Latest news with #TechStuff
The South African
3 days ago
- Science
- The South African
Colossal Biosciences' mission to reawaken Earth's lost wilds
Ben Lamm, co-founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences, recently shared insights in a lively interview on the TechStuff podcast, hosted by Oz Woloshyn. The Dallas-based biotech firm is making headlines with its bold mission to resurrect extinct species. This included the dire wolf and woolly mammoth through pioneering genetic engineering. Lamm addressed the ethical debates head-on. When accused of 'playing God,' he fired back, 'We play God every day. Taking cholesterol medication is playing God on a personal level. Cutting down rainforests or overfishing oceans is playing God. So why not do it in a way that helps conservation and inspires science?' His frankness cuts through the noise, positioning Colossal's work as a natural extension of humanity's ongoing impact on nature. The company's first breakthrough came with the dire wolf. Lamm described the moment he saw the pups at five weeks old as deeply emotional. 'I got chills bumps. I teared up. It's very, very emotional.' The viral video of the dire wolf pups howling even moved Peter Jackson. The Lord of the Rings director and Colossal investor, was 'overwhelmed' seeing them for the first time, according to Time Magazine. Colossal's approach is rigorous and ethical. Lamm emphasised their 90 %+ efficiency in genome editing, achieved without unintended side effects. 'We read the DNA at every step. It's computationally heavy and costly, but we ensure every embryo is healthy. We're certified by the American Humane Society because we care about animal welfare and conservation,' he said. The company also sparked public fascination with its 'woolly mice' — a genetically engineered mouse with mammoth traits created in just one month. Lamm joked that the mice 'were objectively cute and took the Internet by storm,' proving their process works. He confirmed that similar edits have been made in Asian elephant cells. This is the closest living relative of the woolly mammoth, with hopes to bring a mammoth equivalent to term soon. Lamm called out what he sees as hypocrisy in popular culture. 'People love Jurassic Park's dinosaurs but don't want to call our dire wolves dire wolves. It's a semantic question, not scientific. It's a human construct.' This highlights the cultural challenges Colossal faces in gaining acceptance for de-extinction. With half the world's species forecasted to be extinct or endangered within 25 years, Lamm's vision offers hope through technology. His mission goes beyond spectacle; it aims to restore ecosystems and inspire new generations in science and conservation. Colossal Biosciences is reshaping how we think about nature, responsibility, and the future of biodiversity. As Lamm puts it, 'Sometimes when you work on new things, it's scary and hard. But I'm not backing off the mission.' This pioneering blend of cutting-edge science and bold vision could soon change the natural world Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
iHeartMedia Teams Up with Qatar's Government Communications Office to Announce ‘iHeartPodcasts' at Web Summit Qatar 2025
iHeart brings leading podcast talent including Malcolm Gladwell, Jay Shetty, David Eagleman and others to the Centre Stage and to the event's newest offering: iHeart Podcast Creator Studio Web Summit Qatar will feature an on-site iHeartPodcasts Studio for top podcast talent to record episodes live from the floor DOHA, Qatar & NEW YORK, January 29, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally and the Government Communications Office of the State of Qatar (GCO) announced that iHeartPodcasts will be the official podcast partner for the 2025 Web Summit Qatar. The second edition of Web Summit Qatar is set to gather more than 20,000 technology and business leaders, founders, world-leading investors, media and a record 1,250 startups at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) from February 23 - 26, 2025. Top iHeartPodcasts talent, show producers and executives will be in attendance to participate in a range of events including educational sessions, live podcast recordings and Centre Stage content like fireside chats, panel discussions and Q&A sessions. This year's Centre Stage sessions will welcome Conal Byrne, CEO of the iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group along with other leading iHeartPodcasts talent including Malcolm Gladwell, best-selling author and co-founder of Pushkin Industries and host of "Revisionist History"; Jay Shetty, global best-selling author and award-winning host of the chart-topping global podcast "On Purpose"; David Eagleman, neuroscientist at Stanford University, internationally best-selling author and host of "Inner Cosmos"; and Jonathan Strickland, Executive Producer for iHeartPodcasts and host of "TechStuff." Additionally as part of the partnership, Web Summit Qatar will introduce a new conference offering, the iHeart Podcast Creator Studio, featuring an on-site iHeartPodcasts Recording Studio and attendee lounge for live show taping on the showroom floor. These experts, from Malcolm Gladwell to Jay Shetty and David Eagleman and others, including Noel Brown and Ben Bowlin co-hosts of "Ridiculous History," will present multiple podcast courses for attendees at the Creator Studio on the foundations of podcasting. Programming will include discussions and interactive workshops about effective storytelling, technical setup and equipment needs, audio production basics, content strategy and planning, launch and growth marketing, "If I Knew Then" lessons, and finding an audience and sponsors. "It is wonderful to welcome iHeartMedia and its globally recognized podcast talent to Web Summit Qatar," said Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour Al-Thani, Chairman of the Web Summit Qatar Organising Committee and Director of the Government Communications Office of the State of Qatar. "There is significant growth potential for the podcast medium across the Middle East and North Africa. Therefore it is critical that attendees of Web Summit Qatar have direct access to the leading podcast publisher globally. Thanks to this partnership, Web Summit Qatar attendees will be able to learn directly from experts about how to create their own content, incorporate the latest innovations, and grow their platform." "At iHeart, we believe in the power of bringing brilliant minds together for interesting and vibrant discussions that lead to innovation and change," said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia. "Our partnership with the GCO provides a great opportunity to work together to push the boundaries of podcasting today — and what it can become in the future." Shetty and Gladwell will join the Web Summit Qatar lineup that includes tech and VC leaders like Alexis Ohanian, founder of Seven Seven Six and Reddit co-founder; Eduardo Saverin, co-founder of Facebook and B Capital; Laura Chambers, CEO of Mozilla Corporation; and Brian Robbins, CEO of Paramount Pictures. For the full lineup and schedule including session dates and times, please visit About Web Summit Web Summit is a technology events company, bringing together a global community of founders, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors to connect and exchange ideas about the technology and trends shaping the world. Web Summit events – including Web Summit in Lisbon, Web Summit Rio in South America, Web Summit Vancouver in North America, Web Summit Qatar in the Middle East, and RISE in Asia – have gathered nearly one million people since Web Summit's beginnings as a 150-person conference in Dublin in 2009. Its newest event, Web Summit Vancouver, will launch in May 2025. About the Government Communications Office of the State of Qatar The Government Communications Office was established in 2015 to serve as the strategic communications arm of the State of Qatar. It coordinates communications activities across government and public-sector institutions, showcasing the country's vision, initiatives and achievements in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. About iHeartMedia, Inc. iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT] is the leading audio media company in America, with 90% of Americans listening to iHeart broadcast radio in every month. iHeart's broadcast radio assets alone have a larger audience in the U.S. than any other media outlet; twice the size of the next largest broadcast radio company; and over four times the ad-enabled audience of the largest digital only audio service. iHeart is the largest podcast publisher according to Podtrac, with more downloads than the next two podcast publishers combined, has the most recognizable live events across all genres of music, has the number one social footprint among audio players, with seven times more followers than the next audio media brand, and is the only fully integrated audio ad tech solution across broadcast, streaming and podcasts. The company continues to leverage its strong audience connection and unparalleled consumer reach to build new platforms, products and services. Visit for more company information. View source version on Contacts Media Contact:Angel Aristone, AngelAristone@ Jenn Powers, JennPowers@
