18 Thursday Sep 2014
Posted in News
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author, invisibility, invisible, metamaterials, News, Science, science fiction, science news, Stephanie Beavers, writer
I know I’ve posted on this topic before, but I just had to share this video:
11 Thursday Sep 2014
Posted in News
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aging, author, genetics, live forever, Science, science fiction, science news, senescence, Stephanie Beavers, writer
Scientists Remotely Activate Genetic Target To Slow Aging Process (IFLS)
Okay, so not forever (yet), but 30% longer. Still, cool news in science.
By triggering a certain gene, scientists have increased the life span of some fruit flies by 30%. Basically, age makes us more susceptible to health problems as it our bodies lose the ability to regulate process and prevent disease. This gene, when activated, helps stave off that decline. So not only would the life span be 30% longer, it would add healthy years… and that’s pretty cool (especially if you’ve ready any fables about foolish heroes wishing for everlasting life and living a decrepit existence for the rest of eternity).
Researcher David Walker had the following to say:
We are not there yet, and it could, of course, take many years, but that is our goal and we think it is realistic.
The ultimate aim of our research is to promote healthy aging in people.
Of course, this is an example of playing with genetics, and we all know how insanely complex the human body is. Will this have other repercussions that we don’t know about yet? And even if it is as good as it sounds, what then? I’m always curious about the consequences of scientific advancement. 30% longer life spans wouldn’t have that big of an impact on the world… surely? Or would we see an increase in overpopulation? Or something else?
What do you think, readers? What are the best and worst case scenarios? Give me your thoughts!
08 Monday Sep 2014
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author, communication, cyborg, cyborgs, future, News, psychic, psychics, Science, science fiction, science news, Stephanie Beavers, writer
Direct Brain-To-Brain Communication Used in Humans (IFLS)
The Science Daily Press release on the same subject
It’s true. Human beings have now exchanged thoughts. What’s more, they did with 8,000 kilometers separating them. On one end, they read the brain activity of one person and transmitted it to the brain of the second person. The communication was very simple, and it had a small margin of error. This stuff may be small-scale, but it’s proof that it’s possible.
So the question is, is this where we’re headed? We can speak metaphorically about “living in the internet” and being cyborgs because we can’t put our phones down or leave our computers, but will we literally become cyborgs, with our computers in our heads?
Honestly, I find this terribly exciting, but I know I’m often an optimist about new technology. There are scary aspects to this kind of technology too. Are we also looking at the future of mind control?
So what do you think, readers? Where could this technology take us?
01 Monday Sep 2014
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anger, angry, author, emotions, Hulk, psychology, Science, science news, Stephanie Beavers, The Hulk, writer
Did you know this stuff about anger? I was fascinated.
The universal ‘anger face’: Each element makes you look physically stronger and more formidable
Apparently, the expression you make when you’re angry is universal. The same muscles act in the same way for everyone. Scientists have labeled this expression as a threat display. The reasoning is thus: those who are physically strong get their way more often, and your angry face changes the appearance of your face to imitate (or exaggerate) those facial features that we associate with those who are physically strong. So your angry face isn’t just scary because it means you’re angry, it also makes you more physically imposing.
GRRR!
Anger makes people want things more
So scientists conducted a study that indicated that anger motivated people to work harder to obtain something than they otherwise would have. After being exposed to subliminal messaging of various faces, people wanted items associated with angry faces more and worked harder for them. Perhaps even more interestingly? People had no idea that anger was behind their motivation.
…I wonder, does this tie into that strange, contrary desire to want something more if you’re told you can’t have it?
What are your thoughts? Know any cool facts about anger?
25 Monday Aug 2014
Tags
author, color, fun, humanity, Is my red the same as your red, perception, philosophy, qualia, questions, red, Science, Stephanie Beavers, Vsauce, writer
I have a confession. I like philosophy. Especially metaphysics. I actually have a BA in Philosophy (minor in English). I don’t understand why people find it boring. Some of the questions philosophers get to ask are AWESOME. Like the following:
I guess some people might write off questions like this as frivolous, but I find them fascinating. This is the core of human curiosity. Questions like these are what birthed the sciences. Math, physics, chemistry, and most recently, psychology. How can questions like this be frivolous when they brought out every scientific revolution?
