Bionic Bug Podcast

Hey everyone, welcome back to Bionic Bug podcast! You’re listening to episode 13. This is your host Natasha Bajema, fiction author, futurist, and national security expert. I’m recording this episode on July 21, 2018.

You might have noticed that I didn’t record a podcast episode last weekend. That’s because I was in New York City for ThrillerFest, which is the premiere conference for thriller enthusiasts, bringing together famous authors and new ones along with industry professionals, agents, and fans. This year, George R.R. Martin, author of Song of Ice and Fire, more popularly known as the HBO drama Game of Thrones, was the ThrillerMaster. I was lucky enough to meet him, get him to sign one of his books, but most importantly, I made him laugh. Something about D.C. being a lot like Kings Landing.

 

I also attended PitchFest, which is an event for authors to pitch their books to agents and editors. I’m excited to report that I met with nine agents about my first novel Bionic Bug. Six of them liked my pitch and asked me to send them chapters. In some ways, this is huge. Authors can spend several years trying to get the attention of agents by sending query letters. However, it is only the first of many obstacles to overcome to get a deal from a publishing house. Earlier this week, I spent time putting together my materials and sent them out. Now, it’s the waiting game. It could take up to 12 weeks. If I hear nothing, they’ve passed on my work this time around.

Let’s talk tech.

“How to Build Synthetic DNA and Send it Across the Internet”

This is a Ted Talk from Bioengineer Dan Gibson that was given in April 2018. In the talk, he talks about how scientists can now edit and program DNA, just like coders program a computer. This code gives scientists the power to convert digital information into biological material like proteins and vaccines.

I’ve talked about this issue before. Today, we can send the genomes of living organisms by email.

A DNA sequence is made up of four letters (G’s, C’s, T’s and A’s). A genome costs of a certain number of base pairs that form two long DNA strands, a spiral structure called a double helix.

When a genome is sequenced, the DNA code is read and then converted to ones and zeros, digital binary code that can be processed by computers.

We are also seeing dramatic decreases in the synthesis of gene sequences, which is the primary focus of synthetic biology. Gene synthesis translates the genes from digital code to DNA sequence to physical DNA material.

This means that scientists can build living organisms from a data file stored on a computer.

There’s a growing catalog of genetic information on the Internet including information on gene sequences, gene functions, and full genomes of organisms.

Researchers no longer need a physical source of DNA to manipulate it or study it. They can find a sequence online and have it chemically synthesized by a growing number of companies.

My colleagues at National Defense University and I have recently published a paper discussing the new risks emanating from the digitization of biology. If you’re interested, you can download it from NDU’s website.

Natasha E. Bajema, Diane DiEuliis, Charles Lutes, and Yong-Bee Lim,The Digitization of Biology: Understanding the New Risks and Implications for Governance, Research Paper Series No. 3, Washington D.C.: National Defense University, July 2018.

If you’re enjoying the show, you can support my time and costs of producing in show for only a few dollars a month, please go to www.patreon.com- p a t r e o n / natashabajema

Let’s turn to Bionic Bug. Last week, Lara found out that Sully died as a result of a botulinum injection. The medical examiner also found indicators of the plague. When Lara mentions that her ex-boyfriend and FBI special agent found antibiotics in Sully’s trash, Detective Sanchez flies off the handle and stomps out of the morgue. Let’s find out what happens next.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the National Defense University, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

Hey everyone, welcome back to Bionic Bug podcast! You’re listening to episode 12. This is your host Natasha Bajema, fiction author, futurist, and national security expert. I’m recording this episode on July 8, 2018.

First off, I have a personal update. Next week, I’m headed to New York City for ThrillerFest, which is the premiere conference for thriller enthusiasts, bringing together famous authors and new ones along with industry professionals, agents, and fans. This year, George R.R. Martin, author of Song of Ice and Fire, more popularly known as the HBO drama Game of Thrones will serve as the ThrillerMaster. I’m a huge fan of the books and the series and look forward to meeting him. I’ll also be meeting with agents to pitch the Lara Kingsley series in the hopes that I’m offered a publishing deal. More likely, my soul will be crushed and I’ll have to drink away my sorrows. Stay tuned for more information.

If you’re enjoying the show, please leave a review on iTunes. You can also support my time and costs of producing in show for only a few dollars a month, please go to www.patreon.com- p a t r e o n / natashabajema

Let’s talk tech. This week, I have two headlines for you, both are more funny than serious.

“German Police Raid Augsburg Fablab, Confiscate 3D Printed “Atom Bomb”

July 5 on all3DP.com

On June 20, German Police raided a Fablab in Augsburg, Germany, where they confiscated a 3-inch tall 3D printed "Atom Bomb". Let me be clear this is a plastic model of the Fat Man implosion bomb from 1945. It is made of thermoplastic. It is the equivalent of a plastic toy.

