05.01.10

Sculpting a Nano ‘World’

Posted in Nanotechnology, Technology, Transhumanism at 7:45 am by rheil

Sculpting a Nano ‘World’ (Technology Review, 30. April 2010)

“IBM researchers have invented a low-cost and relatively simple fabrication tool capable of reliably creating features as small as 15 nanometers. To show off the tool, the researchers at IBM’s Zurich lab made a three-dimensional map of the Earth so small that 1,000 of them would fit onto a single grain of salt.

Existing nano-fabrication techniques like electron beam lithography have difficulty making features much smaller than 30 nanometers and are expensive and complex instruments. In contrast, the IBM researchers say their new fabrication tool sits on a tabletop at one-fifth to one-tenth the cost. [...]” [read original article]

04.17.10

Werden wir ewig leben?

Posted in AI / Singularity, Anti-Aging, biotech, Deutschsprachige Seiten, Human Enhancement, Nanotechnology, Technology, Transhumanism at 8:38 am by rheil

Werden wir ewig leben? (Jörg Auf dem Hövel, telepolis, 15.04.2010)

„Ein Interview-Sammelband prüft die Thesen von Ray Kurzweil und gibt den Stand der Dinge zu Enhancement und Lebensverlängerung zum besten.

Roman Brinzanik und Tobias Hülswitt haben nun unter dem Titel „Werden wir ewig leben?“ die Ideen von Kurzweil zum Anlass genommen, den heutigen Stand der Naturwissenschaften zu optimierenden und lebensverlängernden Maßnahmen mit ihren Interviewpartner abzuklären, Wissenschaft von Heilsversprechen zu treffen und die ethischen Herausforderungen auszuloten. Zu Wort kommen unter anderem der Chemie-Nobelpreisträger Jean-Marie Lehn, der Stammzellforscher Hans Schöler, der Hirnforscher Wolf Singer, der Demographen James W. Vaupel und der Technik-Ethiker Bert Gordijn.“ [zum Originalartikel]

02.19.10

Transhumanism: The way of the future

Posted in Anti-Aging, biotech, Evolution / Genetics, Human Enhancement, Nanotechnology, Neuro, Technology, Transhumanism, What is Transhumanism? at 7:02 am by rheil

Transhumanism: The way of the future (Natasha Vita-More, The Scavenger)

„The only way for us to survive is to evolve. Transhumanism – a movement supporting the use of science and technology to improve the mental and physical characteristics and capacities of humans – is the way forward, writes Natasha Vita-More.“ [read original article]

12.24.09

50 Science Sagas for 50 Years

Posted in biotech, Evolution / Genetics, Nanotechnology, Neuro, Technology at 7:26 am by rheil

50 Science Sagas for 50 Years (Council for the Advancement of Science Writing)

„How do you summarize the past 50 years of discoveries in science, technology, engineering, medicine and mathematics? That kind of challenge would be daunting for any one person – but fortunately, we have a huge crowd of science fans to help with the task.“ [read original article]

12.23.09

The next medical frontier: nano-surgery

Posted in Nanotechnology, Technology, Transhumanism at 7:59 am by rheil

The next medical frontier: nano-surgery

(PhysOrg.com, December 21, 2009 ) – „Engineering professor’s nanorobot could be performing non-invasive surgical procedures on patients with tumors within the next decade.“ [read original article]

11.07.09

Abschied von der “Nanotechnologie” (Von Niels Boeing, Technology Review, 04.11.2009)

Posted in Critics, Deutschsprachige Seiten, Nanotechnology, Technology at 7:16 am by rheil

Abschied von der “Nanotechnologie” (Von Niels Boeing, Technology Review, 04.11.2009)

„Vor kurzem meinte ein Journalisten-Kollege, er wundere sich, dass der ganze Diskurs über potenzielle Risiken der Nanotechnik, pardon “Nanotechnologie”, aus Politik und Wirtschaft selbst angestoßen worden sei – und nicht etwa von technikkritischen Organisationen. An diesem Diskurs haben sich die Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften insgesamt doch eher konstruktiv beteiligt. Joachim Schummer, Philosoph an der TU Darmstadt und zugleich Chemiker, geht nun gegen die versöhnliche Stimmung an: Mit seinem Buch “Nanotechnologie. Spiele mit Grenzen” hat er eine fulminante Streitschrift vorgelegt.“ [zum Originalartikel]

11.05.09

Woe, Superman?

