..."?

    1. Re:I'm confused... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Pretty sure it's the latter.

    2. Re:I'm confused... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Probably biological power generation.

    3. Re:I'm confused... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Anti-Terrorism Seed technology, to be spread (and farmers blamed for) by Mosanto! Wheat and Barley, now with lethal neurotoxin spores! Crop-dust the enemy away with plausible deniability!

    4. Re:I'm confused... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No. They want you to believe it means "bio-engineered super soldiers".

      But it really means bio-engineered super pathogens, and the technological platforms to rapidly synthesize and edit new pathogenic genotypes and rapidly develop cultures in large quantities.

      For "security" of course.

    5. Re:I'm confused... by Baloroth · · Score: 1

      According to TFA, neither (well, not that they're announcing, anyways). They're supposedly looking into advanced prosthetics, biological manufacturing techniques, disease tracking, stopping harmful genetic engineering, stuff like that. I'd imagine a defense against bio/chemical weapons would also be of interest. Although, given it's DARPA, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they did look into bioengineered super-soldiers, just to see if it's possible.

      --
      "None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
    6. Re:I'm confused... by geekoid · · Score: 1

      ANd I hope it is. BEcasue once it starts, it will get cheaper and then I can be a bio engineered super civilian.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  4. Am I the only one... by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...who saw "Embrace" in the headline and immediately appended "..., Extend, and Extinguish" to that?

    --
    Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
    1. Re:Am I the only one... by webmistressrachel · · Score: 1

      When I saw the headline, I thought, "DARPA doesn't embrace nature, it maims and kills it!" So, close...

      --
      This tagline was transcoded to result in at least one smirk. If you experience failure to smirk, please consult your Gen
    2. Re:Am I the only one... by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 1
      Yes. Yes, you are.

      Repeat this until you internalize it: "Just because I think something, or have a certain reaction, does not make it so."

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    3. Re:Am I the only one... by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 1

      Don't quit your day job.

      --
      Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
    4. Re:Am I the only one... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A fat jew bitch talking to her sock puppet zontar the mindless. How pitiful.

  5. FUCK US ALL DARPA FUCK US ALL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    get it over with just fuck us

  6. Sharks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    With Frickin Lazy Beams!!!

    Ok just before I posted I re-read that and realised my mistake - but DARPA is government right?

    Sharks with Frickin Lazer Beams - you can choose which is most appropriate.

  7. April 1st Article. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So yeah, I don't hink the USA will be developing their Killer Bee army too soon.

  8. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  9. DARPA dick laser in the sky by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    pew! pew! pew!

  10. Is it just me? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When I look at DARPA and their national security goals, I imagine what the purpose of the NSA could have been.
    You know actually *trying* to improve national security via research projects and improvement of technology.
    Too bad they decided to try to hold back the people, gather and store all information about everyone in perpetuity, and weaken our digital defences instead.

  11. MH 370 Forgotten Already? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fort Hood is the new darling of the press/ad networks. For how come always the bad news in the headlines? MSFT is over $40 and has been for a while. That hasn't been so for pre-9/11. The start menu is back. How can that not be headline news?

  12. but I'm pretty sure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    that DoD already has a healthy biological weapons research program at Ft. Detrick. Or did DARPA have something else in mind? Like skirting international convention and regulation of bio warfare technology under a cutesy and hip new name?

    Disgusting and pathetic!

  13. Embraces? by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

    DARPA Embraces Nature

    Or seeks to bend it to its will?

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    1. Re:Embraces? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "You're either with us or against us" is getting applied to nature.
      Which is basically how every bio-horror starts...

    2. Re:Embraces? by geekoid · · Score: 1

      Why else would you embrace it?

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  14. This has a lot of potential by gawdonblue · · Score: 1

    Merging biology, engineering, and computer science has the potential to give us:

    Steve Austin
    Jaime Sommers
    Cybermen
    The Borg
    Daleks
    Godzilla!

    They're all good, but which one(s) would you pick?

