The U.S. is investigating Elon Musk's Neuralink over potentially hazardous pathogens
It's the latest scrutiny following my report from December on the company's animal experiments.
Hi all, just some quick Musk-Neuralink news from me over at Reuters.
The U.S. Department of Transportation told me it is investigating Elon Musk's brain-implant company Neuralink over the potentially illegal movement of hazardous pathogens following the company’s animal tests.
A Department of Transportation spokesperson told me about the probe after the Physicians Committee of Responsible Medicine (PCRM), an animal-welfare advocacy group, wrote to the agency earlier today to alert it of records it obtained on the matter.
PCRM said it obtained emails and other documents that suggest unsafe packaging and movement of implants removed from the brains of monkeys. These implants may have carried infectious diseases in violation of federal law, PCRM said.
The Department of Transportation probe adds to the scrutiny facing Neuralink, which is developing a brain implant it hopes will help paralyzed people walk again and cure other neurological ailments.
In December, I reported that Neuralink is under a federal investigation over potential animal welfare violations and that some of its staff made internal complaints about experiments being rushed, causing needless suffering and deaths.
What else should I write about, in Musk world or elsewhere?
Rachael