Wednesday14: Colonizing the Solar System, The Czar and Brain Uploading

In the 1950-1970s there were some crazy ideas about space exploration and technology. There was a man (who's name I can't remember) who had some ideas that were more radical than others. Although many of his predictions came true, his idea for colonizing the Solar System has yet to happen, thankfully. His idea was to use nuclear bombs to push planets into the right orbit for habitability around the sun. Additionally, we could use atomic weapons to strip away gas from Jupiter to make it more habitable. Crazy, but maybe also creative.

Bill Clinton sent out and interesting warning about recent develops with Russia. I don't usually talk too much about politics but for some reason I found this interesting, if not worrying. Clinton thinks that due to some comments Vladimir Putin has made recently, that Russia is looking to the past to expand their country - pre WWI past. That's right, Putin is talking like he wants to restore Russia to its former glory of the Czar years. This could spell bad news for everyone.

I read a very interesting article on the possibility of uploading a human brain to a computer. The idea is not new, science fiction has played with it before such as in the recent movie Transcendence. But even though it's not a new idea, is it even possible? The article outlines 8 reason why it could be very difficult. Without going into the details of each point it basically comes down to our understanding of consciousness. We simple don't know what truly makes up sentience. We don't know why I subjectively like chocolate so much when someone else (receiving essential the same stimulus input) would hate it.

On top of that, if we did come to understand consciousness it may be that the very nature of consciousness is incomputable. In addition to the spiritual metaphors that explain consciousness our sentience may be a higher form of matter, or a consequence of quantum mechanics. It may even be a simple force of nature that simply exists, like mass or gravity. It's interesting to think on. I believe that the human mind is much more complex than we currently understanding and that consciousness is much vaster and deeper than we think and certainly can't be simply "uploaded" to a computer - technological constraints or not.

Bees have been dying all over the country and scientists might finally know why. Bees are essential to crop production, being responsible for over 30% of the worlds food supply. Obviously, bees dying out in mass quantities over the past 10 years is very troubling. They now believe that this is linked to a certain kind of pesticide used in many crops across the US. Although the pesticide may not be inherently lethal, it causes the bees to abandon their hive and damages their health.

After an awesome request for funding from artists at The Oatmeal, Elon Musk has agreed to help fund a Nikola Tesla museum and park. The cost will be $8 million, but that's small change compared to the kind of projects Musk has invested in previously. It's great to see a good cause come to fruition. A Telsa museum will be something to see indeed.

The US military thinks it would be able to destroy Godzilla in a couple of days -so rest easy.

Tuesday13: Unlimited Heat, A Rat's Nightmare and Batman

Today I have a few quick things to highlight.

Scientists have been able to perform research on a particular substance (Graphene, I believe) that may break down some of the laws of thermodynamics - of which I know nothing of. Basically this substance can hold exponentially more heat the more of it there its. This contradicts that law that says that a substance should hold a set amount of heat regardless of the size. This could have applications for energy storage or protection.

Rat's are the go-to animal to use in tests of almost any kind. From psychology to drugs and neurology, rats are the creatures that get all the attention, and abuse. A test that was made years ago was talked about in an article today. Put a rat in a large empty box. It doesn't sound like much but the study is usually based around how the rat reacts to a new surrounding. Do they venture out quickly, looking for a way to escape? Or do their survival instincts tell them to stay put and wait for danger? Some horror movies play on similar concepts and it's interesting to think what I would do in a similar situation.

The internet has be a-buzz with a new image release by Zack Snyder, director of the upcoming Batman vs. Superman movie. By upcoming I mean in year's time. The image is of the batmobile and batman in his new uniform, supposedly Ben Afleck is the one in the picture. (He is the one that will be playing Batman but we don't know if the picture is him) I wasn't very impressed with the costumer of the car, but maybe I'm crazy. Nolan's Batman needed more time to age.

Microsoft will now be selling the Xbox One with out the Kinect for $100 less. Many people say this is a poor move, some say it was their only move to be able to compete with huge PS4 sales.

If you want to please a man don't get him a new car, get him the millennium falcon, duh. Disney has a fun showing a wife getting her husband the ultimate Star Wars gift for their anniversary. Though, I confess I don't know what it was advertising....

Monday12: Glaciers, Ethical Robots and Dream Control

There is lots of great stuff today to start the week off.

To begin, NASA made an official announcement regarding Antarctica's glaciers. The glaciers are melting, and they're melting fast. Not only that, but we've reached the point of no return, no matter what we do, they will continue to melt. By 2100 the particular shelf they are studying will be gone, which will increase sea levels up to 4 ft. Other articles related to the subject that other glaciers and ice caps will also be melting at a similar rate and the sea could rise up to 13 feet. Obviously this means big trouble for many coastal cities. The incredible thing to remember is that this is FACT, not speculation or theories, but data. This will occur.

