Big data

Future data centers might switch to a storage medium that nature has been using for billions of years – DNA. In a major step towards making that a reality, scientists have created a new system of reading and organizing files using microcapsules.

A new kind of genome analysis has been developed that combines a large volume of different genetic variants into a single polygenic risk score that can determine how likely a person is to develop a number of common diseases, including coronary artery disease and inflammatory bowel disease.

New York-based BioHitech has created the Eco Digester to help companies deal safely with their food waste, converting it into grey water that is then transported through standard sewer lines. BioHitech taps the power of big data to monitor and improve the performance of the units.

Our knowledge of the large-scale structure of the Universe continues to take shape. Moving forward requires attempts to squeeze subtle information from huge data sets, which can prove a dicey exercise. A case in point are the largest known structures in the Universe – large quasar groups.