October 31, 2017

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October 30, 2017

Asteroid mining, lab-grown meat, and more:

these five watershed moments in science and technology will change the world - and some sooner than we may think.
...
The eco-burger of the future will be grown in a vat, by taking animal stem cells and feeding them nutrients until they grow into pieces of tissue large enough to eat.
...
Nine out of every 10 road accidents happen because of human error, a term that covers everything from speeding and drink driving to simply not paying attention. Industry experts project that switching to automated vehicles could eliminate these accidents and so prevent 90% of traffic-related deaths.
...
Blockchain advocates believe the answer is to forget about banks altogether.
...
fusion reactions are safe and produce virtually no radioactive waste.
...
Asteroid mining may sound like something out of Star Trek, but several companies take it very seriously.
...
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20171029-five-big-ideas-and-when-theyll-happen

October 30, 2017

Record surge in atmospheric CO2 seen in 2016

Concentrations of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere surged to a record high in 2016, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Last year's increase was 50% higher than the average of the past 10 years.

Scientists say this risks making global temperature targets largely unattainable.

Emissions from human sources have slowed down in the last couple of years according to research, but according to Dr Tarasova, it is the cumulative total in the atmosphere that really matters as CO2 stays aloft and active for centuries.

Another concern in the report is the continuing, mysterious rise of methane levels in the atmosphere, which were also larger than the average over the past ten years. Prof Nisbet says there is a fear of a vicious cycle, where methane drives up temperatures which in turn releases more methane from natural sources.

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-41778089

Aren't you glad to know climate change is a hoax and not the first horseman.

October 30, 2017

The Americans who can't read

The US has more citizens who are illiterate - some 16 million people - than many of its developed counterparts.

http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-41754308/the-americans-who-can-t-read

In addition to depriving lower class schools of money and effort, we are creating Bloviator votes.

October 30, 2017

Advanced artificial limbs mapped in the brain

EPFL scientists from the Center for Neuroprosthetics have used functional MRI to show how the brain re-maps motor and sensory pathways following targeted motor and sensory reinnervation (TMSR), a neuroprosthetic approach where residual limb nerves are rerouted towards intact muscles and skin regions to control a robotic limb.

Surprisingly, the study showed that motor cortex maps of the amputated limb were similar in terms of extent, strength, and topography to individuals without limb amputation...

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-10-advanced-artificial-limbs-brain.html

New Image for the new us.
Borg: resistance is futile because they are so friendly.
Borg: Best body for a billion light years. No oil required.
Borg: Radiation in outer space is like sun bathing.
Borg never get arthritis.
Borg do it better.

October 29, 2017

'Bloody hour': Israeli bar discount for women on period

I squirm at this but I am a dead-woman-walking, so what do I know. And why should I be squeamish, damn it. We hear about men's prostates all the time. Is that any better to contemplate? I am woman: I bleed.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-41793103

Isn't this all part of the anti-harassment thing?

But, I had a thought the other day. What if we have it all backwards? Anthropologists tell horror stories of women condemned to stay in a hut alone, away from the village, away from prying neighbors, away from nagging husbands, needy children, obnoxious mother-in-laws. Every month. Can't do the washing, feeding, digging, hunting, cooking, cleaning, weaving, etc, etc, etc.
Maybe an entire week every month.

Shunned to rest, silence, relaxation. Who started this rule? Or rather, who made men think they started this rule? If you are going to be miserable, why not be miserable in peace and quiet.

October 29, 2017

AI method to upscale low-resolution images to high-resolution

Is this available or going to be over-the-counter soon? I have boxes of illegible photos I can't throw away. Trying to learn GIMP but don't speak the language, so this would be great.

https://techxplore.com/news/2017-10-small-pixel-perfect-large.html

October 29, 2017

I keep saying nothing can surprise me any more

then
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/you-see-coat-hook-toilet-12893792?service=responsive

Talk about harassment!