This week we welcomed a record-breaking child to the world. Thaddeus Daniel Pierce, who arrived over the weekend, developed from an embryo that was frozen in storage for 30 and a half years. You possibly can name him the world’s oldest child.
His mother and father, Lindsey and Tim Pierce, have been themselves solely younger youngsters when that embryo was created, all the best way again in 1994. Linda Archerd, who donated the embryo, described the expertise as “surreal.”
Tales like this additionally spotlight how reproductive applied sciences are shaping households. However whereas child Thaddeus is a record-breaker, loads of different infants have been born from embryos which were frozen for important spells of time. Learn the complete story.
—Jessica Hamzelou
This text first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Know-how Evaluate’s weekly biotech e-newsletter. To obtain it in your inbox each Thursday, and skim articles like this primary, enroll right here.
In case you’re interested by studying extra about fertility tech, why not try:
+ Earlier this month, researchers introduced infants had been born from a trial of three-person IVF. The long-awaited outcomes recommend that the strategy can scale back the danger of mitochondrial illness—however not everyone seems to be satisfied.
+ Frozen embryos are filling storage banks world wide. It is a wrestle to know what to do with them.
+ Examine how a cell lab is bringing IVF to rural communities in South Africa.
+ Why family-friendly insurance policies and gender equality may be extra useful than IVF expertise in relation to averting the looming fertility disaster.
+ The primary infants conceived with a sperm-injecting robotic have been born. Meet the startups making an attempt to engineer a desktop fertility machine.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you at the moment’s most enjoyable/vital/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.
1 Donald Trump has introduced new tariffs the world over
They may have an effect on just about each nation—some extra favorably than others. (CNN)
+ The brand new charges vary broadly from 10% to 41%. (NYT $)
+ The African nation Lesotho had declared a tariff-induced state of emergency. (WSJ $)
2 Palantir has signed a $10 billion take care of the US Military
It’s the newest in a string of profitable agreements with federal businesses. (WP $)
3 Tech giants are raking in money
However we nonetheless don’t understand how helpful a whole lot of the AI they’re presently constructing will show to be. (FT $)
+ It’s a boon for traders, however not essentially for workers. (WSJ $)
+ It is unclear whose strategy will end in sustainable income. (Semafor)
4 Neuralink is planning its first trial within the UK
To affix the present 5 sufferers utilizing its mind implant. (Reuters)
+ This affected person’s Neuralink mind implant will get a lift from generative AI. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)
