Flock Safety restricts police access to license plate data, researchers use CRISPR to clone female mice, and scientists work to map pediatric cells for the Human Cell Atlas.

The police-tech firm Flock Safety is implementing new restrictions on how officers access its nationwide network of license plate readers. The changes follow reports of misuse and concerns regarding mass surveillance. Separately, researchers have utilized CRISPR technology to create female clones of male mice, while scientists are expanding the Human Cell Atlas to include pediatric tissue to better understand childhood development.

Flock Safety Surveillance Policy Changes

Flock Safety will now require officers to enter a criminal case number before accessing its database. The company is also increasing automated auditing of searches flagged as suspicious. However, because the company does not verify the accuracy of the entered case numbers, concerns remain that officers could bypass these new safeguards.

CRISPR-Based Mouse Cloning

Scientists have developed a CRISPR-based method to remove the Y chromosome from male mouse embryos, effectively turning them female. This approach allowed researchers to create female clones of male mice. Potential applications for this technology include conservation efforts for species with low populations, as well as broader uses in livestock modification and pet cloning.

Expanding the Human Cell Atlas

Deanne Taylor, who identified a lack of pediatric focus in the Human Cell Atlas, is leading efforts to include children's cells in the project. Because children’s cells express genes differently than adult cells, they can react to medications in ways that are distinct or potentially dangerous. The initiative aims to create a baseline for pediatric development and identify the early origins of adult diseases.

AI-Driven Materials Discovery

Startups such as Lila Sciences and Periodic Labs are developing AI-assisted laboratories to accelerate materials discovery. By using AI agents to design experiments and control robots, these companies aim to reduce the time required to discover new materials from decades to a few years.