Which scientists and technologists are embracing NFT technology? You may start with Tim Berners-Lee, creator of the Internet. On June 30th, 2021, the famed computer scientist teamed up with Sotheby's to auction off an NFT containing the original web browser's source code. The NFT raised $5,434,500 with a video of code being typed and Berners-animated Lee's signature. NASA published a series of NFTs on June 17 to mark the grand opening of a satellite honoring astronaut Neil Armstrong. It was not uncommon for the NFTs to feature augmented reality satellite models and mission patches.
The University of California, Berkeley has also tried out the NFT space with a single token based on documents from James Allison, a cancer researcher who won the Nobel Prize. NFT "The Fourth Pillar" sold for approximately $55,000 on June 8th.
Synthetic biology and genome editing have resulted in a burgeoning industry that creates custom cell lines for medical research purposes. They could misuse, contaminate, or illegally replicate these genetically modified cell lines. Researchers from the University of Texas at Dallas have developed a first-of-its-kind method. A method for creating a unique identifier for each copy of a cell line. It lets users verify its authenticity while also protecting the manufacturer's IP. Science Advances published an article online on May 4th and a print version on May 6th demonstrating how to use the method.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas collaborated to develop the patent-pending technology. Bioengineering professor Dr. Leonidas Bleris and electrical engineering professor Dr. Yiorgos Makris are co-corresponding authors of the study. They are experts in electronic hardware security.