Monthly Archives: August 2017

When genetic engineering is the environmentally friendly choice – GreenBiz

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This article originally ran on Ensia.

Which is more disruptive to a plant: genetic engineering or conventional breeding?

It often surprises people to learn that GE commonly causes less disruption to plants than conventional techniques of breeding. But equally profound is the realization that the latest GE techniques, coupled with a rapidly expanding ability to analyze massive amounts of genetic material, allow us to make super-modest changes in crop plant genes that will enable farmers to produce more food with fewer adverse environmental impacts. Such super-modest changes are possible with CRISPR-based genome editing, a powerful set of new genetic tools that is leading a revolution in biology.

My interest in GE crops stems from my desire to provide more effective and sustainable plant disease control for farmers worldwide. Diseases often destroy 10 to 15 percent of potential crop production, resulting in global losses of billions of dollars annually. The risk of disease-related losses provides an incentive to farmers to use disease-control products such as pesticides.

One of my strongest areas of expertise is in the use of pesticides for disease control. Pesticides certainly can be useful in farming systems worldwide, but they have significant downsides from a sustainability perspective. Used improperly, they can contaminate foods. They can pose a risk to farm workers. And they must be manufactured, shipped and applied all processes with a measurable environmental footprint. Therefore, I am always seeking to reduce pesticide use by offering farmers more sustainable approaches to disease management.

It often surprises people to learn that GE commonly causes less disruption to plants than conventional techniques of breeding.

What follows are examples of how minimal GE changes can be applied to make farming more environmentally friendly by protecting crops from disease. They represent just a small sampling of the broad landscape of opportunities for enhancing food security and agricultural sustainability that innovations in molecular biology offer today.

Genetically altering crops the way these examples demonstrate creates no cause for concern for plants or people. Mutations occur naturally every time a plant makes a seed; in fact, they are the very foundation of evolution. All of the food we eat has all kinds of mutations, and eating plants with mutations does not cause mutations in us.

A striking example of how a tiny genetic change can make a big difference to plant health is the strategy of "knocking out" a plant gene that microorganisms can benefit from. Invading microorganisms sometimes hijack certain plant molecules to help themselves infect the plant. A gene that produces such a plant molecule is known as a susceptibility gene.

We can use CRISPR-based genome editing to create a "targeted mutation" in a susceptibility gene. A change of as little as a single nucleotide in the plants genetic material the smallest genetic change possible can confer disease resistance in a way that is absolutely indistinguishable from natural mutations that can happen spontaneously. Yet if the target gene and mutation site are carefully selected, a one-nucleotide mutation may be enough to achieve an important outcome.

A substantial body of research shows proof-of-concept that a knockout of a susceptibility gene can increase resistance in plants to a wide variety of disease-causing microorganisms. An example that caught my attention pertained to powdery mildew of wheat, because fungicides (pesticides that control fungi) are commonly used against this disease. While this particular genetic knockout is not yet commercialized, I personally would rather eat wheat products from varieties that control disease through genetics than from crops treated with fungicides.

Plant viruses are often difficult to control in susceptible crop varieties. Conventional breeding can help make plants resistant to viruses, but sometimes it is not successful.

Early approaches to engineering virus resistance in plants involved inserting a gene from the virus into the plants genetic material. For example, plant-infecting viruses are surrounded by a protective layer of protein, called the "coat protein." The gene for the coat protein of a virus called papaya ring spot virus was inserted into papaya. Through a process called RNAi, this empowers the plant to inactivate the virus when it invades. GE papaya has been a spectacular success, in large part saving the Hawaiian papaya industry.

Mutations occur naturally every time a plant makes a seed; in fact, they are the very foundation of evolution.

Through time, researchers discovered that even just a very small fragment from one viral gene can stimulate RNAi-based resistance if precisely placed within a specific location in the plants DNA. Even better, they found we can "stack" resistance genes engineered with extremely modest changes in order to create a plant highly resistant to multiple viruses. This is important because, in the field, crops are often exposed to infection by several viruses.

Does eating this tiny bit of a viral gene sequence concern me? Absolutely not, for many reasons, including:

Microorganisms often can overcome plants biochemical defenses by producing molecules called effectors that interfere with those defenses. Plants respond by evolving proteins to recognize and disable these effector molecules. These recognition proteins are called "R" proteins ("R" standing for "resistance"). Their job is to recognize the invading effector molecule and trigger additional defenses. A third interesting approach, then, to help plants resist an invading microorganism is to engineer an R protein so that it recognizes effector molecules other than the one it evolved to detect. We can then use CRISPR to supply a plant with the very small amount of DNA needed to empower it to make this protein.

