55 word story: The soul inheritance
A heart rending story. Good one. Keep it up Ritesh.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Emerging technologies
Ginger Kreig Dosier and Michael Dosier at Verge Labs (started in 2006) have created a biomanufactured brick in 2011. The brick can solidify from sand, urea and bacteria induced calcium chloride crystals.
Currently, technologies are being developed to create an industrial process for mass production of bio-bricks. There only drawback is they release ammonia in the process. Such ammonia release needs to be trapped, else it can endanger underground water.
The technology can be effectively used for creating bricks from sand dunes using waste like urine from swine industry and egg shells from poultry industry (for calcium).
Other future promising technologies are:
3D printing - to create three dimensional prototype models at home rather than in industries. Filabot by Rocknail Specialities is a popular 3D machine with plastic composites.
Sapphire fibre (to replace optical fibre) - Sapphire is a cheap and widely available material. It can be used for high energy applications. Clemson.edu is aggressively pursuing research on it.
Carbon nanotubes - Buckyballs or buckypapers as they are often called are more flexible than rubber and stronger than steel. Currently they cost around $60 per kg. University in England is developing an electrochemical process for industrial scale production of around 600 kg of nanotubes at $10/kg. Once this technology develops, lighter planes trucks cars elevators can be produced cheaply.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Pay per post review
Payperpost is an awesome site. It allows you to pay for each post made by you on your blog.
For instance, this post was made only to reflect the message given below.
The scum walks a prior viewer.
Is not it interesting how money will be made in virtual world with virtual currencies like bitcoin?
I am wondering how the currency will shape up for One World, One Government, One Currency.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Love in space
For humans to exist in space, they must love. They must even copulate. They need to have babies. Make them grow happily to create caring Neos of the future. Will space be a good territory for nurturing love? It should be.
There are lots of people on the planet who will give a good fuck in space just to get into a space rocket in the first place. Hence, there is no denying, that the will is there.
Now, the moot question is where to bring the technology from to sustain the entire reproductive system on a spacecraft, create a congenial environment for babies to grow? Also, there is one ethical question. Will space born Neos who have never physically interacted with Earth bound humans, ever develop an intimacy which is strong enough to care for Mother Earth and its lives? Or will they show a devil may care attitude towards us?
The moment care vanishes, the situation develops into us versus them. And that is not quite a cool thing to happen. Also, once the last Earth sourced human dies on the spacecraft, Neos are bound to feel alienated from Earth bound humans. Assuming such a human enters spacecraft at age 20 and survives for 50 more years, a space mission beyond 50 years in duration, will face serious alienation.
Technologies are developing really fast. Now smartphones can be controlled by gestures, voice and even eye-movements. Hence, the day is not far when the keyboard will die the death akin to a gramophone.
The focus on next, must not deviate us from the focus on the present moment. What we need to think about is - How can we sustain healthcare on spacecraft? Educate children, and create sort of multiple family structures within a single spacecraft? We need to create entire varied eco-system who do not follow a single rule to ensure the freedom of individuals is not stifled by the ruler. Minority voices must not get crushed if true. Hence, a legal system is required on spacecraft too.
In fact, almost entire Earth will have to be duplicated for the sake of love in space. The best way out would be to hop on a moon or an asteroid and make a colony on it. Than steer it into deep space. A spacecraft of such huge size which can accommodate entire human civilization and biological signatures of diverse ecosystem is best created on a large naturally available surface like a moon. The reason being, to create such vast artificial resources will consume a lot of Earth resource, also it will be prohibitively costly.
However, care will have to be taken how far we are capable of moving moon without disturbing the entire Solar system balance. Nothing should be done which might increase flux in the Solar system, causing a lot of trouble for Earth or other space objects. Love in space is not just about kissing and copulating. There is plenty more to think about.
There are lots of people on the planet who will give a good fuck in space just to get into a space rocket in the first place. Hence, there is no denying, that the will is there.
Now, the moot question is where to bring the technology from to sustain the entire reproductive system on a spacecraft, create a congenial environment for babies to grow? Also, there is one ethical question. Will space born Neos who have never physically interacted with Earth bound humans, ever develop an intimacy which is strong enough to care for Mother Earth and its lives? Or will they show a devil may care attitude towards us?
