I shudder when science and sci-fi collide (although I am never sure if it is a shiver of excitement or fear). In this case a plot point from a video game I've been playing has been made its way into the real world. According to the New Scientist, US researchers have discovered a way to encode messages directly into bacterial DNA. They were able to retrieve the information intact after over 100 generations. Talk about leaving a message behind for your descendants.