I usually only post my five-star reviews here, and this is a four-star. But it would be a five-star if I liked the genre, and making me like a book this much when I don’t like the kind of book it is – that’s an achievement.
If you, unlike me, enjoy dystopian, this is a well-crafted, clever story with a compelling protagonist.
The future is here, just not evenly distributed.
Originally shared by Singularity Hub
The Age of Cyborgs Has Arrived http://suhub.co/2huDph6
Originally shared by Gregor J. Rothfuss
now that’s geoengineering: There is a proposal to use about 9% of the oceans surface for massive kelp farms. The Ocean surface area is about 36 billion hectares. This would offset all CO2 production and provide 0.5 kg of fish and sea vegetables per person per day for 10 billion people as an “incidental” by-product. Nine per cent of the world’s oceans would be equivalent to about four and a half times the area of Australia.
https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2017/07/so-long-global-warming-and-thanks-for-all-of-the-fish.html
I’ve consulted for these folks. It was an interesting experience.
http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/better-business-through-sci-fi
http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/better-business-through-sci-fi
Lots and lots of story fodder here. Genetic haves and have-nots, the debate over modifying people who have already been born versus modifying embryos, whether the modifications should be heritable…
I have a story (not currently on submission; the story part needs more work) based on a world in which “gene Amish” refuse genetic treatments, making them vulnerable to bioterrorism.
Originally shared by Singularity Hub
The Era of Human Gene Editing Is Here—What Happens Next Is Critical http://suhub.co/2vYb4D7
If you understand nutrition at all, there’s an obvious flaw here: because it’s producing only hydrocarbons, this process – if it really works – produces only macronutrients (fats, proteins, and carbohydrates). In order to be healthy, organisms also require micronutrients like vitamins, minerals, and various phytochemicals.
Still, this would make a big difference in, for example, space, where shipping food is extremely expensive. If it works, that is.
Originally shared by Tom Eigelsbach
The method releases food production from restrictions related to the environment. The protein can be produced anywhere renewable energy, such as solar energy, is available. The entire process requires only electricity, water, carbon dioxide, and microbes. Only the required amount of fertilizer-like nutrients is used in the closed process. After exposing the raw materials to electrolysis in a bioreactor, the mixture is very nutritious, with more than 50% protein and 25% carbohydrates. The rest is fats and nucleic acids.
According to estimates by the researchers, the process of creating food from electricity can be nearly 10 times as energy-efficient as common photosynthesis, which is used for cultivation of soy and other products. For the product to be competitive, the production process must become even more efficient. Currently, the production of one gram of protein takes around two weeks, using laboratory equipment that is about the size of a coffee cup.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170719090025.htm
“The end point is predictably an entirely nonhuman – though very efficient – technological entity derived from humanity that doesn’t necessarily serve a purpose that a modern-day human would value in any way.”
A much-needed cautionary piece.
Originally shared by CM Stewart
“There is unlikely to be a clear moment when we emerge as transhuman. Rather technologies will become more intrusive and integrate seamlessly with the human body. Technology has long been thought of as an extension of the self. Many aspects of our social world, not least our financial systems, are already largely machine-based. There is much to learn from these evolving human/machine hybrid systems.”
#transhumanism
This is potentially huge. Imagine being able to implant an artificial pancreas in a diabetic, or a new organ that helped to balance neurochemistry or hormones. Also, spit on a piece of paper to be diagnosed, or (after recovering from cancer) have an implanted monitor to alert you to the first signs of its return.
Originally shared by CM Stewart
“…living programmable ‘ribocomputing’ device based on networks of precisely designed, self-assembling synthetic RNAs (ribonucleic acid). The RNAs can sense multiple biosignals and make logical decisions to control protein production with high precision…the synthetic biological circuits could be used to produce drugs, fine chemicals, and biofuels or detect disease-causing agents and release therapeutic molecules inside the body.”
http://www.kurzweilai.net/a-living-programmable-biocomputing-device-based-on-rna
Cargo ships are huge polluters (because of the kind of fuel they use), and this is a small start towards replacing them – and their crews.
Originally shared by Singularity Hub
The World’s First Autonomous Ship Will Set Sail In 2018
Another great old classic magazine.
Not to be confused with Astounding Stories, or their New Zealand equivalents, These Stories Are All Right, Eh and I Don’t Actually Mind These Stories.
(Totally true and not even a little bit made up: when the US show That’s Incredible! was playing during the 80s, there was an NZ version. It was called That’s Fairly Interesting.)
Via Deborah Teramis Christian.
Originally shared by Alex Grossman
h/t David Brin