What will the future be like? If you’ve spent any time reading this blog, you’ll know a few details: massive cities, robot drivers, and computers that connect directly to your brain. But what about the big picture? What’s the whole world going to be like in 1,000 years? As the saying goes, ask 10 different … Continue reading
Welcome to Cosmic Revolutions’ Topic Guides, where we wrap up all the CR articles on a particular subject and serve them to you in a nice neat package with a bow. Today’s topic is a big one: The Singularity. The term became popular thanks to sci-fi writer Vernor Vinge, who called it an “intellectual transition” … Continue reading
Ah, Christmas lists: the classic childhood tradition of filling a page with all the cool toys you don’t have, then mailing it off to a rotund stranger in a distant land. Well, wishlists aren’t just for kids – here’s one that will satisfy future enthusiasts of any age. Send it to your clueless aunt who … Continue reading
Ever wanted to have cybernetic control over a computer, or communicate telepathically with others? Well, check out the following video of cybernetics professor Kevin Warwick and his “cyber” implant. The implant connects to nerves in his arm, allowing his brain to directly send and receive external signals. In the video he does so not only … Continue reading
The systematic, scientific study of the future is impossible. Wait, what? Really? Well, speaking as someone who has deeply internalized the values of science, and who also loves to study the future, the thought certainly leaves me uncomfortable. And yet I’m pretty sure that’s an ironclad statement. I’m not quite about to throw in the … Continue reading
Happy Halloween, fellow future hunters! This has always been my favorite holiday, perhaps because it’s the one time of year that we all celebrate mystery and the great unknown. Today, in the spirit of the season, I offer you a glimpse of the ghosts of the future. Hint: chain-rattling is not involved. It starts with … Continue reading
Ready for more end-of-the-world scenarios? If you missed the first half of the list, click here. Otherwise, let’s start with number 5, which kicks off the more speculative portion. And if you’ve got a favorite that’s not included here, be sure to add it in the comments. Happy apocalypse hunting! 5. Artificial black hole. Back … Continue reading
We’ve all wished for a little more brain power at some point. Maybe it was while trying to make sense of credit default swaps, or wrestling with an especially intractable Sudoku puzzle. Well, what if someone offered you a machine that could boost your cognitive capacity without effort? Would you use it? Would you want … Continue reading
Let’s admit one thing up front: genetic mutations are a good thing! They’re evolution’s way of experimenting, so we should thank them for bringing forth lobster claws, orchid petals, and human brains. In fact, without mutations, life on earth would have died out as soon as the environment changed in any way. But from a … Continue reading
What’s the future of human civilization? Cosmic Revolutions has looked at a lot of big questions, but this one’s as big as they come. Indeed, everything I’ve posted so far has tried to fill in a piece of the answer. But today, I want to step back, way back, and try to catch a glimpse … Continue reading
Cosmic Revolutions 