Lifeboat Foundation

A Cafe in Tokyo uses an all-robot staff, though some of its employees that control these servers do so remotely, under special circumstances.

As reported by NextShark, these employees have debilitating conditions like ALS and similar spinal chord injuries, and operate the robot servers from home. They operate an OriHime-D: a 4-foot-tall robot that moves, handles objects, and communicates with patrons at Tokyo’s Cafe DAWN (Diverse Avatar Working Network). Cafe DAWN is intended to resemble the robot-centric cafe featured in the 2008 anime Time of Eve.

Continue reading “A Cafe in Japan Hires Robot Servers, But With a Twist” »

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Here, we will first summarize the experimental achievements over the last 7 years in cell and animal rejuvenation. Then, a comparison will be made between the principles of the cumulative DNA damage theory of aging and the basic facts underlying the epigenetic model of aging, including Horvath’s epigenetic clock. The third part will apply both models to two natural processes, namely, the setting of the aging clock in the mammalian zygote and the changes in the aging clock along successive generations in mammals. The first study demonstrating that skin fibroblasts from healthy centenarians can be rejuvenated by cell reprogramming was published in 2011 and will be discussed in some detail. Other cell rejuvenation studies in old humans and rodents published afterwards will be very briefly mentioned. The only in vivo study reporting that a number of organs of old progeric mice can be rejuvenated by cyclic partial reprogramming will also be described in some detail. The cumulative DNA damage theory of aging postulates that as an animal ages, toxic reactive oxygen species generated as byproducts of the mitochondria during respiration induce a random and progressive damage in genes thus leading cells to a progressive functional decline. The epigenetic model of aging postulates that there are epigenetic marks of aging that increase with age, leading to a progressive derepression of DNA which in turn causes deregulated expression of genes that disrupt cell function. The cumulative DNA damage model of aging fails to explain the resetting of the aging clock at the time of conception as well as the continued vitality of species as millenia go by. In contrast, the epigenetic model of aging straightforwardly explains both biologic phenomena. A plausible initial application of rejuvenation in vivo would be preventing adult individuals from aging thus eliminating a major risk factor for end of life pathologies. Further, it may allow the gradual achievement of whole body rejuvenation.

The tech-savvy Black Mirror audience is a natural fit since, as Engelbrecht put it, they tend to be “a little more experimental and willing to be out there.” But it was the mind of Brooker and the potential for what he could create that made Netflix want to go all in. In order to fully execute Brooker’s vision, Netflix created new technology, including “state tracking” to remember the choices viewers make over the course of the story. That tech is what allows for the unique experience for each viewer. Choices made earlier in the episode impact scenes and storylines as the viewer goes in ways that can be subtle (like an advertisement for the cereal that was picked) or very impactful, even resulting in which endings a viewer can unlock.

Netflix released its first interactive experience for adults with ‘Black Mirror: Bandersnatch’ on Dec. 28. The teams behind the immersive film, which debuts first-of-its-kind technology, tell The Hollywood Reporter how to be an active player in Charlie Brooker’s story.

So when you look up, remember you aren’t seeing things as they are now; you’re seeing things as they were.

Without really trying, you can see years into the past. And with the aid of a telescope you can see millions or even billions of years into the past with your very own eyes. – The Conversation | Rappler.com

The Conversation

Continue reading “When you look up, how far back in time do you see?” »

Join them live at 8 p.m. EST as they talk about this icy world located ~1 billion miles past Pluto and how it will give us insight into the early solar system. Watch: https://www.nasa.gov/nasalive

Astronomy Calendar For 2019 \xF0\x9F\x94 🌠

I owe Jack Shaw a favor. It’s one of those, “This one time in Cambodia…” type of favors. We won’t speak of it beyond perhaps a nod and wink. It’s not written down anywhere; the details of such are so vague as to be almost non existent, while encompassing the known universe. It expires upon death, of the sun; and can be redeemed whenever and by another person who need only walk up to me and say, “Jack Shaw sent me. He says to tell you ________”. And tada, that favor has been redeemed for value.

Jack would call this favor a “marker.” It’s more valuable than your house, the Empire State Building & 100k Bitcoins combined. It can even be redeemed for something even more precious, my time or an opportunity or access to my network. You know, those things that money can’t buy. Well, you can lease my time from time to time.

Favors, markers and promises are humanities’ first virtual currencies.

Continue reading “Virtual Currencies Are As Old As Favors” »

A ‘pacemaker’ for the brain is on the horizon to prevent people with Parkinson’s and epilepsy suffering from seizures and tremors.

The device is made up of two tiny array of electrodes which sit inside the skull, and link to a circuit board on the side of the head.

The ‘pacemaker’ records the normal electrical current of the brain continually and if it notices a change of rhythm immediately fires a stimulating charge to coax the pulse back to normal.

Continue reading “Brain ‘pacemaker’ could prevent tremors and seizures for Parkinson’s and epilepsy sufferers” »