Generally, I fit major science stories under one of two fundamental categories: save the world; or, kill us all. This one is the latter. DARPA, the defense funding agency that throws money at all the coolest mad scientist shit you could ever think of, is trying to create immortal synthetic organisms. Oh boy.
According to Danger Room they’re investing $6 million into BioDesign to create custom evolved creations, with the end goal of one that will go all highlander, and live forever. They’re planning on building in a killswitch, which is a minor nod of the head to the chance of this going horribly, horribly wrong.
I like DARPA. They fund awesome shit that might not work, but if it does will blow your mind. This, however, is crazy scary. Organisms which don’t age? That’s just asking for a grey goo, right there.