A look at the concept of Self-Replicating Machines, Universal Assemblers, von Neumann Probes, Grey Goo, and Berserkers. While we will discuss the basic concept and some on-Earth applications like Medical Nanotechnology our focus will be on space exploration and colonization aspects.
Something like this…How can we extend sex appeal?
Gyms and beauty salons are in charge of this question now. There is some success, but it’s mostly superficial. Plastic surgery only masks, but doesn’t delay the processes of aging.
Expanding sex appeal is a complex task. Its aspects include both beauty and the activity of the brain. To be sexually attractive we have to be smart and fun. One cannot solve the problem of dementia with makeup.
Continue reading “Let’s formulate the task of life extension slightly differently” »
Very true points that many have been raising with CRISPR, Synthetic Biology, BMI, and humanoid technology. I am glad to see this article on ethics and standards because it really needs to be discussed and implemented.
New brain technologies will increasingly have the potential to alter how someone thinks, feels, behaves and even perceives themselves.
Continue reading “Is it already too late to consider the ethics of mind control technology?” »
Sharing for all my Neuro science friends and techie friends — Sept 29th is the Inaugural Cornell Neurotech Mong Family Foundation Symposium. Some of Cornell’s top award winning neuro scientists will be presenting.
Interested in learning how the brain works?
Some of Cornell’s best scientists studying the brain will gather Sept. 29 for the Inaugural Cornell Neurotech Mong Family Foundation Symposium. The symposium features three alumni winners of the 2015 Brain Prize – Winfried Denk, Ph.D. ’89, Karel Svoboda ’88 and David Tank, M.S. ’80, Ph.D. ’83 – as well as award-winning Cornell faculty who will share how they are exploring the brain using the most modern, innovative technologies.
Talks begin at 10 a.m. in Room G10 Biotechnology and conclude at 5 p.m. with a public reception. The symposium is free and the public is invited.
Continue reading “Neurotech symposium features Brain Prize winners” »
By now, you’ve no doubt heard of CRISPR, the latest gene-editing tool sweeping research labs across the globe. It was first discovered in certain strains of bacteria, who use it as an important weapon against dangerous viruses. In bacteria, CRISPR identifies a virus that poses a threat, records the virus’ genetic data and imprints it onto RNA molecules. An immune enzyme called Cas9 grabs one of the RNA molecules and goes exploring. When Cas9 encounters a virus that matches the data on the RNA molecule, it latches on and slices the virus in half to prevent it from replicating and posing any threat.
Researchers have co-opted the CRISPR/Cas9 mechanism to edit genes. Instead of copying dangerous viral DNA sequences onto the RNA molecules, they can copy over any sequence they want to edit. And instead of Cas9 destroying viruses, it makes precise cuts and removes specific bits of genetic data from the designated sequence. This allows researchers to target and edit specific gene sequences with genetic data of their choosing.
And, we all have heard all of the horrorr stories of a botch surgery or treatment performed by a MD who was a fraud. Well, our friends on the Dark Web are at work again in supplying anyone willing to pay fake diplomas & certifications. The challenge is how do companies and agencies validate? Something to ponder as we all know hackers can also forge educational records as well.
Criminals on the Dark Web (a lawless, unregulated part of the Internet) are supplying fake diplomas and employment certifications to anyone with a few hundred bucks.
According to Israeli threat intelligence firm Sixgill, people are even hiring hackers to penetrate university computer systems to alter grades.
Continue reading “Dark Web Criminals Supplying Forged Diplomas & Certifications” »
Scientists have completed reprogramming DNA on the largest scale ever, making the concept of superhumans a reality while advancing Singularity.
Cloned embryo.
Most of us like the idea of superpowers. Though we may never have the strength of Superman, we could be made stronger, faster, and even better-looking, with total control over our genome, or genetic makeup. What about becoming disease-resistant, weight gain resistant, and even slowing down the aging process? This might be possible in decades to come, as geneticists are now getting ever closer to, not just removing and replacing genes, but rewriting entire genomes. It sounds like the realm of science fiction. Yet, consider that geneticists at Harvard recently recoded the genome of a synthetic E. coli bacteria. Prof. George Church and colleagues conducted the study.
