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/

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/

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/

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/

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.

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

Graphene: Supermaterial

It used to be that the big thing limiting development was, in part, the lack of supermaterials - heck, super robots like the ones we see in movies are probably not at all ppossible, unless we can come up with the right materials with the right properties to make fast-moving megastructures.

And then, of course, graphene came in...

http://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2017/01/12-2.htm

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

NASA's EM-Drive still under scrutiny

Some skeptical scientists are positing that the weak thrust from the EM-Drive might actually be an artefact. In other words, the EM-Drive might not actually work.

There's much more testing, repetition, and analysis to be done in finding out if this propulsion system works - and that is the way science should be, if we want to eventually move forward to finding a propulsion system that does work efficiently for the purposes of space travel.

https://futurism.com/expert-in-advanced-propulsion-says-nasas-em-drive-results-are-likely-not-valid/

3D-printed Lungs

It's not science fiction anymore; although it will probably take some more time to come up with fully-functioning, implantable 3D-printed organs, the idea of using them for modeling and preparation is here. The next big challenge is to make this technology affordable - we don't want an Elysium situation here, right?

https://futurism.com/new-synthetic-human-lung-is-quite-literally-a-breath-of-fresh-air/

Elon Musk, Tesla, and the Global Tug-of-War

You know that a big change is coming when countries are vying to get Tesla's production contracts. Let's hope that it doesn't fizzle out, that people realize that it's time to think long-term about energy production and its consequences.

https://futurism.com/the-worlds-nations-are-fighting-over-tesla/

https://player.vimeo.com/video/108958187

Tidal Turbine Array now powering up homes in Nova Scotia

As a believer in alternative cleaner sources of energy, I welcome this development.

"Cape Sharp Tidal, a joint venture between Emera and OpenHydro, is now lighting up homes in Nova Scotia, Canada, after being successfully connected to the grid. North America’s largest tidal turbine array, this 2 megawatt (MW) machine weighs 1,000 tons and is the height of a five-storey building when fitted on its base. Following deployment in the Bay of Fundy, a marine operations team safely connected its subsea cable to an onshore substation and then thoroughly tested the entire system, including all monitors and communications links. More than 300 people have been employed on the project in areas such as fabrication, environmental monitoring, engineering, health and safety and marine services."

http://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2016/11/25-2.htm

Google's new AI-powered algorithms

As Google's work on deep neural networks progresses, I do hope they have some hardcore safeties built into it. On one end, we may get the equivalent of Asimov's Multivac, where we will, essentially create the being that will state "Fiat Lux" for our next universal cycle. On the other, we're looking at Matrix, Hal, and whole bunch of other AI horror stories. I honestly have no problems, though, if we end up creating post-organic life as our next evolutionary step - just as long as we don't get forcibly "phased out" in the process.

Let's keep on going!
https://futurism.com/google-just-launched-new-ai-powered-algorithms/

Zooids: Swarming Tech?

This new development in robotics is interesting in that it allows for the advantages of swarming. This could be very useful once complex instructions are brought into play, for everything from exploration to maintenance.

http://futurism.com/videos/these-tiny-insect-like-robots-can-bring-you-your-phone/