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merge.
author Robert McIntyre <rlm@mit.edu>
date Mon, 26 May 2014 01:42:11 -0400
parents 70c493a87a7e e05b604a6843
children 14a568ba6b5d
comparison
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95:70c493a87a7e 96:7f5ec998409f
81 legal proof of concept needed to create a new class of life 81 legal proof of concept needed to create a new class of life
82 between "living" and "dead": "stasis". 82 between "living" and "dead": "stasis".
83 83
84 - philosophy of the mirror :: neat thought experiment -- if you take a 84 - philosophy of the mirror :: neat thought experiment -- if you take a
85 mirror of someone by actually reversing a person's chirality 85 mirror of someone by actually reversing a person's chirality
86 moleculue by molucule, then will the only be able to read mirror 86 molecule by molecule, then will the only be able to read mirror
87 writing? The answer is yes, by analogy to a purely mechanical 87 writing? The answer is yes, by analogy to a purely mechanical
88 scantron device. This is one of the only interesting transforms I 88 scan-tron device. This is one of the only interesting transforms I
89 know that can take a human brain and change it in subtle, 89 know that can take a human brain and change it in subtle,
90 non-destructive ways. It's also an argument against dualism. 90 non-destructive ways. It's also an argument against dualism.
91 91
92 - biosphere in a bottle :: There are around 15 million species. 15 92 - biosphere in a bottle :: There are around 15 million species. 15
93 million stem cells will fill only a tiny size, far less than a cubic 93 million stem cells will fill only a tiny size, far less than a cubic
94 inch. Preserve a single cell from every species on earth in this 94 inch. Preserve a single cell from every species on earth in this
95 small space, and you will have a record of our current biosphere 95 small space, and you will have a record of our current biosphere
96 that can be protected. "Hold the genetic data of all species in 96 that can be protected. "Hold the genetic data of all species in
97 your hand." 97 your hand!"
98 98
99 - chaos lock :: The "arrow of time" points in the direction of 99 - chaos lock :: The "arrow of time" points in the direction of
100 increasing entropy. The time evolution of chaotic 100 increasing entropy. The time evolution of chaotic
101 systems depend exquisitely on their initial state. If 101 systems depend exquisitely on their initial state. If
102 you take a measurement of a chaotic system at any 102 you take a measurement of a chaotic system at any
142 should have a higher incidence of some unknown parasite in 142 should have a higher incidence of some unknown parasite in
143 their brains. 143 their brains.
144 144
145 - domestic insects :: People should eat more bugs because they're much 145 - domestic insects :: People should eat more bugs because they're much
146 more efficient, so why not do some major domestication research 146 more efficient, so why not do some major domestication research
147 to make very appealing bugs? 147 to make very appealing bugs? Beetles, in particular, seem to be
148 excellent targets for domestication because they have extreme
149 levels of genetic malleability.
148 150
149 - birth-clones :: What if each person was intentionally split at birth 151 - birth-clones :: What if each person was intentionally split at birth
150 into a normal embryo and a few "backup" cells which 152 into a normal embryo and a few "backup" cells which
151 is then frozen. The backup cells are created just 153 is then frozen. The backup cells are created just
152 the same way as natural identical twins. The backups 154 the same way as natural identical twins. The backups
155 have a culture where people reward people who were 157 have a culture where people reward people who were
156 especially awesome are "reborn" from their 158 especially awesome are "reborn" from their
157 backups. Imagine having a young Bach every 159 backups. Imagine having a young Bach every
158 generation, etc. 160 generation, etc.
159 161
160 - pronuncation guide :: a simple webpage where you type in a word and 162 - pronunciation guide :: a simple webpage where you type in a word and
161 it returns a simpe, English sentence describing exactly how to 163 it returns a simple, English sentence describing exactly how to
162 pronounce the word. For people who don't want to learn IPA. 164 pronounce the word. For people who don't want to learn IPA.
163 165
164 - cortex-search :: use the repertoire of actions learned to limit the 166 - cortex-search :: use the repertoire of actions learned to limit the
165 search space of possible actions. 167 search space of possible actions.
166 168
347 349
348 - Intestinal flora maintenance :: why not inoculate babies at birth 350 - Intestinal flora maintenance :: why not inoculate babies at birth
349 with "ideal" gut flora instead of whatever bullshit they 351 with "ideal" gut flora instead of whatever bullshit they
350 naturally get, thus giving them optimal digestive/nutrient 352 naturally get, thus giving them optimal digestive/nutrient
351 extraction capabilities. Might also be able to make their farts 353 extraction capabilities. Might also be able to make their farts
352 not stink for life, too. MORE IMPORTANTALY, might help to 354 not stink for life, too. MORE IMPORTANTLY, might help to
353 preventatively stop some forms of /colic/, which affects 1 in 5 355 preventatively stop some forms of /colic/, which affects 1 in 5
354 babies and causees constant screaming and pain for about 5 weeks. 356 babies and causes constant screaming and pain for about 5 weeks.
355 357
356 - server culture : mirrors :: make a distributed system where people 358 - server culture : mirrors :: make a distributed system where people
357 can mirror the websites of people they like -- essentially cover 359 can mirror the websites of people they like -- essentially cover
358 the server costs of favored websites. This could make popular 360 the server costs of favored websites. This could make popular
359 websites run at no cost. The system would require that the 361 websites run at no cost. The system would require that the
455 - crossdressing :: Easiest way to disguise oneself as a woman is to 457 - crossdressing :: Easiest way to disguise oneself as a woman is to
456 wear a burka. 458 wear a burka.
457 459
458 - book-mode :: intelligent color highlighting for books and 460 - book-mode :: intelligent color highlighting for books and
459 articles. It would disambiguate pronouns and involved 461 articles. It would disambiguate pronouns and involved
460 references. For example, if "Rachael" as red, and "the 462 references. For example, if "Rachael" was assigned the
461 blonde haired girl" refers to "Rachael", then "the 463 color red, and "the blonde haired girl" refers to
462 blonde haired girl" would he colored red. Also, you 464 "Rachael", then "the blonde haired girl" would be
463 could disambiguate multi part run-on sentences by 465 colored red. Also, you could disambiguate multi part
464 highlighting each subcomponent. Maybe would also have 466 run-on sentences by highlighting each
465 applications to scientific reading. 467 subcomponent. Maybe would also have applications to
468 scientific reading.
466 469
467 - Handheld light Rain measurement :: this would be a clear, teflon 470 - Handheld light Rain measurement :: this would be a clear, teflon
468 coated plastic disk with a camera underneath the disk. You would 471 coated plastic disk with a camera underneath the disk. You would
469 be able to hold the device out and it would measure the rate of 472 be able to hold the device out and it would measure the rate of
470 accumulation of water droplets from fine mists and light rain by 473 accumulation of water droplets from fine mists and light rain by