It reminds me of another video I saw today from "This Week Tonight" where the host calls out how ridiculous it is to question climate change. It is real and it is science.

An interesting question was posed in several articles today. As we get closer and closer to truly automated and self-driving cars there is an ethical problem that arises. Should my robot car kill me to save 2, 3 or more people? The example scenario is that your tire blows out while your automated car is driving. It can't swerve left because that will take you into on-coming traffic, the road is too slick to effectively brake so it swerves right, sending you off a cliff. I don't know what the answer is, but robots, or rather, their programmers deciding our fates is an interesting future.

Scientist have been able to make some headway in the dream world. Using small electrical pulses at a certain frequency (don't quote my science please) during REM sleep they are able to induce lucid dreaming. This allows the dreamer to become aware of their dream and take control of it. There is obviously some recreational possibilities that come to mind but scientist are looking for the therapeutic side of such applications such as helping victims of PTSD who suffer nightmares overcome their dreams and sleep well.

We still don't know why we age. We may never know. Some say it's our blood, others say it's genetics. I read a whole article outlining some of the possibilities. It's quite interesting and scientists are working harder than ever to solve it.

Stonehenge is very old. It was once thought that it was built by a migrating people but recent evidence shows that "civilization" has been in the area for many years and they were stable, not migratory.

Tear hold many surprises and many shapes when put under a microscope.

Enjoy your Monday.

Friday9: Alternate Histories, Short Stories and Religious First Contact

It's the weekend, finally. As with most posts I have something to mention about Star Wars. I read an article from someone who watched the entire series back to back and did an honest review. He, like I, grew up on the prequels and there is a soft spot in our hearts for them-even if they are terrible. He was kind to the prequels but is quick to point out how superior and well crafted the sequels are.

I also read a post that talked about the best Expanded Universe stories of Star Wars. Three of them were stories I am very familiar with including, Clone Wars (both versions) and The Knights of the Old Republic. Without boring you with the details, I recommend looking it up.

io9.com does a cool series of posts asking users to come up with 6 word sci-fi stories. They highlighted some of the best so far and they really are brilliant. Unfortunately, I can't remember any off the top of my head, but look it up, it's fun.

Another great, more thought-provoking post was about if humanity is ready to encounter alien life. Psychological studies say no. We are not mentally ready for first contact due to religious beliefs. Most people, when asked how they would analyze a situation with aliens fall first on their religious beliefs before looking to scientific standards or logic. I agree with the psychologist conclusions however I do believe that instead of thinking of religion as a bad, brain-washing or blinding thing, that it can be a frame to the scientific glasses of perception. If we see things through logic and science but put them in context of our own religious beliefs I believe we can confront difficult questions such as E.T. I also feel strongly that the two, namely science and religion can be paired in such a way that is not only functional but also progressive and beneficial.

Remixes of the internet can offer some fun, and interesting entertainment. For example, using the sound board from the new Godzilla trailer and cutting it with clips from Jaws. It really is quite awesome and makes Jaws seem 10x more terrifying.

Another great one is recutting Frozen to appear like a horror movie. Or Dumb and Dumber to look like a romantic drama. It's amazing what you can do with some editing knowledge and context.

Finally, the international news. Brazilian police are threatening to go on strike during the world cup unless they receive higher wages. This could be a very dangerous situation considering the current crime rates in Brazil but also the influx of tourists during that time. Hopefully everyone comes to their senses and things run smoothly for the games.

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday: Map of the Universe, The End of History Illusion and Brain Damage

Today actually had some very interesting articles that I'm excited to talk about.

The first one is about a computer model astrophysicists have been creating that was just completed. The model maps all the galaxies in the universe. This in and of itself is not unique but the model also adds in dark matter and charts the formation and collection of all these particles 13 billion years in the past. The video is very cool to watch. The model maps an area 350 million light years across. It's very humbling to think how massive the universe is.

The end of history illusion. Sounds like a sci-fi movie title, or maybe just the illusion that time will go on forever. It's actually a psychology concept that demonstrates an interesting principle when it comes to thinking about ourselves. Our past selves are more prone to predict that we will not change, that 10 years down the road I will still like and do many of the same things. However the reality is that I will change quite a bit. On top of that, my current self will look back 10 years think how odd my likes were or how far I've come. In the end, we change more than we think we will, but maybe not as much as we see in retrospect.