The moment care vanishes, the situation develops into us versus them. And that is not quite a cool thing to happen. Also, once the last Earth sourced human dies on the spacecraft, Neos are bound to feel alienated from Earth bound humans. Assuming such a human enters spacecraft at age 20 and survives for 50 more years, a space mission beyond 50 years in duration, will face serious alienation.
Technologies are developing really fast. Now smartphones can be controlled by gestures, voice and even eye-movements. Hence, the day is not far when the keyboard will die the death akin to a gramophone.
The focus on next, must not deviate us from the focus on the present moment. What we need to think about is - How can we sustain healthcare on spacecraft? Educate children, and create sort of multiple family structures within a single spacecraft? We need to create entire varied eco-system who do not follow a single rule to ensure the freedom of individuals is not stifled by the ruler. Minority voices must not get crushed if true. Hence, a legal system is required on spacecraft too.
In fact, almost entire Earth will have to be duplicated for the sake of love in space. The best way out would be to hop on a moon or an asteroid and make a colony on it. Than steer it into deep space. A spacecraft of such huge size which can accommodate entire human civilization and biological signatures of diverse ecosystem is best created on a large naturally available surface like a moon. The reason being, to create such vast artificial resources will consume a lot of Earth resource, also it will be prohibitively costly.
However, care will have to be taken how far we are capable of moving moon without disturbing the entire Solar system balance. Nothing should be done which might increase flux in the Solar system, causing a lot of trouble for Earth or other space objects. Love in space is not just about kissing and copulating. There is plenty more to think about.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Human longevity
Considerable research is being done to increase human longevity to sustain long space flights. The longest a human has survived on Earth is 122 years and the longest tree to have lived on Earth has managed 80,000 years. Hence, there must be a way out to stop senescence and increase life span atleast to match that of the longest living mammal - whales supposed to live even for 250 years.
Harvard scientist Ronald De Pinho and his team have managed to reverse ageing in mice.
Biological immortality:
Scientists are continuously experimenting with achieving biological immortality. Biological immortality has been observed in jellyfish, tapeworms, lobsters, hydra and microscopic organisms.
the life extension society is investing in technologies and studies like cryonics to save human bodies for future revival.
Fictitious concepts:
In Potter world, horcruxes, unicorn blood and resorting to evil means helped Voldemort achieve near immortality.
Religious concepts:
Buddhism says that anything which takes birth must die. Immortality is not a goal worth pursuing. Even the Universe, if it has taken a birth, must die one day. Even in celestial kingdoms, Gods die.
What can we do now?
In the present moment though, there is nothing much common humans can do except hope for a breakthrough from scientists and rely on the oft repeated old faith of consume less calories and make do with less. "Less is more" phrase best explains the ageing concept.
What we can aim for is expanding life span, not immortality. The lesser the physical wants, longer is the lifespan. Why should we do it? The longer we survive, the better chances are to develop a more advance brain. A new born baby spends almost twenty years learning all the knowledge he can grasp. So the learning time consumes a lot of life years. And there are just around twenty more active years, when the brain is in its prime form, before the pains of old age start playing catch up and disturb the ideas.
If we can expand life span, and increase quality of healthy life and active brain, there is a better chance of creating humans who are more intelligent and capable of coming up with more innovative theories, ideas and practices.
Harvard scientist Ronald De Pinho and his team have managed to reverse ageing in mice.
Biological immortality:
Scientists are continuously experimenting with achieving biological immortality. Biological immortality has been observed in jellyfish, tapeworms, lobsters, hydra and microscopic organisms.
the life extension society is investing in technologies and studies like cryonics to save human bodies for future revival.
Fictitious concepts:
In Potter world, horcruxes, unicorn blood and resorting to evil means helped Voldemort achieve near immortality.
Religious concepts:
Buddhism says that anything which takes birth must die. Immortality is not a goal worth pursuing. Even the Universe, if it has taken a birth, must die one day. Even in celestial kingdoms, Gods die.
What can we do now?
In the present moment though, there is nothing much common humans can do except hope for a breakthrough from scientists and rely on the oft repeated old faith of consume less calories and make do with less. "Less is more" phrase best explains the ageing concept.
What we can aim for is expanding life span, not immortality. The lesser the physical wants, longer is the lifespan. Why should we do it? The longer we survive, the better chances are to develop a more advance brain. A new born baby spends almost twenty years learning all the knowledge he can grasp. So the learning time consumes a lot of life years. And there are just around twenty more active years, when the brain is in its prime form, before the pains of old age start playing catch up and disturb the ideas.
