Tag Archives: apocalypse

Vegetal Overlords Arise

23 Monday Nov 2015

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I seem to recall writing about super-plants taking over the world once before…oh yes, I For One Welcome Our Vegetal Overlords.

So you know, we are bringing our vegetal overlords into being: Scientists Develop World’s First Cyber Plant.

The scientists on this project say:

This technology could allow scientists to regulate growth and chemical processes in plants, as well as harness photosynthesis to create new solar cells.

Oh course, it could also help our vegetal overlords reach new heights. Cyborg humans? Boring. Thing of the past. Cyborg plants? Plague of the future.

Seriously though, the article is cool and you should read it. The possibilities are vast, from learning more about plants and how they work, to turning plants into digital displays.

What do you think, readers? Seriously cool, or seriously another step towards the apocalypse? What’s next in the rise of our vegetal overlords?

We Created Robots, Then Said, “Be Fruitful and Multiply”

17 Monday Aug 2015

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IFLS: “Mother” Robot Builds Evolving Babies

The end is nigh: we have taught robots to create other robots, and not only that, but for each successive generation to be more efficient and effective than the last.

I am not the first to comment that teaching robots to not only build, but improve upon, themselves might not be the best idea. I seem to recall a line from I, Robot that also lamented this lack of foresight. The Stargate series also had robots called Replicators that could do this that frequently threatened to kill everything, everywhere.

stargate-replicator

But still, this is really cool. Maybe we can learn more about intelligent evolution and how to better design and breed things. And of course, it will save us time and energy if we can work alongside machines to the same end.

Providing it’s the same end, and they don’t decide we’re taking up too much space and resources and start a robot apocalypse.

But this is just a first step. The assembly-line “Mama” robot is given a few pieces and creates her “babies” with those pieces. Then “she” watches them walk down the table. “Better” babies are able to walk further, faster. After 10 generations of babies, there is a distinct improvement in their efficiency.

Meet the instrument of our demise:

What do you think, readers?

Parks for the End of Time

01 Monday Dec 2014

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Solar Technology Could Make Underground Parks In Cramped Cities Possible

Good news, everybody! After the surface of the earth has been reduced to a toxic wasteland, these guys will have a way to create scenic nature areas underground. (For those of us who hate how blah and dirty post-apocalyptic refuges are in movies and whatnot, this is excellent news.) The Lowline project seeks to redirect solar energy from the sunlight above on the streets to their underground park, a former trolley terminal. They’re also going to keep some of the terminal’s history alive, adding a little culture to complement the nature they plan to cultivate.

solar underground park trees

Really though, I think this is an awesome idea. One of the problems with cities is their impact on nature. Parks take up space, precious real estate that people want to capitalize on. “Building up” doesn’t work great with parks… but what about down? I hope these guys get the funding they need to make this underground park a reality. Let’s hear it for a little more nature!

What do you think, readers? Cool and innovative or impractical and silly?

The Future of Computing

30 Monday Jun 2014

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New Type Of Computer Capable Of Calculating 640TBs Of Data In One Billionth Of A Second, Could Revolutionize Computing

So, exciting news! Computers are about to take a quantum leap.

Now, anyone who loves technology has GOT to be excited about this. Can you imagine where this will take us? I’m all gung-ho for virtual reality. Y’know, like Sword Art Online and .hack and the Matrix? Toes have been dipped in those waters, but this kind of processing speed would put things on a whole new level.

And if you haven’t heard, this new technology is a total overhaul of the old; introduce silicon photonics instead of copper wiring, and clusters of specialized cores instead of more generalized ones. We will be able to sneeze at petabytes. Petabytes.

And since it’s not creepy at all, HP is calling this what? The Machine. …Anyone else watch Person of Interest? At least they didn’t call it Samaritan…

mushroom cloud evil computer apocalypse

One step closer to the robot apocalypse


One step closer to the robot apocalypse.

In all seriousness, however, it’s this kind of power in the hands of the general public that scares me. “Revolution” isn’t a frivolous concept. Computer security will become non-existent if this is released to joe-public all at once. And as much as I love all my freedoms, there are bad people out there who could take serious advantage of this. With that kind of power, hacking a bank would be easy. Easier than easy.

What do you think, dear readers? What excites you about this prospect? What terrifies you? I’d love to hear.