DNA has been used for years to store data, but encoding information into the molecule is painstaking work. Now, researchers have drastically sped it up by mimicking a natural biological process that drives gene expression. This could lead to durable, do-it-yourself DNA data storage technologies.

Even though a single gram of DNA can store hundreds of millions of gigabytes of data, the technology to make use of this isn’t yet fully viable. This is partly because the process of encoding data in DNA requires that each molecule be synthesised “from scratch” after being designed to encode a specific piece of information.

Long Qian at Peking University in China and her colleagues have now developed a way to write information onto DNA more efficiently.

“A good analogy is using a typewriter, where you have to type each letter, versus printing,” says Harris Wang at Columbia University in New York, who wasn’t involved with the work. “They could essentially get all of [the information] onto the ‘paper’ all at once.”

The team turned long strands of DNA into binary code, the sequence of 1s and 0s that is used in computing to store data. They started with prefabricated DNA templates that served as a base onto which they added shorter DNA strands, similar to threading beads onto a string. Then they used a chemical reaction to add a methyl group, which is a molecule made from carbon and hydrogen, to some of these “beads”. The methylated beads become the 1s of binary code and the unmethylated ones serve as the 0s.

Cells naturally use the same methylation process to “modify DNA without changing the underlying sequence, allowing them to store additional layers of regulatory information stably over time”, says Qian. She and her colleagues worked out how to perform this process many times at once, in parallel, by adding a special bar code to each template. This let them write 350 units of information, or bits, onto a DNA sample at once – hundreds of times more than the previous standard of just one bit at a time.

In tests, they stored an image of a panda and of a rubbing in the shape of a tiger from ancient China, then retrieved them with a DNA sequencer aided by an error correcting algorithm. The retrieved images were reproduced with 97 per cent accuracy or more.

Finally, they made the process so convenient that 60 student volunteers could practise storing text in DNA samples using do-it-yourself kits that included simple chemistry equipment for the methylation reaction and a computer program that translated their words into code. Though these volunteers hadn’t been previously trained to work with DNA, the error rates in their encoding process were smaller than 2 per cent. Qian says this could lead to “desktop DNA printers or storage kits [that] could be developed for use at home or in small organisations, enabling users to back up important personal data, such as legal documents or digital photos, in a form that can last for centuries”.

Wang says DNA-based technology could be especially useful for archival storage, and while technology discs and magnetic tape may eventually fall by the wayside, he thinks that DNA sequencing will only keep getting better.

There’s really no limit to how much one can spend on a gaming PC. The most basic machines only cost a few hundred bucks or so and may be strong enough to get you through a round or two of Minecraft. But if you’re the kind of PC gamer who wants as much power and performance as money can buy, it’s a good idea to start looking at Alienware deals. Fortunately, that’s part of our job, and we came across this terrific offer while looking through Dell promotions: 

For a limited time, when you order the Alienware Aurora R16 Gaming Desktop through Dell, you’ll only spend $1,600. At full price, you can expect to pay $2,050 for this PC. 

Why you should buy the Alienware Aurora R16 

We’re not sure how long this Dell markdown is going to last, so now might be the best time to save this much on a new gaming PC. Take $450 off the Alienware Aurora R16 Gaming Desktop when you order through Dell, and be sure to check out some of the other gaming PC deals we’ve been finding. We have an entire list of Dell deals, too!

Google’s Pixel 9 hasn’t been out long, but we’ve already seen some decent price drops on the device that didn’t require a trade-in to take advantage of an available discount. As of right now Amazon is offering a deal on the Pixel 9 that drops the price down to $740.49, which is a pretty incredible price on a phone that just came out. We’ve tracked the Pixel 9 at a slightly lower price before at $737.57, but that was back at the beginning of October and the discount was gone the same day.

This is only a few dollars more than that discount so it’s definitely worth grabbing this phone if you haven’t already upgraded to it. Now the Pixel 9 does come in four different colors but only the Obsidian model is available at this price. So if you want to save a little cash, you’ll need to go with this color.