Another very interesting story was about a very average man who got into a fight and suffered a concussion. I emphasize his normality because of what happened due to his injuries. After the fight he suffered from PTSD but he noticed something different about the way he saw the world. He could see everything in patterns and shapes. It was like the world was broken down into its individual frames and he could see the geometric pattern emerging from everything. This man had become a Savant. He didn't have any mathematical training but after pursing college, his abilities are progressing rapidly and he is able to make amazing calculations and observations. The part that I find most interesting is that after scanning his brain scientists believe that the abilities he is manifesting is something innate in all of our brains. He was not a born Savant, but was awakened to it. This hints at a massive potential for our minds and the future of unlocking them to do great things.

Some side topics include an article about the movies that have made a huge impact in visual effects. The very first on the list was Metropolis, which is amazingly ahead of it's time both in effects but also message and philosophy. Star Wars, ET and many others are also on the list.

The rumored title of the upcoming Star Wars movie is said to be "The Ancient Fear." We'll see if it's true. I personally don't mind the title. Other Star Wars rumors hint that characters in the soon to be released animated show "Rebels" will appear in Episode VII.

I hope today was a little more thought provoking. What are your thoughts on the mind and the universe?

Tuesday6: The Future, Religion in Science Fiction and the burning question about microwaves

I watched a parody video on what the future is really going to be like in 40 years. It starts out with our hopes of flying cars and such but changes quickly to the reality of a run down, dark and dirty future. It's parodist because of how "happily" it presents the future. In the future, shoes will be a big thing! You'll fight anyone to get your hands on one. In summary because of global warming, falling economic systems and antibiotic immune diseases we'll all be living in the post apocalyptic world television keeps suggesting we will.

I read a thought provoking article written by someone who found spiritual meaning in the science fiction movies and stories he encountered while growing up. His first was with Star Wars, then Star Trek and others. Each does have a unique approach to spirituality and religion. It's an interesting topic to think about.

You've always wanted to do it, but never have. Admit it, you've always wondered what would happen if you stuck metal in a microwave. Well of course, it has been done before but today I got to watch a video of tin foil in the microwave. It's quite exciting! I also learned however, that tin foil can actually be safe for your microwave! The trick is to not let it get too close to the edges, have it as smooth as possible and not be covering all of your food. You learn something new every day. (Not that I recommend actually trying it.)

Climate change, in case you hadn't heard is kind of a big deal, and very real. Another post with many maps shows how temperatures (in various ways of measurement) have drastically risen in the past 30 years. It is honestly a little frightening to consider the future as headed in the current direction. It very well could be in my lifetime that we see dramatic results of these trends. On a side note I also learned that the current supply of oil will last us for 40 more years. This was another post that came out as some random facts from a an financial analyst firm, but all the facts are very interesting and very telling of our times.

I had forgotten that Godzilla was just a guy in a suit! That's kind of fun to think about. It turns out the same guy played the suited lizard for over 20 years. Ah, the things you learn on the internet.

Monday5: Google Delivery, Neutrality, and Twitter Shopping

Welcome to a new week of summations.

Just when you thought Amazon was going to be the next and only name in direct-to-home grocery delivery Google steps in. That's right Google has now opened it's same day shipping services to select communities in New York (and another few cities, I'm sure SF is included) This means you can sit at home and order anything you might need, toilet paper, cookies or a new TV and have delivered to you in a matter of hours. This could be the next revolution that takes humanity to Wall-E level.... or logistics could prove to be too difficult and it will flop. Only time will tell.

Net neutrality is a huge topic across the web, obviously. If you are unfamiliar with the subject it is basically the issue of whether internet content and access in universal and unlimited or if certain corporations (read Comcast) can limit the amount of broadband or speed of certain sites or types of content. I bring this up because CPG Grey posted a video today asking people to rally behind petitions to have the government keep net neutrality. It really, truly is the better option, an option that all of Europe, Brazil and other countries have already gotten behind but the U.S. is taking it's time to decide.

Big corporations will argue that they will be able to better provide networks if they can charge companies (like Netflix) for the extra broadband they use. Netflix has already struck a deal and pays Comcast to access faster speeds. However, the claims of these corporations should be taken with a grain of salt.

You can now add items to your Amazon shopping cart through a tweet. You've already been able to make purchases with a tweet using a connect Chase account but now you don't have to worry about remembering to add a product to your cart after seeing in on Twitter, you can do it immediately. I of course, don't remember the hashtag you're supposed to use but I'm sure you can figure it out.

Speaking of Twitter there's a fun account that just posts snapshots of very well timed, oriented or created shots in movies. The account is called Perfect Shots and I recommend checking it out.