Posted in biotech, Critics, Future, Human Enhancement, Nanotechnology, Neuro, Nootropics, Technology, Transhumanism at 7:36 am by rheil

Woe, Superman?

Oxford Today, Volume 22 Number 1, Michaelmas 2009

„Artificially engendered humans have long been a science fiction staple – from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to Huxley’s Brave New World and, most recently, Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake and Michel Houellebecq’s The Possibility of an Island – their heroes dehumanised figures depicted amid bleak, biotechnologically devastated landscapes.

But in the year of Darwin’s bicentenary, science fact presses hard on the heels of science fiction. Three decades since Louise Brown, the first ‘test tube baby’, woke to the world, breakthroughs are now trumpeted almost every month. Chinese scientists recently announced that they had cloned the first animals from skin cells. Earlier, British scientists revealed they had manufactured artificial sperm using stem cells from a fiveday- old male embryo.

Human enhancement provokes violent controversy: the American writer Francis Fukuyama branded ‘transhumanism’ (the radical enhancement of humanity by technological means) ‘the world’s most dangerous idea’. But genetic technologies are only one, if perhaps the most controversial, sector on the enhancement front.“ [read original article]

10.22.09

Transhumanismus, Nanotechnologie und der Traum von Unsterblichkeit

Posted in Deutschsprachige Seiten, Nanotechnology, Technology, Transhumanism at 10:04 am by rheil

“Der Beitrag von Reinhard Heil bietet eine historische und philosophische Rekonstruktion der Idee von Unsterblichkeit an, die heutzutage insbesondere durch einen einen großen Teil der Vertreter transhumanistischen Bewegung dank neuer technologischen Entwicklungen – u.a. auch durch die Nanotechnologie – als realisierbar propagiert wird. Hier zeigt Heil die Vielffältigkeit der Meinungen in Bezug auf Unsterblichkeit unter den Transhumanisten und betont, wie dieser Traum unser Selbstverständnis als Menschen herausfordert.”

Erschienen in Visionen der Nanotechnologie, hgg. von Arianna Ferrari und Stefan Gammel, Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft AKA, Heidelberg, 2010, 25-50.

Abstract (englisch, der Artikel ist in deutsch): The reference to ideas and notions of the Christian tradition within transhumanist discourse cannot be ignored. Transhumanism picks up topoi which are in close ranks to the religious thought: immortality, paradise, the overcoming of all suffering. The claim of many critics of transhumanism that transhumanism is a religion is debatable. The article analyses this claim and asks “Is the question: ‘Is transhumanism a religion’ actually the right question?” and highlights the role of nanotechnology for the transhumanistic worldview. The article is divided into the following main parts: chapter II introduces transhumanism; chapter III outlines the alteration of the notion of immortality in the 18. century; chapter IV discusses Cryonic; chapter V analyses the visionary components of Eric Drexlers Engines of Creation in comparison with John Adolphus Etzlers The Paradise within the Reach of all Men, without Labor, by Powers of Nature and Machinery from 1833; chapter VI unfurls the concept of singularity; the last chapter criticises the shortfalls of transhumanism and asks “Is the question: ‘Is transhumanism a religion’ actually the right question?”

