BBC Inside Science Biotech Risks and Asteroid Anxiety
Mar 20, 2025
Tim O'Brien, Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Manchester and Associate Director of the Jodrell Bank Observatory, dives into pressing scientific issues. He discusses the legacy of the Asilomar conference and the urgent need for ethical guidelines in biotech as new risks emerge. Also on the table is asteroid 2024 YR4, with insights on NASA's latest collision predictions and the technology helping us watch the skies. Finally, he touches on the contentious debate surrounding Elon Musk's status in the Royal Society and its implications for science and ethics.
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Asilomar Conference's Urgent Agenda
- The 1975 Asilomar conference addressed the biohazards of newly discovered DNA technology.
- Scientists aimed to establish safety protocols for experiments, fearing potential dangers like plagues.
Asilomar's Global Impact
- The Asilomar conference, primarily American, aimed to set global rules for safe DNA experiments.
- These rules, tied to US funding, became internationally adopted, shaping global biotech practices.
Self-Regulation vs. Bioweapon Threat
- Scientists often favor self-regulation over government oversight in emerging tech.
- The new Asilomar meeting will address bioweapon threats, a topic excluded 50 years ago.