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Lifeboat News #152

#152

Lifeboat News

This issue published on 03/01/15. Copyright 2015 Lifeboat Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

Interactive Friendly AI

We have made progress on our Interactive Friendly AI project and have a prototype available at http://lifeboat.com/ai
 
The most interesting part of this project is that our AI can use multiple engines both hosted at lifeboat.com and elsewhere. If you have an engine that you wish to include in this project, let us know. We can also host any engine of your choice at lifeboat.com.
 
Even if you are not a programmer you can provide flowcharts detailing questions and answers you think our AI should know. Email [email protected] with the subject "Lifeboat Foundation AI" if you wish to help in any way including providing feedback.

STEM Iraq: Colonization of Moon and Mars

Our David Evans, Philip T. Metzger, and Robert Zubrin have worked together to create the video "STEM Iraq: Colonization of Moon and Mars". This video was filmed with Kurdish students in Erbil City, Iraq while ISIS was being battled back from the gates of this city. Learn more about the battle at http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/iraq-kurdish-p...-1488480
 
The video is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0Jy4Q6HF3M and is featured on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/lifeboathq
 
If you have the ability to help us further improve this video, email [email protected] with the subject "Lifeboat Foundation Video".

Free Animations for Aerospace Groups

We are looking for aerospace groups that would like their concept animated. This can be anything from the colonization of Mars to space planes. Last year's project was the Lunar-based Space Elevator for LiftPort: https://youtu.be/W1IMALXPppE
 
General rules for these animations are: 1) The students are fully credited for their work. 2) We need someone from the group to provide technical assistance so the animations are as accurate as possible. This may include weekly emails or Skype sessions. We need someone who is reliable. 3) These animations typically go to nonprofit organizations.
 
If you are interested, email [email protected] with the subject "Lifeboat Foundation Animations".

Blog Contest

Anyone who posts to our blog gets a chance to win a signed copy of "Edge of Dark".
 
What if a society banished its worst nightmare to the far edge of the solar system, destined to sip only dregs of light and struggle for the barest living. And yet, that life thrived? It grew and learned and became far more than you ever expected, and it wanted to return to the sun. What if it didn't share your moral compass in any way? Learn about "Edge of Dark" at http://amzn.to/16IfFLV
 
The deadline for the contest is April 30. If you need access to our blog, send an email with the subject of "Lifeboat Foundation blog" to [email protected].

Upcoming Books

Our books "Visions of the Future" and "Prospects for Human Survival" are getting closer to publication. View the cover of Visions at http://lifeboat.com/images/visions.of.t...dium.jpg

Blog

Mark Nall joins our blog team with the post "The Robotic Double-Edged Sword" at http://lifeboat.com/blog/2015/03/the-ro...ge-sword
 
Other recent interesting blog posts include:
 
"100 Year Starship Establishes EU Hub in Brussels to Advance Space, Science and Technology Initiatives with European Partners" by Jason Batt at http://lifeboat.com/blog/2015/03/100-ye...partners
 
"Blockchain meets Artificial Intelligence" by Rob Chamberlain at http://lifeboat.com/blog/2015/03/blockc...lligence
 
"Can Ethereum help eliminate corruption and bureaucracy in the developing world? Could Ethereum One Day Transform Law, Finance, and Civil Society?" by Rob Chamberlain at http://lifeboat.com/blog/2015/03/can-et...ng-world
 
"Clean Disruption of Energy and Transportation: book review" by Jose Cordeiro at http://lifeboat.com/blog/2015/03/clean-...k-review
 
"Elon Musk: humans driving cars could one day become illegal" by Seb at http://lifeboat.com/blog/2015/03/elon-m...-illegal
 
"IBM Looking at Adopting Bitcoin Technology for Major Currencies" by Seb at http://lifeboat.com/blog/2015/03/ibm-lo...rrencies
 
"Intelligent robots must uphold human rights" by Seb at http://lifeboat.com/blog/2015/03/intell...n-rights
 
"Italian Researchers Expect 3D Printed Eyes by 2027, Providing Enhanced Vision & WiFi Connection" by Seb at http://lifeboat.com/blog/2015/03/italia...nnection
 
"Singularity? Reality? Humanity? Are there sophisticated Barbarians in Silicon Valley? Linking the Human Brain to the Computer — Exciting, or Frightening?" by Rob Chamberlain at http://lifeboat.com/blog/2015/03/singul...ghtening
 
"Space Privatization, Tourism And Morals" by Seb at http://lifeboat.com/blog/2015/03/space-...d-morals
 
"Transnationalism to Transhumanism: the Mont Order Club's video discussion" by Harry J. Bentham at http://lifeboat.com/blog/2015/03/transn...scussion
 
"The Wars of One: transhumans will finish what hackers and whistleblowers started" by Harry J. Bentham at http://lifeboat.com/blog/2015/03/the-wa...-started

Growing Membership

Recent donations/pledges we have received since our last newsletter:
 
Bob Joy: $230, Humberto Castaneda: $200, Michael Dickey: $85, Sergio M.L. Tarrero: $85, Philippe Van Nedervelde: $85, Kenneth P. Weiss: $85, Matthew L. McGuirl: $25, Anonymous: $10, Rebecca R. Cooper: $10, Alexander Macrae: $10, Aaron Mayzes: $10, Philip Morehead: $10, Roland Schiefer: $10, Joel D. Ticknor: $10, and Kelley White-Ricks: $10.
 
Our Join Us page at https://lifeboat.com/ex/join.us now allows you to pay for your membership anywhere from monthly to every ten years.