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Feb 3, 2016

Can Your DNA Determine If You’re a Morning Person or Night Owl?

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics, neuroscience

New study identifies genetic variants associated with preference to mornings or nights.

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Feb 3, 2016

Scientists in Germany Take a Major Step Towards Nuclear Fusion

Posted by in categories: nuclear energy, particle physics

Excellent news!


Physicists in Germany have used an experimental nuclear fusion device to produce hydrogen plasma in a process similar to what happens on the Sun. The test marks an important milestone on the road towards this super-futuristic source of cheap and clean nuclear energy.

Earlier today in an event attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel (herself a PhD physicist), researchers from the Max Planck Institute in Greifswald turned on the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, an experimental nuclear fusion reactor. (Actually, the researchers let Merkel do the honors.) This €400 million ($435 million) stellarator is being used by physicists to test the technical viability of a future fusion reactor.

Continue reading “Scientists in Germany Take a Major Step Towards Nuclear Fusion” »

Feb 3, 2016

Homo Sapiens May Evolve into Homo Optimus

Posted by in category: wearables

A futurologist predicts that developments in wearable and implantable technology will cause Homo sapiens to evolve into Homo Optimus by 2050.

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Feb 3, 2016

“Some scientists refer to this as the Singularity. I call it Transcendence.”

Posted by in categories: biological, energy, neuroscience, robotics/AI, singularity, space

http://www.transcendencemovie.com/

Dr. Will Caster: “For 130,000 years, our capacity for reason has remained unchanged. The combined intellect of the neuroscientists, engineers, mathematicians and hackers in this auditorium pales in comparison to even the most basic AI. Once online, a sentient machine will quickly overcome the limits of biology. And in a short time, its analytical power will be greater than the collective intelligence of every person born in the history of the world. So now imagine such an entity with the full range of human emotion. Even self-awareness. Some scientists refer to this as ‘the Singularity’. I call it ’Transcendence’. The path to building such a super-intelligence requires us to unlock the most fundamental secrets of the universe. What is the nature of consciousness? Is there a soul? And if so, where does it reside?”

Luddite: “Dr. Caster.”

Continue reading “‘Some scientists refer to this as the Singularity. I call it Transcendence.’” »

Feb 3, 2016

To be human is to be Transhuman

Posted by in category: transhumanism

“We know what we are… we know not what we may be”

-Shakespeare.

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Feb 3, 2016

Scientists are poised to flip the switch on an experiment that could help provide the world with a clean and almost unlimited source of energy

Posted by in category: nuclear energy

GREIFSWALD, Germany (AP) — Scientists are poised to flip the switch on an experiment that could take them a step closer to the goal of generating clean and cheap nuclear power.

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Feb 3, 2016

How, not why, the human brain folds — By Leah Burrows | Harvard Gazette

Posted by in category: science

giphy

“The distinctive troughs and crests of the human brain are not present in most animals; highly folded brains are seen only in a handful of species, including some primates, dolphins, elephants, and pigs. In humans, folding begins in fetal brains around the 20th week of gestation and is completed only when the child is about 18 months old.”

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Feb 2, 2016

Opportunities in Cancer Nanotechnology: A Conversation with NCI’s Dr. Piotr Grodzinski

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, nanotechnology

Wonderful article on Nanotechnology and cancer with NCI’s Dr. Piotr Grodzinski. NCI established NCI’s with NCI’s Dr. Piotr Grodzinski. The article was published by declara.


Learn about Opportunities in Cancer Nanotechnology: A Conversation with NCI’s Dr. Piotr Grodzinski. Declara makes it easy to discover, share and organize knowledge. We empower individuals, organizations and countries to develop the knowledge needed to solve big problems.

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Feb 2, 2016

Skyrmions could be the path to faster, denser hard drives

Posted by in categories: computing, particle physics

Research on skyrmions suggests that the vortex-shaped particles could potentially be used in denser, faster storage.

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Feb 2, 2016

Apple takes interest in Stanford’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab

Posted by in categories: augmented reality, internet, virtual reality

Apple and any other tech company with an interest in consumer interactive experience (communications, gaming, internet, video/ streaming media) knows you will need VR to remain relevant; and who can do it best will be king.


Rumors are stating that Apple is investing heavily in virtual and augmented reality solutions.

Apple representatives are said to be visiting Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab quite a bit more often. Founding director Jeremy Bailenson told the folks over at The Wall Street Journal that Apple’s recent visits were the first since the lab that was founded in 2003. Bailenson had the following to say regarding the matter:

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