FabLabs are DIY lab spaces open to the local community. Anyone can join in and learn how to use 3D printers. FabLabs have sprung up around the world to encourage people to experiment with this new technology. This particular lab is located in Augsburg, Germany.

The founder of the open lab and all individuals present during the raid were arrested for setting off explosive materials. They were later released.

In a YouTube video, you can see some dudes launching the plastic model from a spring launcher, somewhat like a nerf launcher. They’re trying to launch it into an open vent.

This incident demonstrates the difficulty of mitigating the risks of technology with broad accessibility. 3D printers can be used to make harmless, plastic toys, but they can also be used to make nefarious items such as guns, IEDs and more.

Governments will face enormous challenges trying to police what individuals are now capable of doing within the privacy of their own homes.

This story resonates with me because I bought a 3D printer about a year ago. And one of my first projects was an attempt to design a 3D model of the Fat Man bomb as a gimmick to promote a series of fiction books I was working on. I gave up trying to design a model myself because the available 3D modeling software was too difficult to use in just a few hours. Perhaps, I can just download their model and customize it.

 

“Gene Editing: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)”

John Oliver did a stint about gene editing on July 1, which is hilarious and offers some good info about CRISPR and gene drives. It also features (makes fun of) my recent podcast guest, Dr. Josiah Zayner, who has expressed his amusement at making it onto John Oliver’s show. My favorite part is when Dr. George Church, a famous geneticist, is asked if it would be possible to create a unicorn. I think I nearly fell of my chair, laughing at the look on his face and his answer. It’s definitely worth a watch.

Let’s turn to Bionic Bug. Last week, Lara visited the National Cryptologic Museum to meet with her mysterious stalker. Unfortunately, he was a no-show, but left a note and cut the fuel line on Lara’s motorcycle. In Chapter 12, Lara is with Detective Sanchez at the police station to meet with the medical examiner. Let’s find out what happens next.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the National Defense University, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

Hey everyone, welcome back to Bionic Bug podcast! You’re listening to episode 11. This is your host Natasha Bajema, fiction author, futurist, and national security expert. I’m recording this episode on July 1, 2018.

I have a quick personal update. Today, I will be finishing the third draft of Project Gecko, Book Two in the Lara Kingsley Series. Next week, I’ll read through it a few times and then send it off to my line editor. That means we’re getting closer to its release in September.

If you’re enjoying the show, please leave a review on iTunes. You can also support my time and costs of producing in show for only a few dollars a month, please go to www.patreon.com- p a t r e o n / natashabajema

Let’s talk tech.

“FLIR set to develop small surveillance drones for the US Army”

Published on June 27 at dronedj.com

A company called FLIR is developing the Black Hornet 3 nano-drone for use by the U.S. Army. These tiny drones will provide real-time intelligence of their surroundings on the ground. This is especially important for units which don’t have aerial support and/or a satellite connection

It’s so small it can fit in the palm of your hand

Weight: 32 grams

Range: 1.25 miles (2km)

Speed: 13 mph (21 km/h)

Onboard GPS

Onboard navigation system

FLIR thermal microcamera built-in

This kind of development is what inspired Bionic Bug. And this is only the beginning. We’re entering an era of miniature robotics, not just flight-controlled insects as in Bionic Bug, but also tiny drones, capable of surveillance and much more.

Advancements in materials, sensors, microelectronics and batteries will allow engineers to pack more capabilities onto smaller platforms.

“Power-multiplying exoskeletons are slimming down for use on the battlefield”

Published on June 28 in Popular Science

Ever dreamed of having the strength of Iron Man? Your dreams may come true soon for soldiers on the battlefield

Or maybe you just wish you had a third arm to carry stuff

Exoskeletons are becoming less bulky and more powerful.

The S. Army Research Laboratory is working on developing a third arm for soldiers to carry and support their weapons. It stabilizes rifles, improving shooting accuracy and minimizing fatigue.

Lockheed Martin has recently unveiled an exoskeleton which is a form-fitting suit that looks like a series of athletic braces, designed to reduce the effort soldier’s need for walking, running, and climbing over varied terrain while carrying a heavy loads of up to 100 pounds.

I’m fascinated by these developments and they have inspired much of the storyline in Project Gecko.

 

Let’s turn to Bionic Bug. Last week, Lara learned more about KillerBot and received another strange note demanding that she meet someone at the National Cryptologic Museum. Will she check it out? Let’s find out.

Okay, let’s go behind the scenes.

