The body of Dr. Emily Carter, a 34-year-old molecular biologist who vanished last week from a high-security research facility in New Mexico, has been discovered. Dr.
Carter was reported missing on March 12 after failing to appear for a scheduled shift at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Her remains were found yesterday in a remote area of the Carson National Forest, approximately 50 miles from the laboratory site. The cause of death is under investigation, though authorities have stated there are no signs of foul play at this stage.
Dr. Carter was a British citizen who had been working at the lab as part of a joint US-UK research programme on climate-resilient crops. Her death has sent shockwaves through the scientific community, with tributes flooding in from colleagues at the University of Cambridge, where she completed her PhD, and the John Innes Centre in Norwich, where she held a previous research post.
“We have lost a brilliant mind and a kind soul,” said Professor Alan Richardson, her former supervisor. “Her work on gene editing for drought tolerance was groundbreaking. This is a profound loss for science.
” Dr. Carter’s research was considered critical in the race to adapt global food supplies to a warming planet. Her contributions to the CRISPR-Cas9 modification of wheat and barley had been celebrated by the Royal Society and the US Department of Energy.
The investigation into her disappearance and death is ongoing, with the FBI assisting local police. A memorial service is being planned at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C.
