Human Progress

Advances in reproductive genetics are accelerating: IVF clinics can already screen embryos for chromosomal abnormalities and some inherited diseases, while polygenic embryo screening remains far more uncertain. Meanwhile, CRISPR and base editing are reopening the debate over heritable gene editing, as commentators weigh the medical promise of these tools against concerns about safety, consent and the ethics of selecting or editing future children.

Reports claim scientists are working to bring the extinct dodo back to life. The flightless bird, wiped out on Mauritius in the 17th century, has long been a symbol of human-caused extinction, and any serious de-extinction effort would be a landmark in genetic science. Details of the research and how far it has progressed remain limited.

The United Nations Development Programme is pushing the idea of moving beyond GDP as the main measure of economic and development success. The initiative highlights thinkers and approaches that look beyond raw economic output, focusing instead on wellbeing, inequality, sustainability and human development. Discussion centres on whether GDP remains fit for purpose in a world facing climate change, widening inequality and other challenges that traditional economic indicators struggle to capture.

Google researchers report that four autonomous AI agents running on Gemini 4 collaborated to beat Minecraft, defeating the Ender Dragon in about 27 hours with no human intervention. The feat is being shared widely among AI and gaming watchers, who see it as a notable demonstration of long-horizon planning and multi-agent coordination in an open-ended game environment.