So what about you, dear reader? Did you find the video interesting? Why do you think so many people think philosophy is boring?
(In other news, this is my 100th post. Yay!)
18 Monday Aug 2014
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author, brain, chip, helicoptors, hummingbirds, ibm, life, nature, News, Science, science fiction, science news, Stephanie Beavers, technology, writer
Hummingbirds Are More Efficient Than Helicopters When It Comes To Hovering
IBM Reveals Incredible New Brain-Inspired Chip
I recommend reading both these articles (they’re cool) but the titles really convey all you need to know for this blog entry.
To me, articles like these are reminders to stop and reflect on how amazing life is. Life itself is a miracle. We exist in such beautiful, wonderful complexity, and we only barely understand the physical aspects of our existence, nevermind the spiritual aspects. This fills me with awe.
Sometimes it seems like scientists (at least as represented in pop culture) are too confident that we know all there is to know, or that humans know and can do better than nature. But really? It’s reassuring to see scientists looking to the world around us and realizing that there is still so much to learn. Even looking at the tiny, beautiful hummingbird, so fragile, yet so powerful, can teach us how to better build machines that can fly us around the world. Looking at the human brain can allow us to improve upon machines that can calculate equations no human brain could process without aids (if only a writing instrument and surface).
Sometimes people ask writers where they came up with their ideas. Especially in fantasy, given how departed it can be from reality. And one part of the answer… I think is awe. When I witness something and am filled with awe, I am inspired. I don’t know that art can be created without awe.
So what do you think? Do you think art comes from awe? Or do you think humanity can improve upon nature? Let me know in the comments, or share any other thoughts you might have.
07 Thursday Aug 2014
Tags
author, fantasy, humor, lab safety, lol, Science, science fiction, Stephanie Beavers, superpowers, unicorns, writer
SCIENCE!
Teleportation, preferably.
21 Monday Jul 2014
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author, Friendly Robot, Jibo, robot apocalypse, robots, Science, science news, social robot, Stephanie Beavers, writer
This Friendly Robot Could One Day Be Your Family’s Personal Assistant
Okay, so this is awesome. Jibo is coming.
Jibo is a social robot.
The physical equivalent of voice-command AI like Siri, Jibo will do stuff like search things in the internet and “look” at you when you talk. …At least they don’t seem to have human-looking faces. I’ve always agreed with Spooner on that one. Creeeeeeeeeepy.
Detective Del Spooner: Why do you give them faces? Try to friendly them all up, make them look more human.
-I, Robot
He’s supposed to come to market late 2015 for $550-$600, and apparently he’s to be crowd-funded.
Here’s a video about Jibo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N1Q8oFpX1Y
So what do you think? Creepy? Adorable? Useful? Sad?
Sure, it all seems sweet and innocent now… ;)
14 Monday Jul 2014
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alone, author, boredom, Science, science news, Stephanie Beavers, writer
Now here’s an interesting study for you. A handful of researchers decided to find out how people reacted to being alone with their thoughts. The article:
Just think: The challenges of the disengaged mind
In 11 studies, we found that participants typically did not enjoy spending 6 to 15 minutes in a room by themselves with nothing to do but think, that they enjoyed doing mundane external activities much more, and that many preferred to administer electric shocks to themselves instead of being left alone with their thoughts. Most people seem to prefer to be doing something rather than nothing, even if that something is negative.
Idle hands (and minds) are the devil’s workshop? Apparently.
Unfortunately I haven’t read the actual study, just a summarized version by Yahoo News, but even just the summary raises interesting questions.
Personally, I like the occasional bit of free time to just relax inside my own head. I don’t do it as much as I used to (ah, the demands of life), but I accredit many of my best ideas to such moments.
Through the ages, great thinkers have bemoaned that not enough people just sit and think, but I wonder, is sitting and thinking now harder than it’s ever been, in our world of constant distractions? What would happen if we all gave our lives a little more thought, I little more- OH LOOK, SQUIRREL!
What about you, dear readers? Can you do it? Can you turn off your phone and your computer and just sit with your thoughts for 15 minutes? Would you enjoy it? I’m curious to know!
30 Monday Jun 2014
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apocalypse, author, computers, computing, machine, Science, science fiction, science news, Stephanie Beavers, technology, writer
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…
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.
Stephanie Beavers 