In my real job, I often get to visit places that most people don’t have access to. And that includes the National Security Agency. I’ve visited the NSA twice and learned about the work they do there, most of which I can’t tell you or I’d have to kill you. Womp, womp.

I’ve also visited the National Cryptologic Museum, which is open to the public. And I recommend a visit if you have time. They have one of the Enigma machines on display.

As authors, sometimes we incorporate stories from our personal lives into our books. In Chapter 11, I mention Lara accidentally bringing a USB into the NSA and having security discover it in her bag. Welp, that was me. I had forgotten all about a tiny USB drive in a pocket in my purse. To my embarrassment, security personnel detected it upon screening, and I got some uncomfortable stares.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the National Defense University, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

Hey everyone, welcome back to Bionic Bug podcast! You’re listening to episode 10. This is your host Natasha Bajema, fiction author, futurist, and national security expert. I’m recording this episode on June 24, 2018.

I’m going to keep this episode short today since I’ve run out of hosting space for the month due to my special interview earlier in June. However, I do have a few interesting headlines for you this week.

If you’re enjoying the show, please leave a review on iTunes. You can also support my time and costs of producing in show for only a few dollars a month, please go to www.patreon.com- p a t r e o n / natashabajema

Let’s talk tech.

“3D Printing and 3D Scanning Experts Crack the Ocean’s 8 Diamond Necklace Heist”

Published on June 20, 2018 at 3Dprintingindustry.com

I haven't seen the movie Ocean’s 8 yet, but after finding out that the thieves use 3D printers and scanners to support their con, I’m even more interested.

In this article, experts talk about what aspects of the ploy were realistic and what could actually be done using a 3D scanner and printer

“Experts Bet on First Deepfakes Political Scandal”

Published on June 22, 2018 at IEEE Spectrum Magazine

I talked a bit about the issue of my concern about deepfakes last week.

Deepfakes refer to videos of real people saying or doing things that appear 100% authentic, but the video is faked using deep learning technology, which is a type of Artificial Intelligence

In this article, experts are betting on some sort of deep fake political during the 2018 elections. The bet is that a Deepfake video about a political candidate will receive more than 2 million views before it gets debunked. They predict this will happen by the end of 2018.

To help counter the threat, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has funded a Media Forensics project aimed at finding ways to automatically screen for Deepfake videos and similarly deceptive examples of digital media.

Let’s turn to Bionic Bug. Last time, Lara met up with her ex-boyfriend and FBI Special Agent, Rob Martin. She asked him about removing the illegal bugs from Sully’s townhouse and peppered him with questions about KillerBot. When she leaves the coffee shop, a bionic bug lands on her shoulder to deliver an ominous message: “Meet me at the National Cryptologic Museum. Let’s find out what happens next.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the National Defense University, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

Hey everyone, welcome back to Bionic Bug podcast! You’re listening to episode 9. This is your host Natasha Bajema, fiction author, futurist, and national security expert. I’m recording this episode on June 17, 2018.

I hope you didn’t miss my special episode on June 7 where I interviewed biohacker Josiah Zayner about genetic engineering, CRISPR, frogs and much more. You can see the episode as recorded LIVE on YouTube as well.

Today, I’m going to discuss a few headlines and then get right into chapter 9 of Bionic Bug.

If you’re enjoying the show, please leave a review on iTunes. You can also support my time and costs of producing in show for only a few dollars a month, please go to patreon.com- p a t r e o n / natashabajema

Let’s talk tech. I have a few interesting headlines for you this week.

“Artificial Intelligence to Weaponize Fake Video”

The headline is from May 23 and comes from freebeacon.com.

We live in an era of fake news. The line between fact and fiction has blurred, and political spin has taken over our discourse in the United States. We’ve already seen some of the consequences of this, and I’m afraid there’s much more are to come.

I think by now most of us are familiar with images being photoshopped. There’s a new trend on the rise that is far more troubling called deep fakes.

Today’s technology allows for the production of high-quality fake videos. And increasingly, these could be made by machine learning tools.

Think about it. We can now put words into people’s mouths and show them on video. Soon we won’t be able to tell a real video from a fake one. This is extremely worrisome for the future of our country and democracy in general.

In Project Gecko, I touch upon some of the consequences of this trend. Stay tuned for more information on its release.

“An Icelandic Inventor Has Achieved the Holy Grail of Airborne Technology with a Drone that Looks and Flies like a Bird”

This headline is from May 29 and comes from Nordic.businessinsider.com

An inventor has developed an AI-powered drone that flies like a bird.

Let’s unpack that.

First, the drone is so similar to a bird that radars can’t tell the difference. This is problematic for detection of drones.

