Mercurial > thoughts
comparison org/ideas.org @ 96:7f5ec998409f
merge.
author | Robert McIntyre <rlm@mit.edu> |
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date | Mon, 26 May 2014 01:42:11 -0400 |
parents | 70c493a87a7e e05b604a6843 |
children | 14a568ba6b5d |
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95:70c493a87a7e | 96:7f5ec998409f |
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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 |