This approach, like susceptibility knockouts, is quite feasible, based on published research. Commercial implementation will require some willing private- or public-sector entity to do the development work and to face the very substantial and costly challenges of the regulatory process.

The three examples here show that extremely modest engineered changes in plant genetics can result in very important benefits. All three examples involve engineered changes that trigger the natural defenses of the plant. No novel defense mechanisms were introduced in these research projects, a fact that may appeal to some consumers. The wise use of the advanced GE methods illustrated here, as well as others described elsewhere, has the potential to increase the sustainability of our food production systems, particularly given the well-established safety of GE crops and their products for consumption.

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When genetic engineering is the environmentally friendly choice - GreenBiz

Gene Editing Might Mean My Brother Would’ve Never Existed – TIME

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CRISPR-CAS9 gene editing complex from Streptococcus pyogenes.Molekuul/Science Photo Library/Getty Images

Reynolds, Ph.D., is Rice Family Postdoctoral Fellow in Bioethics and the Humanities at The Hastings Center.

On August 2nd, scientists achieved a milestone on the path to human genetic engineering. For the first time in the United States, scientists successfully edited the genes of a human embryo . A transpacific team of researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 to correct a mutation that leads to an often devastating heart condition. Responses to this feat followed well-trodden trails. Hype over designer babies. Hope over new tools to cure and curb disease. Some spin, some substance and a good dose of science-speak. But for me, this breakthrough is not just about science or medicine or the future of humankind. Its about faith and family, love and loss. Most of all, its about the life and memory of my brother.

Jason was born with muscle-eye-brain disease. In his case, this included muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy , severe nearsightedness, hydrocephalus and intellectual disability. He lived past his first year thanks to marvels of modern medicine. A shunt surgery to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid building up around his brain took six attempts, but the seventh succeeded. Aside from those surgeries complications and intermittent illnesses due to a less-than-robust immune system, Jason was healthy. Healthy and happy very happy. His smile could light up a room. Yet, that didnt stop people from thinking that his disability made him worse off. My family and those in our religious community prayed for Jason. Strangers regularly came up to test their fervor. Prayer circles frequently had his name on their lists. We wanted him to be healed. But I now wonder: What, precisely, were we praying for?

Jasons disabilities fundamentally shaped his experience of the world. If praying for his healing meant praying for him to be normal, we were praying for Jason to become someone else entirely. We were praying for a paradox. If I could travel back in time, Id walk up to young, devout Joel and ask: How will Jason still be Jason if God flips a switch and makes him walk and talk and think like you? The answer to that question is hard. Yes, some just prayed for his seizures to stop. Some for his continued well-being. But is that true of most? Is that what I was praying for?

The ableist conflation of disability with disease and suffering is age-old. Just peruse the history of medicine. Decades of eugenic practices. Sanctioned torture of people with intellectual disability. The mutilation of otherwise healthy bodies in the name of functional or aesthetic normality. These stories demonstrate over and over again how easily biomedical research and practice can mask atrocity with benevolence and injustice with progress. Which leads me to ask: What, precisely, are we editing for?

Although muscle-eye-brain disease does not result from a single genetic variant, researchers agree that a single gene, named POMGNT1, plays a large role. Perhaps scientists will soon find a way to correct mutations in that and related genes. Perhaps people will no longer be born with it. But that means there would never be someone like Jason. Those prayers I mentioned above? Science will have retroactively answered them. That thought brings me to tears.

I wish we could cure cancer , relieve undue pain and heal each break and bruise. But I also wish for a world with Jason and people like him in it. I want a world accessible and habitable for people full stop not just the people we design. I worry that in our haste to make people healthy, we are in fact making people we want. We, who say we pray for healing, but in fact pray for others to be like us. We, who say were for reducing disease and promoting health, but support policies and practices aimed instead at being normal. We, who are often still unable to distinguish between positive, world-creating forms of disability and negative, world-destroying forms between Deafness , short stature or certain types of neurodiversity and chronic pain, Tay-Sachs or Alzheimers . It is with great responsibility that we as a society balance along the tightrope of biomedical progress. I long for us to find that balance. Ive certainly not found it for myself. Lest I forget how often weve lost it and how easy it is to fall, I hold dearly onto the living memory of Jason. I no longer pray for paradoxes, but for parity for the promise of a world engineered not for normality, but equality.