Second, drones are pretty noisy. This drone has the ability to fly without the rotors and flaps its wings like a bird. That limits acoustic detection.

Third, it’s powered by AI, giving it an impressive level of autonomy

The company expects to have a fully developed product by 2020.

The price tag will be about $80-92K per drone. Okay, so none of us are going out and buying one of these.

But they could come into use by law enforcement and military – a similar military drone, the Raven, costs twice as much.

Let’s turn to Bionic Bug. Last time, we left off with Lara’s visit to DARPA. There she learns more details about the drones used in the drone show at Nationals Park and meets two new characters, Dr. Anton Stepanov and Justyne Marsh. Let’s find out what happens next.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the National Defense University, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

Welcome to a special episode of the Bionic Bug Podcast. You’re listening to a special episode LIVE on YouTube. I’m Natasha Bajema, your host, fiction author, futurist, and national security expert.

For those of you who haven’t listened to my show before, today’s episode is a bit of a departure from the usual program. Every week, I discuss technology news headlines that caught my attention. Then I’ll read a chapter from my book, a mystery novel set ten years into the future titled Bionic Bug. I conclude each episode with behind-the-scenes technical information.

Today, I’m here with a special guest and biohacker, Dr. Josiah Zayner CEO and Founder of The Odin, a startup company aiming to make science and genetic engineering accessible and affordable.

You can read more about The Odin on its website and Dr. Zayner on his blog. You can meet him in person at Biohack the Planet, which takes place from August 31 to September 1 in Oakland, California. Get your tickets here.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the National Defense University, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

Hey everyone, welcome back to Bionic Bug podcast! You’re listening to episode 8. This is your host Natasha Bajema, fiction author, futurist, and national security expert. I’m recording this episode on May 26, 2018. This Memorial Day weekend, we remember everyone who died serving in the armed forces.

Today, I’m going to cut to the chase and just read you chapter 8 from my book. That means no tech news or behind-the-scenes information. I have two reasons for this. First, it’s a holiday weekend and I want to get back to my holiday. Second, my rant last week went on for so long, I don’t have any space left. I promise I’ll be back next week with the usual program. But for now, let’s turn to Bionic Bug.

Last week, we left off with Lara’s visit to the police station in a heated argument with DC police detective Mario Sanchez. In the end, he asks her to work with him and they decide to divide and conquer. Sanchez will handle the basic crime elements, and Lara will investigate the technology aspects of the case. For this reason, she makes a visit to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to ask questions about the drone show at Nationals Park. Let’s find out what happens next…

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the National Defense University, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

Hey everyone, welcome back to Bionic Bug podcast! You’re listening to episode 7. This is your host Natasha Bajema, fiction author, futurist, and national security expert.

First off, I have a quick personal update.

Project Gecko, Book Two in the Lara Kingsley Series, came back from my editor last Monday. Good news: He likes it. Expected news: We can make it even better. As many of you know, I’m working with a developmental editor, Clark Chamberlain. He is the kind of editor who helps authors with plot, character arcs and development and any other story elements. It’s expensive, but I find it to be a smart investment in my future as an author. He helps me see my strengths and weaknesses as an author.

I’m also revamping my website to prepare for my podcast launch. I bought a new Wordpress theme from Artisan Themes to make my site look more professional. I was so nervous about activating the theme that I waited for a whole week. It was really kind of silly, the amount of anxiety I expended over making the change. Last Sunday, I finally pressed activate, and I’ve been working to leverage the cool features of the new theme. Artisan Themes support has been amazing, so I highly recommend to anyone considering updating their look.

Let’s talk tech news. Today, I’m getting up on my soap box and am giving you fair warning. I would remind you that these are solely my own opinions. You’re free to disagree with me, and I’m happy to have a debate.

The headline for this week is from the New York Times on May 14 by Emily Baumgaertner: “As D.I.Y. Gene Editing Gains Popularity, ‘Someone Is Going to Get Hurt’”. The article opens by saying, “After a virus was created from mail-order DNA, scientists are sounding the alarm about the genetic tinkering carried out in garages and living rooms. Across the country, biohackers — hobbyists, amateur geneticists, students and enthusiasts — are practicing gene editing, concerning some bioterrorism experts.”

Of course, it’s exciting to see the New York Times cover one of the current issues I find important, but this title and the intro are examples of sensationalism at their worst. Even if it raises some valid and important issues, this article was poorly researched and misleading. It appears that the journalist hand-selected a few examples of scientists behaving badly and scary expert quotes to support her bias that DIY Bio is dangerous. And that, is a disservice to humanity. Am I exaggerating? No, actually I’m not.

