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Jan 25, 2019

One in five Americans wants to live forever

Posted by in categories: life extension, materials

While it might not be quite as big a concern, the environmental impact of death care is also something Americans are paying attention to. Around four in ten (41%) Americans are somewhat or very concerned about the environmental impact of traditional burial methods.

On a similar note, 45% agreed with the statement, “People need to rethink the way we currently deal with ‘death care’ in regard to the environment.” And 11% said that they would like to have a green burial with shrouds and biodegradable material after they die.

Some of the possible environmental impacts of a traditional burial include embalming fluid leaking into the soil, large amounts of water being used for cemetery maintenance, and wood and metal caskets leaving behind toxic residue.

Continue reading “One in five Americans wants to live forever” »

Jan 25, 2019

The best experts, books, and resources on Crispr

Posted by in category: genetics

Looking for the latest on Crispr? Here is all you need to know to keep knowing about the disruptive gene-editing technology.

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Jan 25, 2019

First Commercial SpaceShipTwo Flight Is Expected to Launch This Year

Posted by in categories: futurism, space

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson aims to fly to space on the first-ever commercial SpaceShipTwo flight in mid-2019.

On Thursday, Branson spoke about SpaceShipTwo on the CBS This Morning TV show, and how Virgin Galactic is collaborating with Under Armour to equip future astronauts with proper space attire and footwear, SpaceNews.com reported. During the interview, Branson said Virgin Galactic is conducting additional tests for the first commercial SpaceShipTwo flight, which is expected to take place later this year.

How soon do you see people in space wearing an @UnderArmour outfit?

Continue reading “First Commercial SpaceShipTwo Flight Is Expected to Launch This Year” »

Jan 25, 2019

Scientists Figured Out How to Send Secret Messages to Your Ear With Lasers

Posted by in category: military

Scientists have devised a way to communicate secretly by sending laser-transmitted messages directly into the area around a person’s ear.

Humans enjoy talking with one another, and often do so in ways that prevent eavesdroppers from listening in. This new research could have potential military applications—but who knows where else it might find use?

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Jan 25, 2019

Hubble’s deepest space image ever was three years in the making

Posted by in category: space

The Hubble space telescope has been in space for many years now. Of late it has had some challenges, including one that left its W ide Field Camera 3 non-functional for a while. Hubble is back at work, and scientists from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias have shared a new image that took three years to produce. The photo is the deepest image of the Universe ever taken from space.

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Jan 25, 2019

On Transhumanist Manifestos and Dilemmas

Posted by in categories: biological, transhumanism

It’s been almost 10 years since I wrote the first versions of Hamlet’s Transhumanist Dilemma and A Transhumanist Manifesto. And a lot has changed. Including my point of view.

I started with Hamlet. With asking a question: Will technology replace biology?

At the time I felt that this was the contemporary version of Shakespeare’s original human dilemma: to be or not to be.

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Jan 25, 2019

Volvo creates the living seawall in Sydney to help with plastic pollution

Posted by in categories: habitats, materials

Volvo is trying to help the problem of plastic pollution in the oceans by creating the Living Seawall, a new, creative approach to providing a habitat for marine life.

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Jan 25, 2019

Chinese Scientists Cloned Gene-Edited Monkeys With Horrifying Results

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

The monkeys exhibited anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia-like behaviors.

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Jan 25, 2019

Inside an otherworldly mission to prepare humans for Mars

Posted by in category: space

Braving deep isolation and sweaty spacesuits, six “analog astronauts” tested their tools, talents, and grit on a mock trip to the red planet.

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Jan 25, 2019

New therapy turns cancer cells into fat to stop it from spreading

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, neuroscience

Metastasis is the leading cause of death from cancer, occurring when cancer cells separate from the original tumor to proliferate elsewhere. These new cancer cells travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Since these bodily systems are thoroughly connected, cancer can spread to a variety of locations. Breast cancer, for example, “tends to spread to the bones, liver, lungs, chest wall, and brain.”

Cancer cell plasticity — an ability that allows cancer cells to shift physiological characteristics dramatically — fosters metastasis and is responsible for cancer’s resistance to treatments. To combat its resistance, researchers at the University of Basel in Switzerland decided to turn cancer’s cellular plasticity against itself. They used Rosiglitazone, an anti-diabetic drug, along with MEK inhibitors in mice implanted with breast cancer cells. Their aim was to alter the cancer cells.

The drug combination hijacked the breast cancer cells during epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process by which the cells undergo biochemical changes. EMT plays a role in many bodily functions, such as tissue repair. In unaltered cancer cells, EMT allows them to migrate away from the original tumor while maintaining their oncogenic properties.

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