Skip to main content

In the not-so-distant future, humans could get heart transplants from genetically engineered pigs

Believe it or not, pigs might soon extend the lives of people waiting for organ donors. Researchers from the National Institutes of Health and collaborators from a group of international universities and organizations have kept hearts from genetically engineered pigs alive in baboon abdomens for up to 945 days. This research could pave the way for more cross-species transplants (called xenotransplants), help us learn more, and usher in an odd future where human lives can be saved by animal organ donors.

An average of 22 people die each day while awaiting transplants, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Furthermore, people awaiting heart transplants were typically on the donor waiting list for an average of 3.5 months in 2015. If cross-species transplants become acceptable practice, the incidence of death while waiting for a transplant would hopefully drop.

Recommended Videos

Also read: New procedure makes it possible to transplant organs from seemingly incompatible donors

In the recent experiments on xenotransplants from pigs to primates, the researchers used donor hearts from pigs that were genetically engineered without a molecular marker in the blood that otherwise causes fatal blood clotting in primates. The hearts were put in the abdomens of baboons and connected to the primate blood supplies to keep pumping, although they did not replace the baboons’ own hearts. The baboons were also given immune-suppressing drugs to halt rejection of the organs by the primates’ immune systems.

Previous work resulted in a median organ longevity of 180 days and a maximum of 500 days. In the more recent research, the median was 298 days survival and a maximum of 945 days. Much more research and experimentation is needed though, including work with other organs and with primates who do not retain their own hearts.

No timeline is set for this line of research leading to actual implementation with humans, but the day may come –possibly a few decades hence– when dying while waiting for a human organ donor will not be common. Various groups may object to xenotransplantation, but it’s more likely that people who need new organs and their families will be all in favor.

Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown Contributing Editor   As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce…
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more
Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode
Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

Read more