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Lab-grown food: It's what's for dinner!
From CNET Magazine: There's only one thing missing from that perfectly cooked char-grilled burger. The cow.
Johan Sosa takes a small plastic vial out of an industrial laboratory freezer. Pointing to a long string of letters on the label, he explains that a gravel-size pellet inside the vial contains the DNA of cow's milk protein.
"There are millions of [genes] in here," Sosa says.
Sosa belongs to a team of biohackers, or do-it-yourself scientists, working on a project they call Real Vegan Cheese. Their aim: to replicate cow's milk, without the cow. The idea is pretty straightforward. Synthesize the milk-protein DNA, insert that genetic blueprint into yeast and let the yeast go to work, processing the protein to produce milk.
"It's basically taking on the role of the cow," Sosa says.
The two milks should taste the same because they'll be molecularly identical, which means you can pour the lab-grown version over cereal, stir it into coffee and ferment it to create real cheese.
"My goal is there will be no way to distinguish it from the bovine molecule," says Sosa. In other words, it will be actual cow's milk, not some sort of soy, almond or rice substitute.
Real Vegan Cheese is part of a growing movement of scientists and companies "culturing" real animal products, with no animals required. Clara Foods is fabricating chicken eggs. Modern Meadow is growing leather. And a group of scientists in the Netherlands is researching ways to produce in-vitro hamburgers.
Biohacker Johan Sosa, working on the Real Vegan Cheese project, inserts genes from cow's milk into yeast. The yeast processes the milk protein to produce cow's milk, sans cow.
Though lab-grown food might seem like something out of science fiction, it could have some very real-world benefits. Livestock factory farming uses 30 percent of the Earth's land surface, for example, and contributes to more than 18 percent of global greenhouse gases, according to the United Nations.
Want beef? Almost 1,800 gallons of fresh water for drinking, feed irrigation and processing go into one pound of beef, according to National Geographic. Lab-grown food, on the other hand, requires far less land and water, and emits less greenhouse gas compared with raising livestock, according to a study by the University of Oxford.
"It's insane how complicated it is to get a glass of milk, if you were to look at the entire supply chain," says Gilonne d'Origny, chief operating officer of New Harvest, which funds research into lab-grown food. "It's too resource-intensive for what it is."
If we really are what we eat, lab-grown food might make us healthier by reducing the impact of pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics and hormones on our diets. That could become increasingly important in the coming years. The UN expects worldwide demand for meat to double between 2000 and 2050.
"They say if you like sausages, you shouldn't find out how they're made," Sosa says. "We want you to know exactly how it's made."
Where's the beef?
While Real Vegan Cheese is on its way to creating cheddar, Swiss and Parmesan, Dutch scientist Mark Post has been perfecting the hamburger.
Working out of Maastricht University in the Netherlands, Post first made a splash in 2013 when Google co-founder Sergey Brin revealed he'd forked over $330,000 to fund Post's first lab-grown burger. In this case, Post is using stem cells from bovine muscle tissue and then coaxing those cells to replicate in a petri dish.
"We are also culturing fat tissue, which comes from cows themselves," Post says. "This is important because of the taste."
Click above for more CNET Magazine stories.
One of Post's first burgers was cooked and sampled by two food critics in front of a live television audience in 2013 after Brin bankrolled the project. During the tasting, one panelist pronounced, "This is meat to me."
"It tasted like a hamburger, but not a particularly good one," Post says. Still, "it was much better than any vegetarian substitute that I had tasted before."
Post is still fine-tuning his cultured burgers, and he estimates it'll be another five years at least before they hit the supermarket. And when they do, they'll be expensive. Prices are likely to drop, he says, as meat from a lab becomes more widely available. But will people eat it?
Gulp
Some people may have an "ew" reaction when they think of meat grown in a petri dish. In fact, the food has been called everything from "schmeat" to "test tube burgers" to "Frankenmeat."
Beyond the yuck factor, the lab-grown-food movement has also been criticized for potentially displacing farmworkers or creating products that will be too expensive. Some vegetarians say it's still meat, even if it is grown in the lab, and that's not healthy. Others say high-tech foods won't necessarily help the planet.
"If we're really concerned about the environment, public health and protecting animal welfare, then I don't know if this is the best way to do it," says Danielle Nierenberg, president of Food Tank, a think tank focused on sustainable agriculture. "Silver bullet solutions just don't work. You need a variety of things, and this might be part of the tool kit."
Despite its detractors, the lab-grown-food sector is growing quickly. Along with Brin, other big-name backers include Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel.
"The global food supply chain is a multitrillion-dollar industry," says Arvind Gupta, founder of IndieBio, an accelerator that exclusively funds synthetic-biology startups. "That's the market we're thinking about disrupting."