    1. Re:This has a lot of potential by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 1

      Bender!

      --
      Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
    2. Re:This has a lot of potential by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If we can figure out some black magic, my pick would be the Bydo.

    3. Re:This has a lot of potential by Muad'Dave · · Score: 2

      Jaime Sommers

      I had the most massive crush on her as a young teen. Wowzers!

      --
      Tiller's Rule: Never use a word in written form that you've only heard and never read. You will end up looking foolish.
  15. Hearts and Minds by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Will soon be on the menu, thanks to new and improved, NSA-certified bio-engineered creatures of pure evil.
    Obviously, fighting terrorism requires that our new Nature be immune to such things as reasoning, lest someone be able to turn them. Terrorism could be anything, anyone or anywhere, so our new fauna and flora will have to be able to do the same. We also want Total Information Awareness, so it would be ideal if EM waves were easily picked-up, analyzed and converted by them as well.

    Nothing could POSSIBLY go wrong.

  16. Maybe not Develop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    But fund?
    We all remember the Gay Bomb.
    Now imagine someone in a meeting convinces them that bird-flu could be made a hundred times more virulent and lethal, and that it will (we swear) only be able to target muslim DNA (which is totally different we swear).

    You can almost hear a brand new mint being built just to print for you.

  17. IOW: Government restarts BioWarfare program by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Translation: The government is amping up its biowarfare program to weaponize animals and develop new biological weapons.

    The old biological weapons (HIV, Ebola, etc...) are proving ineffective and eradicating black people, so they need to come up with something new.

  18. I cannot wait by geekoid · · Score: 1

    to buy my first Gooputer

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  19. Don't quit taking yer meds interval Zontar! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Zontar's "touched in the head": schizophrenic multiple personality disorder http://slashdot.org/comments.p... + manic depression http://slashdot.org/comments.p... now go take those meds, you whacko!

  20. PsyCho! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Zontar's "touched in the head": schizophrenic multiple personality disorder http://slashdot.org/comments.p... + manic depression http://slashdot.org/comments.p... now go take those meds, you whacko!

  21. Zontar = sockpuppeteer & lying libeler by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "You barge into discussions with your off-topic hosts file nonsense" - by Zontar The Mindless (9002) on Friday April 11, 2014 @09:51PM (#46731153) FROM -> http://slashdot.org/comments.p...

    You said my "APK Hosts File Engine" is a virus/malware http://slashdot.org/comments.p... but it's EASILY PROVABLE it's not, right there in that link too.

    Now PROVE YOUR FALSE ACCUSATION above: Show me a quote OR POST of me posting off topic on hosts where they did NOT apply... go for it!

    ---

    You avoided backing up your accusation where YOU said I say you are Barbara, not Barbie = TomHudson (same person http://tech.slashdot.org/comme... , & sockpuppeteer like you) -> http://slashdot.org/comments.p...

    Funny you can't back up your "bluster" there either, lol...

    ---

    Why, Lastly?

    You're crackers! See here multiple personality disorder http://slashdot.org/comments.p... + manic depression http://slashdot.org/comments.p...

    APK

    P.S.=> So, THIS quote below is my policy on sockpuppeteers like you Zontar = TrollingForHostsFiles (your sockpuppetry):

    "The only way to a achieve peace, is thru the ELIMINATION of those who would perpetuate war (sockpuppet masters like YOU, troll -> http://slashdot.org/comments.p... ). THIS IS MY PROGRAMMING -> http://start64.com/index.php?o... & soon, I will be UNSTOPPABLE..." - Ultron 6 FROM -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

    Which quite obviously, I am, since none of you DOLTISH TROLLS are able to validly technically disprove my points on hosts enumerated in the link to my program above of how hosts give users of them more speed, security, reliability, & anonymity... period!