Ms. Baumgaertner states in her article: “Authorities in the United States have been hesitant to undertake actions that could squelch innovation or impinge on intellectual property.” Yes, and there’s good reason for that. The majority of innovation in biotechnology is going to come from these start-up efforts. Breaking news: government and big industry are no longer leaders in developing cutting edge technology.

Microsoft and Apple were started in garages and working with technology that would soon change the world. We could also say that the Internet is dangerous and someone is going to get hurt. The Internet was originally created to allow university researchers to communicate and share information. Even though cyberspace has its risks, and the risks are growing, most would argue that our lives have vastly improved as a result of interconnectedness.

The United States has become a world leader in technology because of the start-up innovations coming out of Silicon Valley and other technology hubs. Who is to say that the next cure for a disease won’t come from a garage? What if we could finally understand where, when, how and whys of cancer? What if we could solve the diabetes epidemic with gene editing?

Yes, we need to ensure adequate safety and security practices across the DIY biology community and inculcate a culture of responsibility. But Ms. Baumgartner draws strong links where there are none, and her article may mislead the general public about DIY Bio leading to a backlash against a community that will contribute to improving society. This is not what journalistic reporting is supposed to do. This is not the balanced reporting I would expect from a newspaper like the New York Times in an era of fake news.

Okay, let’s dissect my problems with the article.

This article starts by referencing research conducted by scientists at the University of Alberta in Canada to piece together the genome of the horsepox virus. Over the course of six months, scientists ordered fragments of DNA of the virus by mail and then put them together to recreate the virus in a lab environment. The project cost about $100K. For most of us, this sounds like a lot of money, but for science, this is considered cheap.

For my non-scientist listeners, here’s a bit of background info. All living organisms have a DNA code referred to as a genome. We are now able to cheaply sequence genomes and individual genes found in the genome. Sequencing refers to the reading of the DNA code that makes up the genome for a living organisms.

When a genome is sequenced, the DNA code is read and then converted into ones and zeros. This is the digital binary code that can be processed by computers. This data is called “genomic data” and can be stored in databases, used in computer modeling programs, and transmitted by email. Yes, we can even send DNA code by email. In fact, there’s a growing catalog of genetic information on the Internet including information on gene sequences, gene functions, and the full genomes of organisms.

Gene synthesis does the opposite of sequencing. It translates the digital code to the original DNA sequence to physical DNA material that can be used in the lab to produce the source living organism. Researchers no longer need a physical source of DNA to manipulate it or study it. They can find a sequence online and have it chemically synthesized by a growing number of companies.

This is like Jurassic Park 2.0. In the novel, scientists extracted DNA from dinosaur blood found in mosquitoes preserved for millions of years in amber. But scientists still need a physical sample to clone dinosaurs. Now imagine, all you need is a computer file containing the genome of a living organism.

And that’s what these researchers did. The Canadian scientists conducted their experiment with the aim of developing better vaccines and inferred the make-up of the horsepox virus genome from the published literature. They ordered sequences from a synthesis company and pasted the gene sequences together, inserted the DNA into a living cell and recreated the virus. When they published their results, this caused a heated debate throughout the scientific community about the conduct of responsible science.

Horsepox is not harmful to humans, but the implications of the study for national security were profound and indicated that making the variola virus which causes smallpox could be cheap and easy. Smallpox was formally eradicated in 1980, and there are only a few known existing physical samples of the diseased stored in the U.S. and Russia.

I’m concerned about this type of research and bad guys having access to results online. But let me be clear, this research was conducted by scientists at a university and has nothing to do with the DIY Bio community. This is the nature of how science is conducted. Scientists share their results so that others can test them and build upon them.

This is the same process that led to the development of nuclear weapons in the 1940s. James Chadwick discovered the existence of the neutron, a subatomic particle with no charge, found in the nucleus of atoms in 1933. The neutron became the key to unlocking the energy stored inside the atom. In 1934, Enrico Fermi, an Italian physicist, conducted an experiment in which he bombarded every element on the periodic table with neutrons. Previously, scientists were using protons, positively charged subatomic particles, but they would often rebound off of the positively charged atoms and not find a way in.

When Fermi got to uranium, something interesting happened. Fermi assumed that he had transmuted uranium or transformed it into a heavier element. But he had actually caused a uranium atom to fission, releasing smaller elements, neutrons and energy. Nuclear physicists around the world studied his experiment, and eventually Otto Hahn, Lisa Meitner, and Fritz Strassman concluded in 1938 that Fermi had produced the first nuclear fission. That finding sent a ripple throughout the scientific community and led to Germany’s early interest in nuclear weapons.