Back in the lab, Sosa checks on some test tubes being gently rocked and warmed in an incubator. The shaking helps the yeast inside the test tubes grow faster, Sosa says. Once the mixture multiplies, Sosa will put it through a series of tests to see how it stacks up against cow's milk. Sosa and his colleagues will then tinker with their recipe and repeat the process until they get it right.
They're hopeful. A Real Vegan Cheese product could come out in late 2016, says Sosa.
"I think it's scientifically feasible -- otherwise I wouldn't be doing it," he says. "In the future, it might be possible to produce many of the things we eat without taking up resources from the Earth."
This story appears in the winter 2015 edition of CNET Magazine. For other magazine stories, click here.
SSI Beneficiaries: You're Getting Two Checks In May. Here's Why
Your first May Supplemental Security Income check should arrive today, but be on the lookout for a second payment this month.
SSI is run by the Social Security Administration.
As a Supplemental Security Income beneficiary, you should have received your May payment today. That's not the only check you're getting this month: another will be on the way as well. We'll explain why you're getting two payments in May and when to expect the second one.
SSI benefits are managed by the Social Security Administration and go to qualifying recipients with limited income and resources and those who are blind, age 65 or older or have a qualifying disability. Children who are blind or with disabilities may also get SSI.
If you're new to receiving benefits or plan to apply for SSI soon, we'll list all the dates you can expect to get your money for the rest of 2024. For more, here's how to apply for your state's TANF program and how to apply for Social Security for your child.
When will I get my SSI money each month?
Here's when you can expect to receive your SSI payments via direct deposit.
- Wednesday, May 1
- Friday, May 31 (for June)
- Monday, July 1
- Thursday, Aug. 1
- Friday, Aug. 30 (for September)
- Tuesday, Oct. 1
- Friday, Nov. 1
- Friday, Nov. 29 (for December)
Why am I getting two SSI payments in May?
The Social Security Administration typically disburses SSI checks on the first of each month. There are a couple of exceptions to the payment schedule.
1. If the first of the month is on a holiday.
2. If the first of the month is on a weekend.
Since June 1 is on a Saturday, June payments are going out a day early. That means your June payment will arrive on Friday, May 31, which also means you won't receive an additional payment in June.
If I receive other Social Security benefits, will I get those early, too?
No. If you receive other Social Security benefits, you'll still get those on the normally scheduled day since those payments fall on Wednesdays. Here's when May payments will arrive.
May 3: Social Security payments for people who have received Social Security since before May 1997.
May 8: Social Security payments for those with birthdays falling between the first and 10th of any given month.
May 15: Social Security payments for folks with birthdays falling between the 11th and 20th of any given month.
May 22: Social Security payments for people with birthdays falling between the 21st and 31st of any given month.
Receive other Social Security benefits? Here's the Social Security payment schedule and the Social Security Disability Insurance payment schedule. Also, here's a Social Security cheat sheet.
Why You Can Trust CNET Watch Champions League Semifinal: Livestream Borussia Dortmund vs. PSG From Anywhere
Die Schwarzgelben take on Les Parisiens once more, with a place in the final at stake.
A familiar foe stands in the way of Kylian Mbappé on his way to the UEFA Champions League final in London, as Borussia Dortmund host Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of this semifinal.
This last-four clash marks the second time the two teams have met in this year's tournament, after they were drawn against each other in the group stage. PSG won 2-0 at home and earned a 1-1 draw in Dortmund.
The hosts are set to be without injured pair Ramy Bensebaïni and Sébastien Haller, while Ian Maatsen, Donyell Malen and Mats Hummels all face late fitness tests.
PSG have a number of key absentees of their own, with Presnel Kimpembe, Layvin Kurzawa and Sergio Rico all definitely out of this encounter.
Below, we'll outline the best live TV streaming services for watching every game wherever you are in the world.
Julian Brandt opened the scoring in the decisive 4-2 win against Atletico Madrid that got Borussia Dortmund to this semifinal.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Paris Saint Germain: When and where?
Borussia Dortmund play PSG at Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday, May 1 in this UEFA Champions League semifinal, first-leg. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. CET local time in Germany, which is 3 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. PT in the US and Canada, 8 p.m. BST in the UK and 5 a.m. AEST on Thursday, May 2, in Australia.
How to watch Borussia Dortmund vs. PSG online from anywhere using a VPN
If you're unable to view Champions League matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the action; that's where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN can stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it's also a great idea if you want an extra layer of privacy for your devices and log-ins while traveling and using various Wi-Fi networks.
With a VPN, you're able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to access the game. If your internet provider or mobile carrier assigns an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can fix that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, nonblackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors' Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you're streaming. Be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it suspects is circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the great VPN deals taking place right now.
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It's normally $13 a month, and you can sign up for ExpressVPN and save 35% -- the equivalent of $8.32 a month -- if you get an annual subscription.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Livestream Borussia Dortmund vs. PSG in the US
American soccer fans can stream this season's tournament via Paramount Plus, which has exclusive live English-language broadcast rights in the US for UEFA Champions League matches.
