Climate Change and Ski Resorts: Nope, not Friends

It should come as no surprise that as the climate changes, that ski resorts are in danger. Seriously.

Whether or not humans are to blame, we really have to get a handle on this.

Source:
https://www.carbonbrief.org/swiss-ski-resorts-could-see-70-percent-drop-in-snow-cover-as-climate-warms

Kim Jong Nam and death by VX: the perils of chemistry

What is disturbing is that the article has photos of barrels upon barrels of VX, of which a single drop can kill a person.

One reason, I think, why people shouldn't do everything just because they can is that other people may use it for malicious reasons. Yes, this is in conflict with my belief that people should keep on exploring and discovering. But I do believe that explorers and discoverers should keep in mind how to keep things in control. After all, the human race has proven itself to be capable of suicide by stupidity.

source:
https://futurism.com/4-heres-some-facts-about-the-deadly-chemical-used-against-kim-jong-nam/

Shockwaves in an Asteroid Apocalypse

It's not impact, but the shockwave. All I can say is, it makes sense. Heck, a large enough asteroid can just graze our atmosphere, but if the shockwave and resulting "splinters" are enough, then we're in trouble.

Source:
http://gizmodo.com/we-were-wrong-about-how-the-asteroid-apocalypse-will-go-1792727736

From Time: Censorship and a Giraffe giving birth

All I can say is: I don't have the correct number of hands to do the facepalms I feel about this.

Source:
http://time.com/4681702/youtube-suspends-giraffe-birth-feed/

Cholesterol, and its effect on how the brain works

It seems that cholesterol affects more than the heart. It also seems to affect the adenosine receptors in the brain. Understanding how this works may have major ramifications for treating diseases like Alzheimer's and others like it.

Summary:
"A study demonstrates that the cholesterol present in cell membranes can interfere with the function of an important brain membrane protein, through a previously unknown mode of interaction. Specifically, cholesterol is capable of regulating the activity of the adenosine receptor, by invading it and accessing the active site. This will allow new ways of interacting with these proteins to be devised that in the future could lead to drugs for treating diseases like Alzheimer's."
Source:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170223114836.htm

Writing the future: AIs can now write their future generations

Artificial Intelligence writing the code for the next generation needs to be looked at very closely. The science fiction ramifications of AIs making AIs may sound exaggerated, but we really should be ready for anything.

On the other hand, we should also consider if we're giving birth to the logical next step in evolution for any sentient organism originating from Earth.

Source:
https://futurism.com/4-our-computers-are-learning-how-to-code-themselves/

An AI Butler?

Well, this looks like a good idea in terms of time-saving automation, but it also opens an individual to more hack attacks, and, I would think, has serious ramifications for artificial intelligence as an assistant. I am sure that the Butlerian Jihad in the Dune book series is now a branch probability in our timeline.

Source:
https://futurism.com/videos/this-robot-can-recognize-you-check-your-email-and-more/

Living Longer: Expectancy at 90

As we now approach longer life expectancies, the true concern now will be how the global economy, production capacity, and healthcare outlook will adapt to this fact.

Source:
http://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2017/02/22.htm

Artificial Intelligence and Ethics: We need to embrace them as our children

As we develop artificial intelligence that becomes smarter and closer to true sentience, we have to increasingly start thinking of them as children - if not our children personally, then our children as a race, or a species.

It will be of paramount importance, then, to teach them not only what they need for the job at hand, but also for how they will treat others, including ourselves. Call it a certain amount of self-preservation, but let's face it, we've already done the thought experiments on this, through stories in science fiction.

Source:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/feb/26/why-we-must-teach-morality-to-robots

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/audio/2017/feb/26/a-neuroscientist-explains-teaching-morality-to-robots-podcast

The Rise of Robot Overlords: Not as Tyrants, But as the New MIddle Class

As the blue- and white-collar jobs are disappearing because of automation and artificial intelligence, it seems that some of the science fiction we've been reading or watching in the past are right. The way forward for humanity to keep on working and participating in their civilization's development is to adapt to what artificial intelligence cannot do.

For me, that would mean that we have to develop the aesthetic and art aspects of our education even more, but without sacrificing basic understanding of how technology works. It may also mean that we should definitely emphasize some college courses that will be for people to learn how to keep on building technology. And, of course, we really have to get space programs going, as the desire to explore and expand may be humanity's way of "getting away" from the AI/automation issue. We only need to look at our history during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance to know why we need to seek distant shores. The middle class, it seems, will be transformed into one that explores, builds, and dreams.