Google’s Pixel 9 is the latest phone in Google’s Pixel lineup, boasting all-new Gemini-enhanced features. The phone’s best feature though, at least in our opinion, is the improved battery life. Google worked its magic this year to boost the battery life giving the Pixel 9 probably the best battery life of any Pixel phone to date outside of the Pro models.

We were able to take the phone from about 7am to 11pm with 5-6 hours of screen-on time and still have around 35% battery left. That’s definitely better than last year’s Pixel 8 and previous Pixel phones. In addition to the improved battery life, the Pixel 9 features 128GB of storage, a 50MP main camera, and a 6.3-inch Actua Display with a pretty high peak brightness.

The Pixel 9 will also get 7 years of Android OS and security updates. And that means you can keep this phone for a lot longer and not have your software be out of date.

Buy at Amazon

The Apple Intelligence rollout has been slow, staggered and steady since the company first unveiled its take on AI at WWDC this year. It continues today with the release of the latest developer betas for iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia. The updates in iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia (15.2) bring long-awaited features like Genmoji, Image Playground, Visual Intelligence and ChatGPT integration for those running the preview software, as well as Image Wand for iPads and more writing tools.

This follows the announcement that iOS 18.1 would be available as a stable release to the public next week, which would bring things like writing tools, notification summaries and Apple’s hearing test to the masses.

That represents the first time for people who haven’t opted into beta software to check out Apple Intelligence, which the company has widely touted as the headline feature for the devices it launched this year. The iPhone 16 series, for example, were billed as phones designed for Apple Intelligence, though they launched without those features.

Now that the next set of tools is ready for developers to test, it seems like we’re weeks away from them arriving to the public. For those already on the developer beta, the update will land automatically. As always, a word of caution: If you’re not already familiar, beta software is meant for users to test new features and often to check for compatibility or problems. They can be buggy, so always back up your data before installing previews. In this case, you’ll also need to have an Apple developer account to get access.

Genmoji is arriving today

Today’s updates brings Genmoji, which lets you create custom emoji from your keyboard. You’ll go to the emoji keyboard, tap the Genmoji button next to the description or search input field, then enter what you want to create. Apple Intelligence will generate a few options, which you can swipe and select one to send. You’ll be able to use them as tapback reactions to other people’s messages too. Plus, you can make Genmoji based on pictures of your friends, creating more-accurate Memoji of them. Since these are all presented in emoji style, there won’t be the risk of mistaking them for real pictures.

Apple is also releasing a Genmoji API today so third-party messaging apps can read and render Genmoji, and folks you text on WhatsApp or Telegram can see your hot new gym rat emoji.

Other previously announced features like Image Playground and Image Wand are also available today. The former is both a standalone app and something you can access from the Messages app via the Plus button. If you go through Messages, the system will quickly generate some suggestions based on your conversations. You can also type descriptions or select photos from your gallery as a reference, and the system will serve up an image which you can then tweak. To prevent confusion, only some art styles are available: Animation or Illustration. You won’t be able to render photorealistic pictures of people.

Image Wand will also be arriving today as an update to the Apple Pencil tool palette, helping to turn your cruddy sketches into more-polished works of art.

As announced at WWDC, Apple is bringing ChatGPT to Siri and Writing Tools, and each time your request might be well-served by OpenAI’s tools, the system will suggest heading there. For example, if you ask Siri to generate an itinerary, a workout routine or even a meal plan, the assistant might say it needs to use ChatGPT to do so and ask for your permission. You can choose to have the system ask you each time it goes to GPT or surface these requests less often.

It’s worth reiterating that you don’t need a ChatGPT account to use these tools, and Apple has its own agreement with OpenAI so that when you use the latter’s services, your data like your IP address won’t be stored or used to train models. However, if you do connect your ChatGPT account, your content will be covered by OpenAI’s policies.

