June 2016

Murray Leinster

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William Fitzgerald Jenkins, that was his real name, was born on June 16, 1896 in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. He signed various detective stories and westerns with the pseudonym Will F. Jenkins and even two romance novels under the pseudonym Louisa Carter Lee occasionally using other pseudonyms. However, gradually he specialized in fantasy, horror and especially science fiction stories, which generally signed as Murray Leinster. Murray Leinster died on June 8, 1975. He was one of the most important pioneers of science fiction since he began writing stories of that genre even before the name was invented. He was among the few who managed to keep on being successful when science fiction passed its pulp magazines phase and had an important influence on many writers of the following generations.

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Microsoft and the social network LinkedIn announced they reached an agreement under which Microsoft will acquire LinkedIn at a price of $196 per share in cash for a total of $26.2 billion. The agreement provides that LinkedIn will retain its autonomy as a brand and as a company and Jeff Weiner will remain its CEO. The acquisition should be completed by the end of 2016.

Nexus by Ramez Naam

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The novel “Nexus” by Ramez Naam was published for the first time in 2012. It’s the first book of the Nexus trilogy. It won the Prometheus Award.

Kaden Lane is a young scientist who is experimenting with Nexus 5, a new implementation of a nanotechnology that allows the direct connection between different minds treated as a drug with some friends and colleagues. Sam, one of the people at a party where it’s being spread out, turns out to be a government agent who infiltrated the group’s contacts.

When Sam’s cover is blown, Kaden Lane and almost all the members of his group get arrested. He’s made an offer he can’t refuse: he and his colleagues can go to prison for many years or he can work with the US government. His mission is to contact Su-Yong Shu, a Chinese neuroscientist accused of various crimes related to the use of Nexus, to gather information about her activities.

RNA molecule with its bases

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An article published in the journal “Science” describes the discovery of a system similar to the various CRISPR, already used to modify the DNA, which instead can act on RNA. A team led by biologist Zhang Feng of the Broad Institute discovered this new technique that could allow to apply temporary genetic changes that may be subsequently adjusted as required.

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The short story “Whale Meat” by Ekaterina Sedia was published for the first time in 2012.

A Japanese-American blogger earns her living as a fashion blogger but also writes about what she calls serious topics. During a visit to her Japanese father, she discovers that he’s going on a Russian island to unofficially investigate the death of a Japanese fisherman. She accompanies him and discovers the local economy linked to fishing, where there are those who recover the bodies of the whales left by the Japanese after they took the parts they sought.