It would also mean that we have to change our whole operating system, as it were, for technology and lifestyle. Does this mean the end of consumerism/capitalism? I don't think so, but rather, they should evolve. In one way, I am disturbed, as development could go in a direction where it will be more about roles and usefulness in society, even for the arts. This would be similar to a bee hive, or an insect community. On the other hand, we may be looking at a future that is closer to the community ships in Wall-E.

And the sad part is, if we go full-on dystopia, what we're looking at is, in essence, the Megapolis societies of Judge Dredd.

And it all starts with what is happening now.

Article inspired by this Wired article; image taken from the same: https://www.wired.com/2017/02/ai-threat-isnt-skynet-end-middle-class/

The Deadpool Conundrum: Telomeres and Cancer

Deadpool, the comic book character, was a man who had incredible healing abilities, but was disfigured because somehow, his body was also riddled with tumors or cancerous growths. Now, it seems that whoever wrote that into his power set was right on the scientific level: if your telomeres are too long, then you have a higher risk for cancer. In order to keep on going, people in the future may have to periodically subject themselves to gene therapy to adjust telomere sizes for an optimum lifespan without getting the cancer risk.

It's kinda like a built-in anti-obsolescence system. It makes you wonder if our instinctive knowledge of this mechanism in our bodies is the basis for how consumer technology is made.

Source: http://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2017/01/13.htm

Hard or Soft? The new MetaMaterials.

Scientists have now developed a material that can be hard or soft, depending on the force, impact, or stress applied to the object. It reminds me of that Mythbuster episode that looked into mixtures that had a very high surface tension.

In any case, this sort of material would be very useful in safety measures and other similar applications.

Article: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170123214734.htm

In Russia, the civilian application of a railgun is to shoot supplies to the ISS. Granted, some movies, TV shows, and anime series have already used the idea (known as mass drivers), but now that it IS possible, it feels a bit uncomfortable.

Also, it sets up the whole "In Russia..." kind of joke.

Source: https://futurism.com/dasvidaniya-russia-successfully-tests-new-weapon-that-can-blow-away-any-type-of-armor/

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Synthezoids, Androids, and Recombinants, oh, my!

It looks like researchers have taken another step into sci-fi territory with partially synthetic DNA.

Source: https://www.engadget.com/2017/01/23/stable-semi-synthetic-organism/

Hydrogels: Medical Marvel and Android building block?

Hydrogels can be one's artificial skin, a medical drug patch system, or even flexible circuitry, sensors, and "skinning" for androids and robots. We're getting ever closer to the science fiction future.

It actually reminds me of whenever Data from ST:TNG is injured, or perhaps the scalp-like thing that was seen in Westworld.

2,000-year-old Bog Butter Found

All I am thinking of, is if the scientists say it is still edible... did someone taste it? If so, I would like to shake that person's hand. At the same time, given that I have an ambulance standing by to the nearest quarantine center or ER facility, I would like to taste even a little bit of that butter myself.

Source: http://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/08/03/2000-years-old-lump-butter-unearthed-northern-ireland/

SunnyBag Leaf+: Solar Power on the Go

The new Leaf+ system for SunnyBag is one that I wouldn't mind having. Since I usually have at least one mobile device with me, having the option to keep the power up while traveling around the city is already a big come-on for me. The real use for this, however, would be for hikers and, perhaps, mountain climbers - anyone who wants to go to the great outdoors, but have the option to take their devices with them.

The Future is Here: Big developments in science in the next five years

With advances in artificial intelligence, the internet of things, and data collection (both in terms of database development and sensors/methods), expect our world to be very different by the time the next decade chimes in.

http://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2017/01/6.htm

Full list: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLaFe0BJiho2pTlN9_PAHgiwQBotFEbykQ&v=DnYUNQVcVnI

Turning Swords into Ploughshares: Biodegradable Training Ammunition

Keeping things green when it comes to instruments of war has a somewhat ridiculous ring to it - but hey, at least they're doing it... right?

"A new initiative from the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program could change the environmental impact of training ammunition. According to a notice placed on the SBIR site, “the US Army manufactures and consumes hundreds of thousands of training rounds.” Those rounds end up in the environment, posing an ecological risk as they can take hundreds of years to degrade naturally."

https://futurism.com/the-us-military-is-making-biodegradable-ammo-that-turns-into-flowers/

Copy Corruption: Failing Clones

As in PC hard drives and classic facsimile machines, it seems that errors in copying data is at the root of why cloning has so many failures. The solution to this will probably lead to a revolution in biology and medicine.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161209184310.htm