This is a very cool development in the area of brain-machine interfaces, and will probably propel artificial limb technology by leaps and bounds. It will be wonderful… until the machines rise up and overthrow us.
Links Tagged With “biology” (Show All Items Tagged With “biology”)
Researchers devise neural implant that learns over time
Bookmarked via Ma.gnolia on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 @ 13:45 CDT by Daniel Andrlik
House approves anti-genetic discrimination bill
Bookmarked via Ma.gnolia on Thursday, May 1, 2008 @ 13:46 CDT by Daniel Andrlik
I’m sure at some point as genetic testing becomes more common the insurance companies will find a way around the protections provided by this bill, however this is still great news today.
Oddly enough, Ron Paul was the only member of Congress to vote against it. I’m curious what his reasoning is, even if it ends up being crazy talk, as I see nothing but good in this bill.
UCLA researchers create self-healing, power-generating artificial muscle
Bookmarked via Ma.gnolia on Sunday, March 23, 2008 @ 05:37 CDT by Daniel Andrlik
My Cyborg Watch continues.
David Byrne: Culture Club
Bookmarked via Ma.gnolia on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 @ 17:38 CST by Daniel Andrlik
David Byrne (if you don’t know who he is you have lived a sheltered and sad life) maintains an awesome blog. He doesn’t post often, but every post is well-composed and thoughtful. I’m never sure what I’ll find there as his interests are (as you would expect) eclectic.
This is a really interesting post of his regarding how we define “culture,” using recent research into dolphin behavior as an example. Good stuff.
Sea cucumber “new malaria weapon”
Bookmarked via Ma.gnolia on Sunday, December 23, 2007 @ 12:40 CST by Daniel Andrlik
This article on the BBC is about how sea cucumbers produce a protein which impairs the development of the malaria parasites. Which sounds all well in good until you find out that the solution they are seeking is to make a new class of mosquitoes.
“Ultimately, one aim of our field is to find a way of genetically engineering mosquitoes so that the malaria parasite cannot develop inside them.”
They apparently have already created a strain of mosquitoes that produce the same protein in their gut, with some success, however introducing these insects to the wild will be difficult.
“‘You would have to get the modified version to become the predominant species, and that has never been done in any setting before,’ [Dr Ron Behrens] said.”
Okay, we all know this sort of thing is the future and that it is indeed inevitable, but I can’t help being a little alarmist regarding the creation and introduction of genetically designed mosquitoes that are still interested in human blood to the world.
Rare Mummified Dinosaur Unearthed: Contains Skin, and Maybe Organs, Muscle
Bookmarked via Ma.gnolia on Monday, December 3, 2007 @ 09:00 CST by Daniel Andrlik
“Scientists announce the discovery of the world’s most intact dinosaur mummy — a 67-million-year-old plant-eater that contains fossilized bones and skin tissue, and possibly muscle and organs.”
This is so cool.
Rough Type: Nicholas Carr’s Blog: Avatar-human mind meld announced
Bookmarked via Ma.gnolia on Saturday, October 13, 2007 @ 09:08 CDT by Daniel Andrlik
Scientists have developed a headset that uses your brain activity in order to emulate keyboard presses for moving your Second Life avatar around. There’s an included video too. It still seems a little on the primitive side, but I’d still love to try it out myself.
Oh, yeah, and my obligatory “cyborgs are coming and will conquer you blah, blah, blah” comment goes here.
ScienceDaily: Clever Plants ‘Chat’ Over Their Own Network
Bookmarked via Ma.gnolia on Friday, October 5, 2007 @ 12:52 CDT by Daniel Andrlik
First the plants talk to each other, then they form a plan, and then they conquer us. Mark my words… 
MIT develops brain-to-machine algorithm | Tech news blog - CNET News.com
Bookmarked via Ma.gnolia on Friday, October 5, 2007 @ 09:00 CDT by Daniel Andrlik
Scientists are making progress on neural devices that can translate the thoughts of a paralyzed person into driving action for a prosthetic device. There’s actually been several approaches to this in the past, but the folks at MIT are proposing a unified algorithm, which is exciting, although it probably will accelerate our subjugation by our cyborg descendents.
Velociraptor was just a scary turkey, say scientists | Science | The Guardian
Bookmarked via Ma.gnolia on Thursday, September 20, 2007 @ 20:59 CDT by Daniel Andrlik
“Velociraptor, the fearsome dinosaur made famous in the Jurassic Park films, had feathers and probably more closely resembled a big turkey than the killer screen dinosaur, scientists have discovered.”
For some reason I find this hilarious.