I hope you get the point. Although I’m concerned about the horsepox experiment and what it could mean for national security, this is how science works. And now, we’re conducting science in the digital age, not during the 1940s when scientists had to travel overseas to conferences by boat for three weeks to learn about developments in their field. But during an age where we can transmit genetic information at the speed of light.

Okay, deep breath and back to the article.

Ms. Baumgaertner writes: “Many experts agree that it would be very difficult for amateur biologists of any stripe to design a killer virus on their own.” She suggests that it is only a matter of time before this is possible.

Yes, it’s true that the risks will increase in the future as the volume of genetic information, knowledge and capabilities increase. However, why would amateur biologists want to make a killer virus in the first place? Ms. Baumgaertner is confusing capability with intent. They are not the same thing, especially not in our current age of emerging technologies.

Just because we can do all sorts of bad things with emerging technologies, doesn’t mean that more people will do bad things.

Finding a scientist with sufficient skills and a passionate desire to do bad things is rare. And I think this comes down to the character of scientists in general....

Hey everyone, welcome back to Bionic Bug podcast! You’re listening to episode 6. This is your host Natasha Bajema, fiction author, futurist, and national security expert.

Before we get started, a quick reminder. The views expressed on this podcast are my own and do not reflect the official policy or position of the National Defense University, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

Professional and personal updates:

I just got back from traveling to Destin, Florida for work where I had the opportunity to teach special operators about the national security implications at the U.S. Air Force Special Operations School. I was hoping for once that my presentation about what’s coming in the next ten years might not render the students into a state of shock. Turns out they were as concerned about our ability as a government to manage emerging threats as my other audiences. Unlike our agile adversaries, government institutions are burdened by hierarchy and bureaucracy.

This brings me to my next professional update. I just released an article titled “The Future of Defense Innovation: Removing the Silos between the Warfighters and Innovators.” In the article, I explore the challenges of defense innovation under the current defense acquisition system, reviews current transformations underway, and examines the model of SOFWERX as a way to leverage cutting-edge technologies in order to remove the silos between innovators and warfighters.

With $2 million in funding to start-up its operations, SOFWERX was created in September 2015 to address this critical gap in U.S. Special Operation Command's (SOCOM) ability to leverage cutting-edge technologies. SOFWERX was founded as a public-private organization, its headquarters originally housed in a red brick building, an old cigar factory located in downtown Tampa in the historic Ybor City neighborhood. Run by the Doolittle Institute, also known as DefenseWerx, SOFWERX was created under a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) and enjoys status as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.I had to the opportunity to visit SOFWERX last March and one of the issues that came up in discussion was their size. The organization has no plans to grow beyond the size of around 25 people to keep the structure agile and flat. Studies show that once an organization exceeds this number, it become hierarchical and bureaucratic, which is the opposite of what you’re going for when you want to stimulate innovation and creativity.

My cover for Genomic Data, Book 3 of the Lara Kingsley Series is finished. As promised, I’m providing a sneak preview here.

Let’s talk tech. Before I talk about the news headlines for the week, I should note that you can follow the headlines that catch my attention in real-time on Twitter. My handle is @wmdgirl.

My first headline for the week is from Wired Magazine on May 3: “Biology will be the Next Great Computing Platform.”

What does this mean? We are in the midst of a technological revolution in the life sciences called “synthetic biology”, which involves applying engineering principles to biology to make new living organisms, leverage living organisms to do new things, or create entirely new living organisms. Essentially, scientists are making life from scratch. Marc Goodman, author of the bestselling nonfiction book Future Crimes, modern biology has become a branch of information technology.

Dramatic reductions in the cost of computing power and data storage has enabled this revolution. We are now able to cheaply sequence genomes.

Sequencing refers to the reading of the DNA code that makes up the genome, or the instructions for a living organism. A DNA sequence is made up of four letters (G’s, C’s, T’s and A’s). A genome consists of a certain number of base pairs that form two long DNA strands, a spiral structure called a double helix.

The cost of sequencing the first full human genome was around $3 billion. Now, it costs about $1,000 for a full human genome. There are new sequencers coming online that may push this down to $100. When a genome is sequenced, the DNA code is read and then converted to ones and zeros, digital binary code that can be processed by computers.

We are also seeing dramatic decreases in the synthesis of gene sequences, which is the primary focus of synthetic biology. Gene synthesis translates the genes from digital code to DNA sequence to physical DNA material. This means that scientists can build living organisms from a data file stored on a computer.

There’s a growing catalog of genetic information on the Internet including information on gene sequences, gene functions, and full genomes of organisms. Researchers no longer need a physical source of DNA to manipulate it or study it. They can find a sequence online and have it chemically synthesized by a growing number of companies. The article discusses the rise of start-up companies who seek to become the Amazon of genome engineering.