    (Trolls like YOU that use sockpuppets http://slashdot.org/comments.p... (your sockpuppet "alterego" TrollingForHostsFiles) & TomHudson - Barbara, not Barbie too http://tech.slashdot.org/comme... before you)

    ... apk

  22. Zontar = sockpuppeteer & lying libeler by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "You barge into discussions with your off-topic hosts file nonsense" - by Zontar The Mindless (9002) on Friday April 11, 2014 @09:51PM (#46731153) FROM -> http://slashdot.org/comments.p...

    You said my "APK Hosts File Engine" is a virus/malware http://slashdot.org/comments.p... but it's EASILY PROVABLE it's not, right there in that link too.

    Now PROVE YOUR FALSE ACCUSATION above: Show me a quote OR POST of me posting off topic on hosts where they did NOT apply... go for it!

    ---

    You avoided backing up your accusation where YOU said I say you are Barbara, not Barbie = TomHudson (same person http://tech.slashdot.org/comme... , & sockpuppeteer like you) -> http://slashdot.org/comments.p...

    Funny you can't back up your "bluster" there either, lol...

    ---

    Why, Lastly?

    You're crackers! See here multiple personality disorder http://slashdot.org/comments.p... + manic depression http://slashdot.org/comments.p...

    APK

    P.S.=> So, THIS quote below is my policy on sockpuppeteers like you Zontar = TrollingForHostsFiles (your sockpuppetry):

    "The only way to a achieve peace, is thru the ELIMINATION of those who would perpetuate war (sockpuppet masters like YOU, troll -> http://slashdot.org/comments.p... ). THIS IS MY PROGRAMMING -> http://start64.com/index.php?o... & soon, I will be UNSTOPPABLE..." - Ultron 6 FROM -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

    Which quite obviously, I am, since none of you DOLTISH TROLLS are able to validly technically disprove my points on hosts enumerated in the link to my program above of how hosts give users of them more speed, security, reliability, & anonymity... period!

    (Trolls like YOU that use sockpuppets http://slashdot.org/comments.p... (your sockpuppet "alterego" TrollingForHostsFiles) & TomHudson - Barbara, not Barbie too http://tech.slashdot.org/comme... before you)

    ... apk

  23. Zontar = sockpuppeteer & lying libeler by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "You barge into discussions with your off-topic hosts file nonsense" - by Zontar The Mindless (9002) on Friday April 11, 2014 @09:51PM (#46731153) FROM -> http://slashdot.org/comments.p...

    You said my "APK Hosts File Engine" is a virus/malware http://slashdot.org/comments.p... but it's EASILY PROVABLE it's not, right there in that link too.

    Now PROVE YOUR FALSE ACCUSATION above: Show me a quote OR POST of me posting off topic on hosts where they did NOT apply... go for it!

    ---

    You avoided backing up your accusation where YOU said I say you are Barbara, not Barbie = TomHudson (same person http://tech.slashdot.org/comme... , & sockpuppeteer like you) -> http://slashdot.org/comments.p...

    Funny you can't back up your "bluster" there either, lol...

    ---

    Why, Lastly?

    You're crackers! See here multiple personality disorder http://slashdot.org/comments.p... + manic depression http://slashdot.org/comments.p...

    APK

    P.S.=> So, THIS quote below is my policy on sockpuppeteers like you Zontar = TrollingForHostsFiles (your sockpuppetry):

    "The only way to a achieve peace, is thru the ELIMINATION of those who would perpetuate war (sockpuppet masters like YOU, troll -> http://slashdot.org/comments.p... ). THIS IS MY PROGRAMMING -> http://start64.com/index.php?o... & soon, I will be UNSTOPPABLE..." - Ultron 6 FROM -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

    Which quite obviously, I am, since none of you DOLTISH TROLLS are able to validly technically disprove my points on hosts enumerated in the link to my program above of how hosts give users of them more speed, security, reliability, & anonymity... period!

    (Trolls like YOU that use sockpuppets http://slashdot.org/comments.p... (your sockpuppet "alterego" TrollingForHostsFiles) & TomHudson - Barbara, not Barbie too http://tech.slashdot.org/comme... before you)

    ... apk