07.19.09

Singing the Singularity

Posted in AI / Singularity, biotech, Critics, Cryonic, Nanotechnology, Neuro, Technology, Transhumanism at 6:20 am by rheil

Singing the Singularity

Mike Treder (posted on IEET, Jul 16, 2009)

„Like many a useful concept, the Technological Singularity has become over-invested with emotion, ideological leanings, and tangential agendas. Can its value be recovered?

On October 3, 2009, the fourth annual Singularity Summit will convene, this time in New York City. Among the speakers featured in the two-day event are IEET fellows Ben Goertzel and Aubrey de Grey, along with Ray Kurzweil, Anders Sandberg, Robin Hanson, Eliezer Yudkowsky, Greg Benford, and many others.

So what’s it all about?“ [read original article]

07.15.09

Transhumanist Salvation or Judgment Day?

Posted in AI / Singularity, Ethics, Future, Nanotechnology, Technology, Transhumanism at 6:42 am by rheil

Transhumanist Salvation or Judgment Day? (By Lou Cabron, June 30th, 2009, 10 Zen Monkeys)

„We’re starting to brush up against real robots, real nanotech, and maybe even the first real artificial intelligence. But will emerging technologies destroy humankind — or will humankind be saved by an emerging transhumanism?“ [read original article]

05.22.09

Harnessing science to create the ultimate warrior

Posted in Future, Human Enhancement, Nanotechnology, Neuro, Nootropics, Technology, Transhumanism at 6:33 am by rheil

Harnessing science to create the ultimate warrior

NewScientist, 20 May 2009 by Linda Geddes

„BATALLIONS of super-soldiers could be selected for specific duties on the basis of their genetic make-up and then constantly monitored for signs of weakness. So says a report by the US National Academies of Science (NAS).

If a soldier is struggling, a digital “buddy” might step in and warn them about nearby threats, or advise comrades to zap them with an electromagnet to increase their alertness. If the whole unit is falling apart, biosensors could warn central commanders to send in a replacement team.“ [read original article]

04.28.09

Glaube, Technik, Zukunft

Posted in AI / Singularity, Anti-Aging, biotech, Deutschsprachige Seiten, Future, Human Enhancement, Nanotechnology, Technology, Transhumanism at 12:36 pm by rheil

Glaube, Technik, Zukunft, von Richard Jones (Technology Review)

„In der TR-Essay-Reihe zur Technik untersucht der britische Physiker Richard Jones, der auch das Blog Soft Machines betreibt, den heutigen Glauben an die Technik, die wirkliche Fragilität der modernen Zivilisation und den Fehler des Determinismus in hochtechnisierten Erlösungsphantasien.“ [zum Originalartikel]

04.01.09

Mit Gedanken einen Roboter steuern

Posted in Deutschsprachige Seiten, Nanotechnology, Neuro, Technology, Transhumanism at 6:23 am by rheil

Mit Gedanken einen Roboter steuern, Florian Rötzer, Telepolis, 01.04.2009

„Japanische Wissenschaftler haben eine Gehirn-Maschinen-Schnittstelle entwickelt

Bislang konnte man mit der Abnahme von Gehirnwellen einen Cursor auf dem Bildschirm steuern. Honda ist nun einen Schritt weiter gekommen und hat eine Gehirn-Maschinen-Schnittstelle (BMI) entwickelt, um mit Gedanken einen Roboter im Raum zu steuern.“ [zum Originalartikel]

03.26.09

To Fight Drug Addiction, Researchers Target the Brain with Nanoparticles

Posted in Nanotechnology, Neuro, Technology, Transhumanism at 7:36 am by rheil

To Fight Drug Addiction, Researchers Target the Brain with Nanoparticles, Physorg, March 23rd, 2009

(PhysOrg.com) – „A precise, new nanotechnology treatment for drug addiction may be on the horizon as the result of research conducted at the University at Buffalo.“ [read original article]

02.27.09

h+ magazine – Is the future cancelled?

Posted in AI / Singularity, Anti-Aging, Human Enhancement, Nanotechnology, Online Publications, Technology, Transhumanism at 6:49 am by rheil

h+ magazine – Is the future cancelled?

