đ„Join us on our Journey to 1 Million Subscribersđ„ Liv Boeree is a British science communicator, television presenter and former professional poker player. She is a World Series of Poker and European Poker Tour champion, and is the only female player in history to have won both a WSOP bracelet and an EPT event. She has a degree in astrophysics and uses her YouTube channel @LivBoeree to discuss science, game theory, probabilities, extinction risk and AI.
Category: existential risks – Page 28
6 US Cities Most Likely at Risk in a Nuclear Attack
When it comes to nightmare scenarios for the United States, a nuclear attack from a foreign power has to rank among the worst possible choices. While the likelihood of such a strike is low, that does not stop experts from trying to prepare for any possibility. A story by Business Insider lists the following six cities as the most likely to be at risk in the vent of a future nuclear attack on the United States:
1) Chicago, Illinois.
2) Houston, Texas
Study reshapes understanding of mass extinction in Late Devonian era
Diverse and full of sea life, the Earthâs Devonian eraâtaking place more than 370 million years agoâsaw the emergence of the first seed-bearing plants, which spread as large forests across the continents of Gondwana and Laurussia.
However, a mass extinction event near the end of this era has long been the subject of debate. Some scientists argue the Late Devonian mass extinction was caused by large-scale volcanic eruptions, causing global cooling. Others argue a mass deoxygenation event caused by the expansion of land plants was to blame.
A recently published study in the journal Communications Earth & Environment led by researchers at IUPUI now posits that both factors played a roleâand draws attention to the environmental tipping points the planet faces today.
Risks of Artificial Intelligence & Shifting Goal Definitions
The development of artificial intelligence poses potential risks to society and requires a shift in goal definitions, consideration of the motivational landscape, and wisdom to prevent self-extinction and promote sustainability.
On this episode, Daniel Schmachtenberger returns to discuss a surprisingly overlooked risk to our global systems and planetary stability: artificial intelligence.
Through a systems perspective, Daniel and Nate piece together the biophysical history that has led humans to this point, heading towards (and beyond) numerous planetary boundaries and facing geopolitical risks all with existential consequences.
University of HawaiÊ»i Scientists Discover Micrometeorites May Have Delivered Lifeâs Building Blocks to Earth
Micrometeorites, tiny space rocks, may have helped deliver nitrogen, a vital life ingredient, to Earth during our solar systemâs early days. This finding was published in Nature Astronomy on November 30 by an international research team, including scientists from the University of HawaiÊ»i at MÄnoa and Kyoto University. They discovered that nitrogen compounds like ammonium salts are common in material from regions distant from the sun. However, how these compounds reached Earthâs orbit was unclear.
The study suggests that more nitrogen compounds were transported near Earth than previously thought. These compounds could have contributed to life on our planet. The research was based on material collected from the asteroid Ryugu by Japanâs Hayabusa2 spacecraft in 2020. Ryugu, a small sun-orbiting rocky object, is carbon-rich and has experienced considerable space weathering due to micrometeorite impacts and solar charged ions.
The scientists studied the Ryugu samples to understand the materials reaching Earthâs orbit. They used an electron microscope and found the Ryugu samplesâ surface covered with tiny iron and nitrogen minerals. They theorized that micrometeorites carrying ammonia compounds collided with Ryugu. This collision sparked chemical reactions on magnetite, resulting in iron nitride formation.
A Sports Analogy for Understanding Different Ways to Use AI
The potential impact of generative AI on the economy, society, and work is polarizing, swinging from the positive benefits of a technological revolution to doomsday scenarios. The authors have come to think about this issue as points on a spectrum and have created a sports analogy to help think about it: AI tools can range from steroids, to sneakers, to a coach, each representing a different relationship between human users and the technology. Steroids elevate short-term performance, but leave you worse off in the long term. AI-powered tools can instead be used to augment peopleâs skills and make them more productive â much like a good running sneaker. On the most desirable end of the spectrum, AI-powered tools can be used like a coach that improves peopleâs own capabilities. This framework can be used to help conceptualize how we might craft AI-based tools that enhance rather than diminish human capabilities.
Page-utils class= article-utilsâvertical hide-for-print data-js-target= page-utils data-id= tag: blogs.harvardbusiness.org, 2007/03/31:999.368607 data-title= A Sports Analogy for Understanding Different Ways to Use AI data-url=/2023/12/a-sports-analogy-for-understanding-different-ways-to-use-ai data-topic= AI and machine learning data-authors= Jake M. Hofman; Daniel G. Goldstein; David M. Rothschild data-content-type= Digital Article data-content-image=/resources/images/article_assets/2023/11/Nov23_22_200404124-001-383x215.jpg data-summary=
Will next-gen tools be used as a steroid, sneaker, or coach?
Volcanoes or Asteroid? AI Ends Debate Over Dinosaur Extinction Event
To address the long-standing debate about whether a massive asteroid impact or volcanic activity caused the extinction of dinosaurs and numerous other species 66 million years ago, a team at Dartmouth College took an innovative approach â they removed scientists from the debate and let the computers decide.
The researchers report in the journal Science a new modeling method powered by interconnected processors that can work through reams of geological and climate data without human input. They tasked nearly 130 processors with analyzing the fossil record in reverse to pinpoint the events and conditions that led to the Cretaceous âPaleogene (KâPg) extinction event that cleared the way for the ascendance of mammals, including the primates that would lead to early humans.
What caused dinosaursâ demise? Study says it wasnât only asteroids
Another event â volcanic eruptions â might have played a major role in wiping out the dinosaurs.
Ugurhan/iStock.
Two main events that could be responsible for all the chaos happened at the same time: massive volcanic activity called the Deccan Traps in India and Seychelles and a huge meteorite hitting Earth, creating the Chicxulub crater in Mexico.
The Fermi Paradox Compendium of Solutions & Terms
Go to https://buyraycon.com/isaacarthur to get 20 to 50% off sitewide! Brought to you by Raycon.
In the grand theater of the cosmos, amidst a myriad of distant suns and ancient galaxies, the Fermi Paradox presents a haunting silence, where a cacophony of alien conversations should exist. Where is Everyone? Or are we alone?
Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net.
Join Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthur.
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthur.
Support us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthur.
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.
SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShE
Credits:
The Fermi Paradox Compendium of Solutions & Terms.
Episode 420; November 9, 2023
Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur.
Editors: Donagh Broderick.
Graphics by:
Darth Biomech.
Jeremy Jozwik.
Katie Byrne.
Ken York YD Visual.
Legiontech Studios.
Sergio Botero.
Tactical Blob.
Udo Schroeter.
Music Courtesy of:
Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator.
Markus Junnikkala, âMemory of Earthâ
Stellardrone, âRed Giantâ, âUltra Deep Fieldâ
Sergey Cheremisinov, âLabyrinthâ, âForgotten Starsâ
Miguel Johnson, âThe Explorersâ, âStrange New Worldâ
Aerium, âFifth star of Aldebaranâ, âWindmill Forestsâ, âDeiljochtâ
Lombus, âCosmic Soupâ
Taras Harkavyi, âAlpha andâŠâ
0:00:00 Intro.