Lab notes: sex-starved, living in memory palaces - is that the future?

So. Technically, the biggest story this week was the news that scientists at the Synthetic Yeast Project are close to completing an entire synthetic genome for baker's yeast. This means that we could soon have human-designed organisms capable of producing drugs and vaccines, or that can convert waste into energy or even grow organs for human transplant operations. But yeast isn't that sexy. Accordingly, our actual "biggest" story this week was, in fact, about sex. Or rather, about a lack of sex, because a US study has found that today's adults are having less sex than the adults of 20 years ago. Don't despair, though - one factor may be that we're all a bit more empowered nowadays, so people are having less crap sex. They might also be watching more Netflix. Swings and roundabouts, eh? Still, now you don't have to devote as much time to sex, maybe you could spend time working on your memory palace, an ancient technique that a new study has shown can make dramatic long-term improvements to memory. Alternatively, you could take a wander around the Rome of 315AD, courtesy of a new free online course from the University of Reading, which will use an immersive 3D panoramic model to let students explore the city. This was my personal favourite this week (and yes, I have registered for the programme). I absolutely cannot wait. The news that analysis of Neanderthal dental tartar has revealed some exciting variations in diet (including what looks to be a plant-based diet for the Spanish Neanderthals studied) but also the possibility that they were able to self-medicate with forms of painkiller and penicillin.