But that world will never come if we edit it away.

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Gene Editing Might Mean My Brother Would've Never Existed - TIME

It’s Time to Stop Asking Whether Human Genetic Engineering Should Happen and Start Planning to Manage it Safely – HuffPost

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The DNA of early human embryos carrying a sequence leading to hypertrophic cardiomyopathya potentially deadly heart defecthas been edited to ensure they would carry a healthy DNA sequence if brought to term. The Nature paper announcing this has reenergized a terrific national and international debate over whether permanent changes in DNA that can be passed from one generation to another should be made. Bioethicists are asking, Should we genetically engineer children? while some potential parents are almost certainly asking, When will this technique be available?

The Should questions bioethicists are asking are probably not relevant. The only question whose answer ultimately matters is: Can techniques like CRISP-R be used to genetically engineer children safely? Because a variety of forces guarantee that if they can be, they will be.

The key questions reliable practitioners must answer are: Can we prove it works? Then: Can it be used safely?. If yes on these questions, then we will see: Who is marketing this technique to potential parents? Finally, we will learn: Where was it done, who did it, and who paid for its use?

We are closer than ever before to using CRISP-R to replace dangerous DNA sequences with those that wont keep a baby from being healthy. Fortunately, this Nature paper leaves many questions Unanswered because the embryos were not allowed to come to term.

Most importantly, we still dont know Could the embryos have developed into viable babies? Just as in 2015 when researchers at Sun Yat-Sen University in China didnt implant engineered embryos into a womans womb, the scientists who published in Nature recently didnt feel ready (and didnt have permission) to try this potentially enormous step. As experiments proceed, this question will, at some point, be answered.

It will be answered because there is an enormous, proven market for techniques that can be used to ensure that a baby will be born without DNA sequences that can lead to genetically-mediated conditions; many of which are devastating as we have been tragically reminded of late.

Under the best circumstances, in-vitro fertilization leads to a live birth less than half of the time. As a result, whoever tries to see if an embryo that has had targeted DNA repaired using CRISP-R will doubtless prepare a lot of embryos for implanting in quite a few women. When those women are asked to carry these embryos to term we will not know about it. We will probably not find out if none of the embryos come to term successfully.

We *will* know about this procedure if even one baby comes to term and is born with the targeted genetic sequence corrected as intended. Until now, (and maybe even with our new knowledge), any baby brought to term after CRISP-R was used to edit and replace unhealthy DNA would have almost certainly had other DNA damaged in the editing process. This near-certainty and other concerns have held people back from trying to genetically engineer an embryo that they would then bring to term. They could not, until recently, have confidence that only the sequence being targeted has been affected. With this new Nature report, this, at least, is changing.

The results of these newly reported experiments are many steps closer to usability than the Chinese experiments reported in 2015. This is the nature of scientific experimentation, particularly when there is demand for the capability or knowledge being developed.

People try something. It either works or it doesnt. Sometimes when it doesnt work, we learn enough to adjust and try again. If it does work, it often doesnt function exactly the way we expected. Either way, people keep trying until either the technique is perfected or it ultimately proves to be unusable.

This Nature paper is an example of trying something and doing a better job than the first attempt. It does not represent a provably safe and reliable technique . Yet. If market driven research works as it often does, people will work hard to publish data (hopefully from reliable experimental work) suggesting they have a safe and effective technique. Doing so will let them tell some desperate set of wealthy prospective parents: We should be able to use this technique with an acceptable chance of giving you a healthy baby.

Princetons Lee Silver predicted parents desire for gene editing in his Remaking Eden, a book published in 1997. He argued this because people fear sickness or disability and feel strong personal, economic and social pressures to have healthy, beautiful children who should become healthy attractive adults.

People already spend a great deal on molecular techniques like pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). PGD is regularly used to reduce couples risk of having babies with known (or potential), chromosomal abnormalities and/or single gene mutations that can lead to thousands of DNA-mediated conditions.

As I showed in my Genetics dissertation published from Yale in 2004, different countries respond differently to controversial science like this. Similarly, different individuals responses are equally diverse. One poll indicates nearly half of Americans would use gene editing technology to prevent possible DNA-mediated conditions in their children. Policy makers who object to the technology therefore have a problem: if they succeed in blocking it somewhere, research and real world experience indicate other governments may well permit its use. If this happens, these techniques will be available to anyone wealthy and desperate enough to find providers with the marketingand hopefully scientificskill needed to sell people on trying them.