Paramount Plus has two main subscription plans in the US: Essential for $6 a month and Premium for $12 a month. Both offer coverage of the Champions League.
The cheaper Essential option has ads for on-demand streaming. It also lacks live CBS feeds and the ability to download shows to watch offline later. Newcomers can take advantage of a 30-day free trial, while students may qualify for a 25% discount. Black Friday savings are also still available, though we don't know how long for.
Livestream Borussia Dortmund vs. PSG in the UK
TNT Sports has Champions League live broadcast rights in the UK.
Formerly BT Sport, TNT Sports is offering Champions League matches exclusively live this season to viewers in the UK. You can access TNT Sports in the same way as its predecessor, including via Sky Q as a TV package, as well as by streaming online. It costs £30 either way and comes in a package that includes Discovery Plus' library of documentary content.
Livestream Borussia Dortmund vs. PSG in Canada
If you want to stream UCL games live in Canada, subscribe to DAZN Canada. The service has exclusive broadcast rights to the Champions League this season.
A DAZN subscription costs CA$30 a month or CA$200 a year. It will also give you access to Europa League and EFL Championship soccer, Six Nations rugby and WTA tennis.
As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, there's a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.
Livestream Borussia Dortmund vs. PSG in Australia
Football fans Down Under can watch UCL matches on streaming service Stan Sport, which has exclusive rights to show the Champions League live in Australia this season.
Stan Sport will set you back AU$10 a month (on top of a AU$10 Stan subscription), but the streaming service is currently offering a seven-day free trial.
A subscription will also give you access to Europa League and Europa Conference League action, as well as international rugby and Formula E.
Quick tips for streaming UEFA Champions League matches using a VPN
- With four variables at play (your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN), your experience and success when streaming Champions League games may vary.
- If you don't see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the "search for city or country" option.
- If you're having trouble getting the game after you've turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs including Roku don't have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you'll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you're using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
- All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main sites for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network's sports app, you'll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
- Remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you're using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We recommend Brave.
Services and Software Guides
Want Longer iPhone Battery Life? Turn Off These 2 iOS Settings
Learn about the typing and lock screen features you can disable to prioritize your iPhone's battery.
iOS 17.4 splits "Battery Health and Charging" into two separate menus.
Last month's iPhone operating system update -- iOS 17.4 -- added more of your phone's battery data to a newly renamed Battery Health menu. You can still view your battery health percentage (80% or higher is considered good), but now there's a new menu that displays how many times you've cycled your battery and tells you whether or not your battery is "normal."
If you're looking to keep your iPhone battery healthy as long as possible, you can avoid most iPhone battery issues by taking a few simple steps, like using "optimized charging," avoiding overheating your iPhone and not letting the battery drain to zero.
Along with those iPhone battery best practices, other battery-saving tips for iOS 16 and iOS 17 are less obvious and can help you keep your iPhone's battery alive longer.
In this story, we'll cover two features in iOS 16 and iOS 17 that both put a strain on your iPhone's battery to varying degrees and how you can turn them off to help preserve battery life. Here's what you need to know.
And if you want some more battery savings tips and tricks, check out how to stop background apps from refreshing and how to replace your iPhone's battery (cheaper than Apple).
Remove widgets from your iPhone lock screen
All the widgets on your lock screen force your apps to automatically run in the background, constantly fetching data to update the information the widgets display, like sports scores or the weather. Because these apps are constantly running in the background due to your widgets, that means they continuously drain power.
If you want to help preserve some battery on iOS 17, the best thing to do is simply avoid widgets on your lock screen (and home screen). The easiest way to do this is to switch to another lock screen profile: Press your finger down on your existing lock screen and then swipe around to choose one that doesn't have any widgets.
If you want to just remove the widgets from your existing lock screen, press down on your lock screen, hit Customize, choose the Lock Screen option, tap on the widget box and then hit the "—" button on each widget to remove them.
If you're already low on battery, it's best to just switch to a wallpaper that doesn't have lock screen widgets.
Turn off your iPhone's haptic keyboard feedback
Surprisingly, the keyboard on the iPhone has never had the ability to vibrate as you type, an addition called "haptic feedback" that was added to iPhone with iOS 16. Instead of just hearing click-clack sounds, haptic feedback gives each key a vibration, providing a more immersive experience as you type. According to Apple, the very same feature may also affect battery life.
According to this Apple support page about the keyboard, haptic feedback "might affect the battery life of your iPhone." No specifics are given as to how much battery life the keyboard feature drains, but if you want to conserve battery, it's best to keep this feature disabled.
Fortunately, it is not enabled by default. If you've enabled it yourself, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Keyboard Feedback and toggle off Haptic to turn off haptic feedback for your keyboard.
Every single time you type, you'll feel a slight vibration for each key you hit.
For more tips on iOS, learn how to download the new iOS 17 and how to automatically delete multifactor authentication messages from texts and emails.