In the past few weeks, I’ve talked a great deal about drones. The drones are coming like winter in Game of Thrones. My second headline is from CNN on May 9: “Trump Administration Selects 10 Cities to Test Drones.”

The Trump administration launched the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program last year. The Department of Transportation has selected 10 state and local governments to test advanced drone applications to prepare America for the drone economy.

The selected cities are San Diego, California; Reno, Nevada; Bismark, North Dakota; Memphis, Tennessee; Durant, Oklahoma; Herndon, Virginia; Topeka, Kansas; Raleigh, North Carolina; Fort Myers, Florida, and Fairbanks, Alaska.

These tests will allow drones to fly over people's heads, at night, and outside the view of the drone's operator. This will free up drones to do everything from deliver food and medicine to inspect critical infrastructure. One of the most interesting projects involves testing out flying taxis. Here come “The Jetsons”!

If you enjoy the show and would like to support my time and costs of producing in show for only a few dollars a month, please go to www.patreon.com- p a t r e o n / natashabajema.

Last week, we left off with Lara in the safe room. The FBI team has left, and she can now safely exit. She gather up her things and sends off a mysterious text: “I have something you need to see.” Let’s find out what happens next.

Let’s go behind the scenes. In chapter six, Lara and Maggie examine the Bionic Bug. As an Australian, Maggie recognizes the species immediately. It’s the Australian Christmas beetle. I chose this species because I didn’t like looking a pictures of beetles. In my research for the book, I started to have dreams about some of the scariest-looking species. Then I stumbled across the Christmas beetle and became immediately entranced by the beauty of its many species. I decided that if I was going to have to suffer through writing a story about beetles, then the species should fascinate me.In my research, I also found that the Christmas beetle would be interesting for the purpose of the story.

Found only in Australia, the Christmas beetle belongs to the scarab family and is known for its stunning exoskeleton with vibrant hues of metallic gold, green, red and brown. In Australia, the beetles occupy woodland areas with trees and rich soil. Although their life cycle spans 1 to 2 years, their adult lifespan lasts for only a few weeks. The adult beetles emerge from the soil during the Christmas season. Swarms of adult Christmas beetles feed on eucalyptus trees and mate before reaching the end of their lives.

The other reason I chose the Christmas beetle is that I discovered that most species of beetles are harmless and not capable of biting people. There are only a few beetles that cause problems for humans. This implied that I would have to find a way for the beetles to carry a deadly disease. I talked to my scientist friend and asked if it would be possible to genetically modify a beetle to bite humans and carry disease. She said that CRISPR could enable such modifications in the future.CRISPR is an acronym for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat. It refers to a gene editing technique that emerged in 2012 that allows researchers to quickly and cheaply change the DNA of nearly any organism. Under a microscope, Maggie notices that the mouthpiece of the beetle has been altered. Later in the story, we’ll find out how and why.

The views expressed on this podcast are my own and do not reflect the official policy or position of the National Defense University, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

Hey everyone, welcome back to Bionic Bug podcast! You’re listening to episode 5. This is your host Natasha Bajema, fiction author, futurist, and national security expert.

First, I have a personal update. Project Gecko, Book Two of the Lara Kingsley Series is now with my editor. I’m on pins and needles waiting for his initial feedback, which I will get in mid-May. While I have a bit of free time, I’m currently busy outlining Book 3 which is called Genomic Data. I’m also working with a graphic designer on the cover. You should have a sneak preview next week.

On May 4, I published my first-ever guest blog post on the Creative Penn. For any of you who are writers, this is Joanna Penn’s blog. She’s a widely acclaimed self-published author and industry guru. My post is titled “How To Build 1,000 Superfans When You’re Starting From Zero” and offers some lessons learned about building a reader audience from my experience as a new author. I learned almost everything I know about self-publishing and running an author business from Joanna’s blog and weekly podcast. Check it out if you’re interested.

Three related headlines caught my attention this week. It’s no accident that the story in Bionic Bug kicks off with a drone swarm. This is a topic that fascinates me, terrifies me, and one that I find incredibly concerning given the lack of attention it’s received from the U.S. government until now.

The first headline is from Patrick Tucker from Defense One on May 3: “A Criminal Gang Used a Drone Swarm To Obstruct an FBI Hostage Raid.” Bad guys are getting increasingly creative in their use of small drones.

