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7/04/2009 Permalink
  Stephen Hawking talks about our humods future  Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking recently outlined his personal philosophy, which turns out to include most of the humods memes. "At first, evolution proceeded by natural selection, from random mutations." But now, says Hawking, we are entering a new phase of "self designed evolution" in which we will extensively modify our own DNA. "At first, these changes will be confined to the repair of genetic defects controlled by single genes." Then humans will move on to modding more complex combinations . "I am sure that during the next century, people will discover how to modify both intelligence and instincts like aggression," says Hawking. Hawking also points out the importance of another key part of the humods worldview, the vital importance of advancing our species by developing and spreading the most effective memes. "Some people would use the term, evolution, only for the internally transmitted genetic material, and would object to it being applied to information handed down externally. But I think that is too narrow a view. We are more than just our genes." Home + What are Humods? + Subscribe: RSS + FriendFeed + Twitter + Post To: Delicious + Digg + Facebook + FriendFeed + Reddit + StumbleUpon - - - - - - - - -
7/03/2009 Permalink
Optical transistor brings ultrafast light-based computers closer An optical transistor that uses one laser beam to control another could form the heart of a future generation of ultrafast light-based computers, say Swiss researchers. Conventional computers are based on transistors, which allow one electrode to control the current moving through the device and are combined to form logic gates and processors. The new component achieves the same thing, but for laser beams, not electric currents. Labels: Next Home + What are Humods? + Subscribe: RSS + FriendFeed + Twitter + Post To: Delicious + Digg + Facebook + FriendFeed + Reddit + StumbleUpon- - - - - - - - -
7/03/2009 Permalink
Gene's novel role may provide key to treating neurodegenerative diseases Scientists at Singapore's Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) have discovered that the gene, "Fas-apoptosis inhibitory molecule" (FAIM) triggers a mechanism that ultimately impedes an important pathway to apoptosis (programmed cell death), which is mediated by a key protein called Fas. According to Drs. Huo and Xu, there is also significant evidence that FAIM prevents neuron death and promotes neural outgrowth, making it a potential therapeutic target for reversing the effects of neurodegenerative diseases. Labels: Neuro Home + What are Humods? + Subscribe: RSS + FriendFeed + Twitter + Post To: Delicious + Digg + Facebook + FriendFeed + Reddit + StumbleUpon- - - - - - - - -
7/02/2009 Permalink
Curing cancer by blocking the stem cells that allow it to spread AML is a cancer of the white blood cells that does not respond well to conventional chemotherapy. "Previous research has suggested that leukemia stem cells (LSCs) may lie at the heart of post-treatment relapse and chemoresistance," said study author Associate Professor Richard Lock from the University of New South Wales. LSCs initiate AML and are critical for its growth. The molecule CD123 is expressed at very high levels on LSCs but not on normal blood cells. CD123 is part of the interleukin-3 receptor, a protein that interacts with a growth factor (called a cytokine) that influences cell survival and proliferation. Researchers have created a molecule that can recognized and bind to CD123. After promising results in mouse studies, the CD123-targeting antibody is now in clinical trials with no signs of treatment-related toxicity. Labels: Mods Home + What are Humods? + Subscribe: RSS + FriendFeed + Twitter + Post To: Delicious + Digg + Facebook + FriendFeed + Reddit + StumbleUpon- - - - - - - - -
7/02/2009 Permalink
Reprogrammed pluripotent stem cells differ from embryonic stem cells UCLA researchers have found that embryonic stem cells and skin cells reprogrammed into embryonic-like cells have inherent molecular differences. Embryonic stem cells and the reprogrammed cells, known as induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, have overlapping but still distinct gene expression signatures. The differing signatures were evident regardless of where the cell lines were generated, the methods by which they were derived or the species from which they were isolated. "We need to keep in mind that iPS cells are not perfectly similar to embryonic stem cells," said William Lowry, an assistant professor of molecular, cell and developmental biology. "It could be biologically irrelevant, or it could be manifested as an advantage or a disadvantage." Labels: Mods Home + What are Humods? + Subscribe: RSS + FriendFeed + Twitter + Post To: Delicious + Digg + Facebook + FriendFeed + Reddit + StumbleUpon- - - - - - - - -
7/02/2009 Permalink
A revolutionary new light, thin printable battery seems sure to boost development of wearware  For a long time, batteries were bulky and heavy. Now, a new cutting-edge battery is revolutionizing the field. It is thinner than a millimeter, lighter than a gram, and can be produced cost-effectively using using a silk-screen printing method similar to that used for t-shirts and signs. This battery should really give wearware a huge boost. All sorts of wearable technologies are suddenly practical. The researchers have already produced the batteries on a laboratory scale and say that their process is so simple and scalable that the batteries could be available on a commercial scale as quickly as the end of this year. Home + What are Humods? + Subscribe: RSS + FriendFeed + Twitter + Post To: Delicious + Digg + Facebook + FriendFeed + Reddit + StumbleUpon - - - - - - - - -
7/02/2009 Permalink
Hummingbird-like spy bot takes wing  Engineers at AeroVironment are developing the Nano Air Vehicle (NAV) (or flying spy-bot) under a DARPA sponsored research contract to develop a new class of air vehicle systems capable of indoor and outdoor operation. Employing biological mimicry at an extremely small scale, this unconventional aircraft could someday provide new reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities in urban environments. Watching these clips of various prototypes designed to fly just like a hummingbird is fascinating. Labels: Bots Home + What are Humods? + Subscribe: RSS + FriendFeed + Twitter + Post To: Delicious + Digg + Facebook + FriendFeed + Reddit + StumbleUpon- - - - - - - - -
7/02/2009 Permalink
Breakthrough open source computer interface device  The open source AcceleGlove reinvents the concept of a computer input device, replacing the need for gamepad, joystick, trackball or mouse. As a Controller, AcceleGlove can use hand or finger movement to act as commands for controlling video games, robots, simulators, virtual reality environments, or any other application you might imagine. Labels: Next Home + What are Humods? + Subscribe: RSS + FriendFeed + Twitter + Post To: Delicious + Digg + Facebook + FriendFeed + Reddit + StumbleUpon- - - - - - - - -
7/02/2009 Permalink
Rat-bot uses whiskers to navigate any environment  Engineers at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory are at it again. Their latest fascinating bot designed, called Scratchbot, is really more of a rat-bot, since like rats, it uses whiskers to navigate through a complex environment. To watch this bot in action click here, or to see a gallery of all of BRL's amazing bot creation, click here. Labels: Bots Home + What are Humods? + Subscribe: RSS + FriendFeed + Twitter + Post To: Delicious + Digg + Facebook + FriendFeed + Reddit + StumbleUpon- - - - - - - - -
7/02/2009 Permalink
Stem cell control discovery could spawn powerful regenerative therapies The telomerase molecule, best known for enabling unlimited cell division of stem cells and cancer cells by fixing the telomeres end caps of DNA, has a surprising additional role in the expression of genes in an important stem cell regulatory pathway, say researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Study of a component of the telomerase complex, a protein called TERT, found that TERT was directly regulating the important Wnt pathway that controls the maintenance and proliferation of stem cells. Labels: Mods Home + What are Humods? + Subscribe: RSS + FriendFeed + Twitter + Post To: Delicious + Digg + Facebook + FriendFeed + Reddit + StumbleUpon- - - - - - - - - Send comments to: humods [at] gmail [dot] com |