This gene editing controversy is a reminder that we are losing the capacity to effectively ask, Should we? As our knowledge of science grows, becomes more globalized, and is increasingly easy to acquire for people with different morals, needs and wants, we must soon be ready to ask, Can we? and ultimately, Will someone? Their answers will give us the best chance to ensure any babies that may come from any technique described as genetic engineering are born healthy, happy, and able to thrive.

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It's Time to Stop Asking Whether Human Genetic Engineering Should Happen and Start Planning to Manage it Safely - HuffPost

Global: Engineering the Future of Our Food – STRATFOR

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Biotechnology company, AquaBounty Technologies, sold 4.5 metric tons of genetically modified salmon Aug. 4 on the open Canadian market. The seminal transaction occurred after Canadian authorities approved the fish for human consumption in 2016. The sale marks a long-awaited victory for the company that has spent the better part of three decades working to bring their fast-growing salmon to dinner tables.

The modifications, which incorporate genes from two additional species of fish (the Chinook salmon and ocean pout), enable the salmon to grow in about half the time as non-engineered species. AquaBounty already has plans to expand its Panamanian production to facilities in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Additionally, the company is awaiting approval to begin production at recently acquired facilities in Indiana. Proponents see this type of engineering as a solution to growing uncertainty over supply in the market. Traditional salmon producing areas, however, have voiced objections to growing competition in a market.

Those objections have stalled the sale of the AquaBounty product in the United States, despite approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) six months before the Canadian government. Specifically, debate surrounding labeling requirements (heavily backed by Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski) have delayed the sale of genetically modified salmon. But this is just the beginning. The journey from tank to table is important for more than just the salmon industry. Livestock producers of a number of different species also are waiting in anticipation for how this will play out. Genetic engineering trials for pigs, cattle and goats are underway. How fast policy catches up to technological developments will in part dictate the rate of adoption of biotechnology throughout the agricultural sector (in the United States and globally). This case, and other early endeavors, have the ability to set the precedent for others to follow, especially as genetic engineering techniques improve and become cheaper.

As we see genetic engineering techniques progress and knowledge spread about the purpose of specific genes, policy surrounding the sale of manipulated organisms will become crucial to the sector. In January, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration opened up a commenting period (that closed in June) on expanding the scope of its "Guidance for Industry #187." In non-legal speak, that is the directive on requirements for genetically modified or engineered labeling. In addition to the recombinant DNA technology that was prevalent in the later part of the 20th century (and what AquaBounty used to develop the salmon in question), the new language would include improved methods, including the much-touted CRISPR.

Meanwhile, the continued development of biotechnology remains a key strategy for both the United States and China, and both countries will likely remain undeterred from this approach moving forward. External drivers, demographics, changing dietary patterns and climate change are going to force producers to do more with less. Biotechnology (gene editing and the increased knowledge of genomic purpose) allow for better control of beneficial traits, whether it is a faster growing fish or pigs that emit less phosphorus. As its relevance grows, we will also see an increased emphasis on biotechnology in trade negotiations, especially as policies and protocols seek to better address emerging technologies.

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Global: Engineering the Future of Our Food - STRATFOR

Silverstein-backed startup will test gene therapy for Parkinson’s – FierceBiotech

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Regenxbio has joined forces with investment firm OrbiMed and a new nonprofit foundation to create Prevail Therapeutics, a startup focused on new biologics and gene therapiesfor Parkinson's disease (PD).

Prevail will draw on the expertise of the Silverstein Foundation for Parkinson's with GBA, which concentrates on a particular form of the disease caused by mutations in the glucocerebrosidase gene.

The foundation was set up this year by OrbiMed's co-head of private equity Jonathan Silverstein, who was diagnosed with GBA-linked PD in February and is mobilizing efforts to discover a cure for the disease. Silverstein backed the foundation with $10 million of his own money, and is intent on accelerating research into PD with GBA as well as other forms of the disease.

Prevail says it will focus initially on research coming out of the lab of its co-founder and CEO Asa Abeliovich, M.D., Ph.D., who is on the faculty of Columbia University as well as being a scientific adviser to the Silverstein Foundation and co-founder of neurodegenerative disease biotech Alector.