02.04.09

Singularity University to Study Accelerating Technologies, Launches at NASA Ames

Posted in AI / Singularity, biotech, Cryonic, Future, Nanotechnology, Neuro, Organisations, Politic, Technology, Transhumanism at 6:49 am by rheil

Singularity University to Study Accelerating Technologies, Launches at NASA Ames

KurzweilAI.net, Feb. 3, 2009

„With the support of NASA, Google and a broad range of technology thought leaders and entrepreneurs, a new university will launch in Silicon Valley this summer with the goal of preparing the next generation of leaders to address “humanity’s grand challenges.”

Singularity University (SU) (www.singularityu.org) will open its doors in June 2009 on the NASA Research Park campus with a nine-week graduate-level interdisciplinary curriculum designed to facilitate understanding, collaboration, and innovation across a broad range of carefully chosen scientific and technological disciplines whose developments are exponentially accelerating.“ [read original article]

12.21.08

Call for papers: Transhumanism? (Re-Public)

Posted in biotech, Evolution / Genetics, Future, Human Enhancement, Nanotechnology, Neuro, Technology, Transhumanism at 7:45 am by rheil

Call for papers: Transhumanism? (Re-Public)

We invite contributions for our upcoming special issue entitled “Transhumanism?”. Is there a new challenge about to dominate our world? A challenge that appears more pressing than the fight against climate change, as demanding as the one against poverty, more complex than our current questions around bioethics.

Are we in a position to redefine, to drastically transform our very human nature?

This is a question formed in the last 20 years by an international movement, deriving from a scientific current, advocating that if the human is a result of an evolution process of millions of years time, nothing rationally preempts its conclusion. On the contrary, transhumanism proposes that the convergence of nanotechnologies, biotechnologies, information and cognitive sciences provide us with a new opportunity, as well as, the responsibility to collectively participate and assume this evolution: it is, more than ever, possible to “form a better humanity” meaning better health for individuals, longer life expectancy, a more effective control of themselves, through enhanced skills, capacities and capabilities.

The special issue will attempt to investigate the influence of transhumanism and the new questions that its poses. […]

12.06.08

Metamodern – The Trajectory of Technology (Eric Drexler)

Posted in Nanotechnology, Technology, Transhumanism, Transhumanists at 12:18 pm by rheil

Metamodern.com (Eric Drexler)

In this blog, I’ll discuss current progress in science and technology, often with a specific perspective in mind: how current progress can contribute to the development of advanced nanosystems. This system-building perspective often highlights research opportunities and rewards that might otherwise be missed. As the topics come up, I’ll be suggesting research objectives that seem practical, valuable, and ready for serious pursuit.

However, like Engines of Creation, this blog isn’t intended to be “about nanotechnology”, but about broader issues involving technologies that will bring global change. Social software and the computational infrastructure of society are high on the list.

I hope that you will find enough of value here to repay your ongoing attention. [...]

11.21.08

Flux Magazine

Posted in biotech, Ethics, Future, Human Enhancement, Nanotechnology, Neuro, Nootropics, Online Publications, Technology, Transhumanism at 12:49 pm by rheil

Flux Magazine

Flux will give you a taste of the torrent of new technological developments advancing on us: from the energy issue to human enhancement, from information technology to nanotechnology. This magazine is compiled on the occasion of the conference ‘Inspiring Future Politics’ to be held by the EPTA (European Parliamentary Technology Assessment) on Monday 27 October and Tuesday 28 October in The Hague, the Netherlands. The keynote speakers at this conference – chemist Michael Braungart, toxicologist Ellen Silbergeld, sociologist Nikolas Rose and climate expert Pier Vellinga – are interviewed in Flux. No one is more aware of the shifts taking place in our society. They have, furthermore, succeeded in formulating these issues aptly and getting them on to the (political) agenda. More information about the conference is available at www.eptaconference.eu. Because we want you to share in the speakers’ stories and the conference themes, you’ll find inspiring interviews, background stories and columns in ‘Flux’. […]