In this case, they used a drone swarm to interfere with a FBI operation in a large city in the U.S. The head of the FBI’s operational technology law unit said that the FBI team lost situational awareness as a result of the drone swarm. Also, the criminals were able to gain video footage of the FBI agents, assisting them in their activities. Bad guys are using drones to smuggle drugs across borders, deliver contraband into prisons and assist in burglaries. There is no easy solution to this problem in domestic situations. Jammers interfere with cell phone signals. Shooting them out of the sky could lead to injuries.

The new FAA authorization bill contains two small improvements: 1) the legislation would make it illegal to weaponize drones; 2) the bill would require drone operators who fly their drones beyond line-of-sight to broadcast a signal allowing law enforcement to identify the drone and its operator.

The second headline is also from Defense One on May 3: “Terrorists Are Going to Use Artificial Intelligence.” Machine learning tools are going to bring drones to the next level of swarming capability. Terrorists have already adopted small off-the-shelf and home-made drones to enhance their operations. These consumer drones provide operational intelligence, but can also be outfitted with small grenades or explosives. The author of the article suggests that terrorists such as ISIS in Syria and Iraq may start leveraging social networks to take towns by force.

Two recent incidents highly the potential power of drones for both state and non-state actors. In March 2017, the Russian military allegedly used a drone to deliver a one-pound thermite grenade on an ammo demo in the Ukraine, detonating more than a billion dollars worth of munitions.

In January 2018, a swarm of armed-drones attacked two military bases in the Russian military headquarters in Syria. About 12 makeshift drones carried small rockets. The Russian military shot down seven drones, and captured six of them.

The third headline is a Tweet from AI and China expert Elsa Kania: “The China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) has established a new record for a swarm of 200 drones, breaking their previous record of 119.” The article is in Chinese, but suffice it to say, it offers further evidence for the rise of drone swarms.

CETC has established a new record for a swarm of 200 drones, breaking their previous record of 119. https://t.co/6zgP2OxVoT pic.twitter.com/FAKNNsJV2e

— Elsa B. Kania (@EBKania) May 5, 2018

 

If you’re interested in some further reading, I highly recommend a newly released book from my colleague Paul Scharre at the Center for New American Security. It’s called Army of None and examines the implications of autonomous military technology and the future of war technology. Also, the Congressional Research Service just released a new report on Artificial Intelligence and National Security. If you’re not familiar with CRS reports, I highly recommend them. They are written to support members of Congress and are unbiased accounts of the all the key issues for understanding complex technology issues.

Okay, let’s get to the chapter for this week. This is a good time to remind you that I am not a professional narrator and apologize in advance for my mistakes. In this episode, you may cringe if you’re a scientist. I was reading Chapter 5 and crashed into the word for a bacteria and didn’t know how to say it. So I probably messed it up. For those of you who aren’t scientists, you won’t notice.

If you enjoy the show and would like to support my time and costs of producing in show for only a few dollars a month, please go to www.patreon.com- p a t r e o n / natashabajema

Last week, we left Lara as she’s trapped in the safe room and sees five FBI agents outside Sully’s townhouse. You may recall that she had her first encounter with a bionic bug in the safe room bathroom. She also discovered some helpful clues to solving the mystery of Sully’s murder. Let’s find out what happens next.

Let’s go behind the scenes.

As many of you know, Bionic Bug began as a crowdsourcing experience. Each week, I would write a scene and offer my readers three options for the next scene. I wrote the scene that got the most votes. This scene is a special one for me because I would have never written it if it weren’t for the fans who voted for it. And it turned out to be a fantastic scene, providing for all sorts of tension. I wrote the series from a single point-of-view. That means you only get to see things that Lara sees. This is the one scene where you get to see another character, in this case, Lara’s ex-boyfriend, behaving as he would in his own environment.

In this scene, Lara finds two newspaper clippings about the U.S. military conducting biological weapons tests. This is based on a true story and does not represent the finest hour of the U.S. government.

The U.S. military engaged in extensive testing of dispersal clouds in U.S. cities in the 1950s. They used simulant, but as my book suggests, the simulant was not always harmless. The first test took place at the Pentagon where an aerosol was pumped into the HVAC system to test the potential implications of such an attack. Yes, people were working in the building at the time.

Next, the U.S. military wanted to test what would happen if they covered large areas with wind-borne disease organisms. By this time, they assumed that civilians would be the target of biowarfare so they decided to run the tests in American cities. It was called Operation Sea Spray. In 1950, a Navy ship released a plume of bacteria over San Francisco and found that most citizens would have been exposed and infected if it had been an attack. They also ran secret exercises in Minneapolis and St. Louis from moving cars.

The lawsuit against the government for a wrongful death is also based on a true story. The court decided that the government could not be sued since the test was part of national defense planning.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the National Defense University, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.