Leaked Chat Logs Expose Ransomware Group, AI Tool Diagnoses Diabetes, HIV, and Covid-19, and Scientists Develop New View of Evolution

This Discover Daily podcast episode covers three significant news items: a massive data leak exposing the inner workings of the Black Basta ransomware group, the development of an AI-powered diagnostic tool (MAL-ID) capable of identifying various diseases from a single blood sample, and groundbreaking research challenging traditional evolutionary theory by highlighting the role of gene loss in species adaptation. The Black Basta leak revealed sophisticated tactics, including the use of ZoomInfo for target selection and a double extortion strategy. MAL-ID uses AI to analyze immune system data for early disease detection. Finally, the evolutionary research shows that gene deletion, not just addition, can drive significant evolutionary changes, as exemplified by the appendicularian's adaptation through FGF gene loss.