Elsewhere, Apple Intelligence will also show that you can compose with ChatGPT within Writing Tools, which is where you’ll find things like Rewrite, Summarize and Proofread. It’s also another area that’s getting an update with the developer beta — a new tool called “Describe your change.” This is basically a command bar that lets you tell Apple exactly what it is you want to do to your writing. “Make it sound more enthusiastic,” for example, or “Check this for grammar errors.” Basically, it’ll make getting the AI to edit your work a bit easier, since you won’t have to go to the individual sections for Proofread or Summarize, for example. You can also get it to do things lke “Turn this into a poem.”

Visual Intelligence cometh for iPhone 16 owners

Finally, if you have an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro and are running the developer beta, you’ll be able to try out Visual Intelligence. That lets you point your camera at things around you and get answers for things like math problems in your textbook or the menu of a restaurant you pass on your commute. It can tap third-party services like Google and ChatGPT, too.

Outside of the iPhone 16 series, you’ll need a compatible device to check out any Apple Intelligence features. That means an iPhone 15 Pro and newer or an M-series iPad or MacBook.

DuckDuckGo, the privacy-focused search alternative to Google, wants to put money into startups that have a similar focus on privacy.

The company says that it’s actively seeking startups looking for investment, or startups that might be interested in partnering up or being acquired. In a blog post today, the company name-checked its SVP of finance, Mike Marino, and director of corporate and business development, Diana Chiu, as points of contact for those interested.

DuckDuckGo writes:

“For early-stage investments, we are flexible on deal structure, aim to move quickly and are happy to co-invest with other companies, funds, and individuals. For acquisitions, we are open to a range of companies that share a commitment to protecting user privacy.”

Founded in 2008, DuckDuckGo is the handiwork of CEO Gabriel Weinberg (pictured) who funded the company himself for the first three years before landing its first external cash injection in 2011. In the intervening years, DuckDuckGo attracted some $180 million in external investment (a fair chunk of which came from the secondary market), with backers including Tiger Global, Union Square Ventures, and individuals such as WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton and web-inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee.

DuckDuckGo, which says it has been profitable since 2014 and has had more than $100 million in annual revenue since at least 2021, positions itself as the antithesis of Google, monetizing through ads based only on the content of keyword searches rather than user data. It also makes money through “non-tracking” affiliate partnerships with the likes of Amazon and eBay. More recently, the company has expanded further beyond search, offering subscription bundles that include features such as a VPN.

Private money

While DuckDuckGo has historically donated to privacy-focused non-profits such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the Signal Foundation, and The Markup, it has quietly been taking a more capitalistic approach to how it supports organizations that align with its own goals. Last month, the company joined a $50 million funding round into generative AI search company You.com, alongside big-name backers such as Nvidia and Salesforce Ventures.

Part of DuckDuckGo’s newly-launched Privacy Pro bundle also includes a personal information removal service, whereby it scans data broker sites to find personal data and requests removal on the user’s behalf. As things transpired, this service was powered by a startup called Removaly, which DuckDuckGo had quietly acquired back in 2022.

A DuckDuckGo spokesperson told TechCrunch that the company has invested in six startups over the past three years, though would only name You.com, Removaly, and one hitherto unknown one — an AI model training platform called EverArt.

While consumer privacy tech will be a large focus for its investments, DuckDuckGo also said it will be investing in companies focused on “search and browse,” as well as “emerging technologies” like generative AI. Indeed, its recent investment in You.com checks all these boxes, as it offers a “zero-trace” private search mode that You.com claims is “even more private than DuckDuckGo.”

So while DuckDuckGo has been dabbling in the VC and M&A domains already, it’s now doubling down on these efforts by actively requesting that suitable startups reach out.

As with other corporations with investment off-shoots, from big guns such as Google through smaller tech companies like Twilio and Workday, DuckDuckGo will be investing from its balance sheet — that’s where its profitability and annual revenues come into play. But given that it’s still a relatively small private company in its own right, it won’t be joining megabucks pre-IPO funding rounds — this is all about early-stage investments.

“This is the first time we’ve talked about our investments and the overall strategy around it directly,” the spokesperson continued. “We wanted to make this announcement to formalize this work that has been happening behind the scenes for a while, and signal to startups, potential partners, and the larger tech community that our door is open to anyone who wants to work with us on a more private Internet.”