Lifeboat Foundation

David Brin: “Stephen Hawking writes that rising inequality makes this the most dangerous time for our planet. Why? In America and the West, inequality has only been rising (at accelerating rates) for a few decades, from its lowest levels in human history. 99% of our ancestors lived in far steeper hierarchies. So, in a sense, what’s the fuss?”

“Simple. The vast creativity of a middle class society made us so productive we could avoid a Malthusian collapse. But if we return to feudalism — as our New Oligarchs intend — then all of that will collapse. But seven billions won’t go down quietly. A billion of them have vast technological tools and skills that would make Robspierre, Lenin, Mao or Osama gulp with envy. You do NOT want to see the technical castes radicalize…”

“… yet that is exactly what the Murdoch-Koch + foreign oligarchs seem to have in mind. And that is why rising inequality is an existential threat to all humanity. Because we are led by conniving oligarchs who are clearly way, way less smart than they think they are. “.

Continue reading “This is the most dangerous time for our planet” »

A new TED Talk from the author behind The Social Network features an oddly compelling story about the existence of aliens.

To understand if the world is getting worse you have to look at the past data to see. So many people suggest we are heading for dystopia especially when talking about increased lifespans through technology but this doesnt really measure up against the facts. Life has never been so good and worth fighting for!

A common objection to increased lifespans is that the world is either already a horrible place or heading into some kind of sci-fiction dystopia not worth living. There are problems in the world but this article shows just how much science and technology has improved lives for decades.

The truth is there are problems in the world but nothing that we cannot overcome if we try. The world is a wonderful place, there is every reason to want to be alive and experience it and technology could let us live longer to enjoy it even more.

Continue reading “A history of global living conditions in 5 charts” »

More progress in treating MS.

In findings that show the effectiveness of a new strategy for treating multiple sclerosis (MS), researchers are reporting positive results from three large, international, multicenter Phase III clinical trials of the investigational drug ocrelizumab (brand name Ocrevus) in both relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS).

The trial results are published online on Dec. 21, 2016, in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), and are discussed in an accompanying editorial.

Continue reading “Positive multiple sclerosis clinical trial suggests ‘unprecedented’ effects in relapsing form of the disease” »

From soft exoskeletons to cloud-based, networked ‘brains’, these are the 7 robots pointing the way to the future #ftrobots

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Gb8H8aFAp5I

Humans’ relationship with technology is growing ever-more intimate. In a sense, we have already become cyborgs, tethered to our external electronic devices, outsourcing to them our memories, our sense of direction, our socializing, our lives. But, if the past year’s technological advancements are any indication, our relationship with technology is going to get a whole lot closer. Technology could one day soon become regularly integrated with our biology to manage disease and augment human ability. Here were some of the biggest breakthroughs of the past year on the cyborg front.

There’s really no sector in the United States (or much of the world) that has been untouched by the development of advanced manufacturing technologies – and no one seems to be underestimating the importance of the further development of those technologies in order to keep the country competitive. To that end, in 2014 the government established the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI), more commonly known as Manufacturing USA.

The program brought together the industrial, academic, nonprofit and governmental sectors to establish a network of advanced manufacturing institutes for the purpose of accelerating new manufacturing technologies. President Obama proposed that the network grow to 45 institutes over the course of 10 years, and as of today, 12 have been established. The 12th, which was just announced by the Department of Defense, will be the Advanced Tissue Biofabrication (ATB) Manufacturing USA Institute, and will be led by the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI), based in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Continue reading “Advanced Tissue Biofabrication (ATB) Manufacturing USA Institute Will Focus on 3D Bioprinting Among Other Biofabrication Technologies” »

We say a fond farewell to 18 men and women who left a lasting impression on the tech industry.

The US Missile Defense Agency and Navy have test-launched two SM-6 missiles in a ballistic missile defense test. See the photos here.