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Jan 9, 2018

How bacteria turbocharged their motors

Posted by in categories: evolution, habitats, nanotechnology

Using detailed 3D images, researchers have shown how bacteria have evolved molecular motors of different powers to optimize their swimming.

The discovery, by a team from Imperial College London, provides insights into evolution at the molecular scale.

Bacteria use molecular motors just tens of nanometres wide to spin a tail (or ‘flagellum’) that pushes them through their habitat. Like human-made motors, the structure of these nanoscale machines determines their power and the bacteria’s swimming ability.

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Jan 9, 2018

Sex Robots That Can Make Babies May Soon Be Available

Posted by in categories: 3D printing, biotech/medical, robotics/AI, sex

The scientist behind an advanced sex robot has plans for 3D printed offspring. Samantha, developed by Spanish robotics firm Synthea Amatus, went on sale in the United Kingdom last month for around $5,000 — but while the A.I. present in the initial version offers a range of functions like telling jokes, discussing philosophy and synchronizing climaxes, a future version could offer more ambitious features.

“I can make them have a baby. It’s not so difficult. I would love to have a child with a robot,” Sergei Santos, creator of Samatha, told The Sun in a Friday story.

Sex robots are a growing, but controversial, area of artificial intelligence. While some argue that such machines could spark a wider discussion about sexuality, others object to the aim to replicate human interaction. Futurologist Ian Pearson claims that by 2050, more than half of people will have sex with a robot.

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Jan 9, 2018

Return to the MOON Photo

Posted by in categories: futurism, space travel

This op-ed originally appeared in the Dec. 12, 2017 of SpaceNews magazine.

America’s space program has long held a special place in the public’s imagination, but NASA missions are limited by budget constraints. NASA must use its funding wisely to implement balanced, cost-efficient programs to develop enabling technologies, such as technologies to power future NASA missions. Speaking as the former project manager of three successful missions — Voyager, Galileo, and Cassini — and the canceled Prometheus-Icy Moons Orbiter, I have a unique perspective to share.

http://spacenews.com/op-ed-an-argument-for-space-fission-reactors/

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Jan 9, 2018

Bioquark Inc. — Ira Pastor — X-Zone Radio Show

Posted by in categories: aging, bioengineering, biotech/medical, cosmology, cryonics, DNA, futurism, genetics, life extension, transhumanism

https://www.spreaker.com/user/xzoneradiotv/xzrs20180108epaemirapastor

Jan 9, 2018

How ‘China’s Steve Jobs’ bit off more than he could chew and saw his tech empire collapse

Posted by in categories: internet, robotics/AI

His ultimate quest, though, was the automobile. The integration of the internet and self-driving, emission-free vehicles, he once said, would not only clean up the country’s polluted cities, it would free up millions of people to consume more of LeEco’s services on their commutes.


Visionary or reckless risk-taker? Self-made internet entrepreneur Jia Yueting once ranked among China’s richest men, but overexpansion and a funding crunch have him scrambling to save his sprawling tech empire.

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Jan 8, 2018

The growing adoption of LEDs is having a tangible effect on carbon emissions

Posted by in category: energy

LED bulbs contributed to a reduction of 570 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2017, according to an estimate by IHS Markit—equivalent to closing more than 160 coal power plants.

Published 2 hours ago | Photo by Reuters/Toru Hanai.

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Jan 8, 2018

Using Technology to Reverse Extinction

Posted by in categories: bioengineering, biotech/medical, existential risks, sustainability

The extinction of various species has led to a segregation of human activity and natural activity, says Stewart Brand of The Long Now Foundation, which focuses on long-term strategies for the next 10,000 years. The organization develops biotechnology to allow humans to better co-exist with nature. In this interview filmed at the 2016 Aspen Ideas Festival, Brand discusses how biotechnology can be used to bring back the passenger pigeon from extinction and mitigate climate change at last.

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Jan 8, 2018

Bioquark Inc. — At The End of the Day Show

Posted by in categories: aging, bioengineering, biotech/medical, business, cosmology, cryonics, DNA, futurism, genetics, transhumanism

https://www.spreaker.com/user/cbanks/special-guest-ira-pastor-ceo-bioquark

Jan 8, 2018

Discussion of iTR Publication

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics, life extension

AgeX, one of our supported startups aiming at turning basic research into actual rejuvenation therapies for human application, just published a breakthrough genetic discovery that could enable us to activate tissue regeneration capabilities in humans.

Dr. Mike West, CEO of AgeX, will also be presenting at undoing-aging.org

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Jan 8, 2018

How Robots Will Break Politics

Posted by in categories: genetics, robotics/AI

At the moment, it is easy and comforting to imagine that the machines will mostly be complementary to human workers, whose common sense and human touch will still be necessary. But over the next half-century, AI will get better faster than humans can learn new skills. While we are probably still a very long way away from an AI with humanlike general intelligence, we are much closer to a world where particular machines can perform specific tasks as well as humans and at far less cost—precisely the kind of change that reshaped nations 150 years ago. Long before we find ourselves dealing with malevolent AIs or genetically engineered superhumans, and perhaps just 10 to 20 years from now, we will have to deal with the threat technology poses to our social order—and to our politics.


Automation is dramatically reshaping the workforce, but we’ve barely begun to grapple with how it will reshape society.

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