Scientists Close to Creating Artificial Life

The article here explains that there may be just "three major hurdles to creating synthetic life:

(1) A container, or membrane, for the cell to keep bad molecules out, allow good ones, and the ability to multiply.
(2) A genetic system that controls the functions of the cell, enabling it to reproduce and mutate in response to environmental changes.
(3) A metabolism that extracts raw materials from the environment as food and then changes it into energy."

I honestly have no idea what any of that means, but it sounds at least plausible. Of course, I must warn you to take our science coverage with a grain of salt.