Lab notes: what a mammoth week for science!

Yes it's a big story in more ways than one - a team of Harvard scientists say that scientists say they are on the brink of being able to create a hybrid elephant-mammoth embryo. There are lots of technical and ethical concerns to address before we actually have real, live mammoths (or mammophants, as they're being called by some) but the idea of "de-extinctifying" something that's been gone for 4,000 years is pretty exciting. This isn't the only genetic engineering story in town this week, though, as a major US report out this week has prepared ground for genetic modification of human embryos, eggs and sperm to prevent people passing serious medical conditions to their children. Again, there's along way to go, but as gene editing technology is moving fast, it's vital that we have these ethical discussions now. A man who certainly was pondering vital questions ahead of his time was Winston Churchill, a copy of whose essay Are We Alone in the Universe? was recently unearthed in a US college. Pondering the possibility of alien life, Churchill shows the keen grasp of science that was one of the hallmarks of his premiership. Also looking to the future were two pieces of neuroscience research out this week. The first is a trial of a portable brain-scanning helmet, which could benefit stroke victims and those felled by head injuries on the sports pitch or battlefield by providing a rapid assessment of their condition. The second is a study which suggests that brain scans could identify babies most at risk of developing autism, raising hopes for earlier care and interventions for those affected. And finally, appendix removal is the most common emergency surgery in children, but researchers say that antibiotics might offer a less-invasive alternative. It wouldn't be right in all cases, and more studies need to be done to assess safety, but it's a future possibility that might help some children avoid the risks and trauma of surgery.