Empires, alliances and cultural exchanges formed connections between deaf communities around the world that can be traced with a new method for studying sign languages.
Why it matters: There are more than 300 sign languages but they and the communities that use them have been "marginalized, underdocumented and understudied," leaving a gap in understanding about human communication, the researchers write in the journal Science.
The need to quash outbreaks, quickly create medicines, stress-proof crops and fend off other 21st century threats is providing a lucrative arena for biotech companies to sell their services.
Why it matters: But the infrastructure to support such ambitions is increasingly recognized by the U.S., China and other countries as a linchpin of national security and economic strategy, putting it at the centerof geopolitics.