10.18.08

h+ transhumanist magazine launched

Posted in AI / Singularity, Anti-Aging, biotech, Cryonic, Evolution / Genetics, Human Enhancement, Nanotechnology, Neuro, Nootropics, Online Publications, Technology, Transhumanism at 11:08 am by rheil

h+ transhumanist magazine launched

Humanity Plus (formerly the World Transhumanist Association) has launched h+, a stylish, web-based quarterly magazine that focuses on transhumanism, covering the scientific, technological, and cultural developments that are challenging and overcoming human limitations.

Edited by the legendary RU Sirius, co-founder and editor of the seminal Mondo 2000 magazine, and beautifully designed by virtual worlds artist D.C. Spensley, the magazine’s first issue features cutting-edge ideas and interviews with leaders in longevity, neuroengineering, nanofabrication, open-source robotics, science fiction, and other breakthrough areas. [...]

06.11.08

IEEE Spectrum: Special Report Singularity

Posted in AI / Singularity, Evolution / Genetics, Future, Nanotechnology, Technology, Transhumanism at 5:31 am by rheil

IEEE Spectrum: Special Report Singularity

06.04.08

The Future Is Now? Pretty Soon, at Least (NYT)

Posted in AI / Singularity, Future, Nanotechnology, Technology, Transhumanism at 5:50 am by rheil

The Future Is Now? Pretty Soon, at Least (New York Times)

Before we get to Ray Kurzweil’s plan for upgrading the “suboptimal software” in your brain, let me pass on some of the cheery news he brought to the World Science Festival last week in New York.

Do you have trouble sticking to a diet? Have patience. Within 10 years, Dr. Kurzweil explained, there will be a drug that lets you eat whatever you want without gaining weight. [...]

03.27.08

Once bitten …

Posted in Nanotechnology, Technology at 8:02 am by rheil

Once bitten ... (guardian.co.uk)

The science of nanotechnology is already revolutionising the worlds of medicine and construction. Soon it could be doing the same for our food – but after the backlash against GM foods, says Steve Boggan, will the consumers swallow it? [...]

10.11.07

Facing the Challenges of Transhumanism: Philosophical, Religious, and Ethical Considerations

Posted in Critics, Ethics, Evolution / Genetics, Human Enhancement, Nanotechnology, Technology, Transhumanism at 5:43 am by rheil

Facing the Challenges of Transhumanism: Philosophical, Religious, and Ethical Considerations

By Hava Tirosh-Samuelson

(»Introduction1

What is Transhumanism?

The term ‘transhumanism’ denotes a relatively young and still changing ideology that posits a new vision of humanity as a result of the confluence of advancements in the life sciences, neurosciences, genomics, robotics, informatics, and nanotechnology. These developments include new kinds of cognitive tools that combine artificial intelligence with interface technology, molecular nanotechnology, extension of human life span, genetic enhancing of human mental and physical capacities, combating diseases and slowing down the process of aging, and exercising control over desires, moods, and mental states. Those who enthusiastically promote these developments in biotechnology and bioengineering maintain that the accelerating pace of technological development and scientific understanding will usher in a new age in the history of the human species during which people will live longer, will possess new physical and cognitive abilities and will be liberated from suffering and pain due to aging and disease. In the transhuman age, humans will no longer be controlled by nature; instead they will be the controllers of nature. [...]«)

12.29.06

Our Technological Future (Blog: Jan-Willem Bats)

Posted in Future, Nanotechnology, Technology, Transhumanism, Transhumanists at 9:51 am by rheil

Our Technological Future: (“About upcoming technologies such as nanotechnology/molecular manufacturing, artificial intelligence, robotics, and biotechnology. All of these are accelerating exponentially. The implications are vast.”)

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