If we can expand life span, and increase quality of healthy life and active brain, there is a better chance of creating humans who are more intelligent and capable of coming up with more innovative theories, ideas and practices.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Basics of space colonisation
In ancient times, autarkic societies developed. Soon humans organised themselves into groups forming religions, associations, states, countries, international bodies.
From a completely isolated economy of Earth, humans will soon reach out to close space. India's mission to Moon and Mars are finally taking shape. Countries like USA, China, Russia and European nations have already taken significant strides in developing robust space technologies.
Move into the future. We need to think how shall humans establish a colony in space. Once humans set foot there, those humans will need actions to execute, to keep them busy, to make them economically engaged citizens of human existence.
First we will set up space stations in Earth orbit like Mir, ISS.
Next, we will set up space stations in Moon and Mars orbit.
Third, we should set up a colony in Moon polar regions having regolith.
Fourth, Mars colonisation will begin in opportune areas.
Humans have or will develop technology to survive in space or Moon or Mars or beyond. The logical question is what kind of economically beneficial activities can they carry there for which Earthlings will pay them money?
Possible options are:
a) Mining
b) Research
c) Launching satellites into non-Earth orbits
d) Transport industry between Earth and non-Earth stations
The question worth asking next is will food be exported from Earth to Neoes (let Neo be the nick for human living beyond Earth's surface) or Neoes will create it by themselves? To grow food, Neoes will require artificial space, light, air, soil, water and the entire eco-system will have to be created.
The questions to be asked are multiple? Why to go beyond Earth? Where to go? How to go? When to go? At what cost? How much to go? And those who go might want to come back. So, the questions to ask further will be - Why to come back? How to come back? When to come back? At what cost?
Can we modify humans to such an extent that they don't need food at all? Can't we replace stomachs with bags which can digest any kind of matter? Can humans become robotic humanoids capable of sustaining themselves without organic food? There must be a solution to it too. With artificial organs, in-vitro fertilisation, stem cell research, genome mapping, one day humans might transform themselves into bots which will surprise even the likes of Arthur Clarke.
So, how much can we modify humans to suit space terrain? And how much can space terrain be transformed into a more habitable place for such modified humans? Neoes might look like a cross between artificially intelligent robots and humans. The question of "what is life" will also spring up soon in our quest of space colonisation.
From a completely isolated economy of Earth, humans will soon reach out to close space. India's mission to Moon and Mars are finally taking shape. Countries like USA, China, Russia and European nations have already taken significant strides in developing robust space technologies.
Move into the future. We need to think how shall humans establish a colony in space. Once humans set foot there, those humans will need actions to execute, to keep them busy, to make them economically engaged citizens of human existence.
First we will set up space stations in Earth orbit like Mir, ISS.
Next, we will set up space stations in Moon and Mars orbit.
Third, we should set up a colony in Moon polar regions having regolith.
Fourth, Mars colonisation will begin in opportune areas.
Humans have or will develop technology to survive in space or Moon or Mars or beyond. The logical question is what kind of economically beneficial activities can they carry there for which Earthlings will pay them money?
Possible options are:
a) Mining
b) Research
c) Launching satellites into non-Earth orbits
d) Transport industry between Earth and non-Earth stations
The question worth asking next is will food be exported from Earth to Neoes (let Neo be the nick for human living beyond Earth's surface) or Neoes will create it by themselves? To grow food, Neoes will require artificial space, light, air, soil, water and the entire eco-system will have to be created.
The questions to be asked are multiple? Why to go beyond Earth? Where to go? How to go? When to go? At what cost? How much to go? And those who go might want to come back. So, the questions to ask further will be - Why to come back? How to come back? When to come back? At what cost?
Can we modify humans to such an extent that they don't need food at all? Can't we replace stomachs with bags which can digest any kind of matter? Can humans become robotic humanoids capable of sustaining themselves without organic food? There must be a solution to it too. With artificial organs, in-vitro fertilisation, stem cell research, genome mapping, one day humans might transform themselves into bots which will surprise even the likes of Arthur Clarke.
So, how much can we modify humans to suit space terrain? And how much can space terrain be transformed into a more habitable place for such modified humans? Neoes might look like a cross between artificially intelligent robots and humans. The question of "what is life" will also spring up soon in our quest of space colonisation.
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