Thinking machines

We propose that a sufficiently advanced civilisation may employ Cepheid variable stars as beacons to transmit all-call information throughout the galaxy and beyond. They might employ a pulsed neutrino beam to trigger the expansion of a Cepheid at an earlier than normal time, generating a binary signature of normal period or artificially shortened period. One can construct many scenarios wherein it would be desirable for such a civilisation of star ticklers to transmit data to anyone else within viewing range. The beauty of employing Cepheids is that these stars can be seen from afar (we monitor them out through the Virgo cluster), and any developing technological society would seem to be likely to closely observe them as distance markers. Records exist of Cepheids for well over 100 years. We propose that these (and other regularly variable types of stars) be searched for signs of phase modulation (in the regime of short pulse duration) and patterns, which could be indicative of intentional signalling.     

Lead Structures for New Antibacterials: Stereocontrolled Synthesis of a Bioactive Muraymycin Analogue

Naturally occurring muraymycin nucleoside antibiotics represent a promising class of novel antibacterial agents. The structural complexity suggests the investigation of simplified analogues as potential lead structures, which can then be further optimized towards highly potent antimicrobials. Herein we report studies on muraymycin‐derived potential lead structures lacking an aminoribose motif found in most naturally occurring muraymycins. We have identified a 5′‐defunctionalized motif to be ideal in terms of stability and chemical accessibility and have synthesized a full‐length muraymycin analogue based on this structure using a novel fully stereocontrolled route. The obtained 5′‐deoxy analogue of the natural product muraymycin C4 showed good inhibitory properties towards the bacterial target protein MraY, sufficient pharmacokinetic stability and no cytotoxicity against human cells, thus making it a promising lead for antibacterial drug development.