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Future Imperative

What if technology were being developed that could enhance your mind or body to extraordinary or even superhuman levels -- and some of these tools were already here? Wouldn't you be curious?

Actually, some are here. But human enhancement is an incredibly broad and compartmentalized field. We’re often unaware of what’s right next door. This site reviews resources and ideas from across the field and makes it easy for readers to find exactly the information they're most interested in.

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The future is coming fast, and it's no longer possible to ignore how rapidly the world is changing. As the old order changes -- or more frequently crumbles altogether -- I offer a perspective on how we can transform ourselves in turn... for the better. Nothing on this site is intended as legal, financial or medical advice. Indeed, much of what I discuss amounts to possibilities rather than certainties, in an ever-changing present and an ever-uncertain future.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Toyota Has Warned Her U.S. Plants -- Prepare to Shut Down

A feature of the just-in-time system of manufacturing is that not only are few if any products stockpiled anywhere but on store shelves, but that spare and component parts are also rarely kept on hand in any significant number. Hence, it comes as no surprise that Japanese carmaker Toyota has told all of its U.S. plants to be prepared to shut down. After all, once they are out of the parts they need -- built only in Japan, and now built nowhere at all -- they have no choice but to cease production.

Though the company insists a shutdown is not inevitable, Toyota's manufacturing has halted in Japan.

This situation impacts the entire auto industry, as Toyota makes parts used by other manufacturers. A sustained shutdown of her Japanese plants will apparently hamper if not disable the plants of at least some of her competitors.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Radioactive Iodine Exceeding Limits for Infants Found in Tokyo Tapwater

According to the city government of Tokyo, radioactive iodine exceeding the safe limits for infants has been found in the city's tapwater.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Lights Out in Northeastern Honshu -- View from Space

New Scientist offers this composite view of Japan from space. The yellow light shows where lights were shining both well before and after the earthquake, and the red indicates where lights shone before but not after. Sizable regions of Japan are still suffering from rolling blackouts in the wake of the quake.

Monday, March 21, 2011

University of Berkeley Detects Trace Radiation -- No Health Risks

The University of Berkeley in California has detected trace levels of radiation in the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi disaster, but so far they are well below normal background radiation.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Paper on Using Resveratrol to Treat Radiation Exposure in Mice

Here is a link to the researchers' summary of their study of using resveratrol to help protect mice from fatal doses of radiation, and to treat them immediately after such exposure.