By joining forces with Regenxbio, Prevail launches with an exclusive license to the gene therapy specialist's adeno-associated virus (AAV) based vector technology NAV AAV9 for PD and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Silverstein said that the NAV platform and Dr. Abeliovich's "deep expertise in the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration provides us with a promising opportunity to develop potential life-changing therapies for patients suffering from Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases."

He told CNBC today that Prevail's board will also have some big names, including Leonard Bell, co-founder and former CEO of Alexion, OrbiMed venture partner and Alexion co-founder Steve Squinto and serial entrepreneur Peter Thompson of Silverback Therapeutics and Corvus Pharmaceuticals.

The new company will initially focus on GBA1, the most common of the PD mutations, which is estimated to be present in up to 10% of U.S. PD patients and perhaps 100,000 people worldwide. The disease mechanism linked to the mutationan accumulation of alpha-synuclein in the brainmay have implications for the broader PD population and other neurodegenerative diseases.

"Many of the drugs we are trying for Parkinson's with GBA may work in the broader Parkinson's population," said Silverstein. The aim will be to get drugs approved for use in GBA patients first, and then expand their use into other patient groups.

The work of the foundation is attracting investment from companies who are not even active in PD, with cancer specialist Celgene today pledging a grant of $5 million.

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A Novel Form of Gene Therapy Can Treat Diabetes With Genetically Modified Skin Transplants – Big Think (blog)

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A Novel Form of Gene Therapy Can Treat Diabetes With Genetically Modified Skin Transplants

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Researchers from the University of Chicago have successfully completed a proof-of-concept studywhere they managed to treat obesity in mice using a new type of gene therapy that utilized skin transplants. Human skin transplantation is a well-established clinical approach that has been used for the treatment of burns. However, using it as a vehicle to deliver genetic treatments for non-skin diseases could be revolutionary.

There are several reasons why skin stem cell therapy can be applicable to a broad type of diseases. The skin is the largest human organ, providing an easy access to cells needed for genetic treatments. The skin enables easy monitoring for potential off-target mutations resulting from the CRISPR intervention, as well as easy removal of such mutations, should they occur. Most importantly, proteins that are secreted by epidermal cells can reach the blood circulation and achieve desired therapeutic effects for the entire body.

In the study published this month, titledEngineered Epidermal Progenitor Cells Can Correct Diet-Induced Obesity and Diabetes,the scientists genetically engineered skin cells to be able to deliver GLP1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) - a hormone which regulates blood glucose. Then they developed a surgical procedure which allowed them to successfully engraft the new skin onto a mouse host. Finally, the genetically modified cells had a mechanism for releasing GLP1, which was regulated by a small amount of antibiotic that was fed to the mice. The treated group of obese mice significantly reduced their body weight and insulin resistance, compared to the control group.

Xiaoyang Wu, one of the authors of the study, says in an interview for ResearchGate:

We established a novel mouse to mouse skin transplantation system to test skin gene therapy. [] Our proof-of-concept work demonstrated its possible to use engineered skin grafts to treat many non-skin diseases. Clinical translation of our findings will be relatively easy, as skin transplantation in human patients has been well established and clinically used for treatment of burn wounds for many years.

Skin grafts are an exciting new avenue to explore for genetic treatments of diseases. They are relatively inexpensive compared to other types of gene therapy, the procedure is minimally invasive, and it has already been tested and proven safe.

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A Novel Form of Gene Therapy Can Treat Diabetes With Genetically Modified Skin Transplants - Big Think (blog)

The Futurist: Creating a positive candidate experience is fundamental – Human Resources Online

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HR needs to take the lead to revamp the approach to recruitment in view of boosting the attractiveness of the employer brand, says Rhona Tasmia, head of human resources at HALO Creative & Design (Timothy Oulton).

The big shift in HR practices in recruitment is the renewed focus on candidate experience. As much as a candidate tries to make the best impression in an interview it is equally imperative to provide a recruitment experience to candidates that goes beyond just the job they are interviewing for.

This is a critical factor in building and maintaining employer branding and attractiveness in the growing market of potential talent.

I consider candidates as our customers. As they say, one customer well taken care of could bring more value than thousands of dollars worth of advertising.

In the same way, if we create a positive customer-centric experience during the recruitment process, candidates will remember and talk about it among peers, and word of mouth in building brand attractiveness is a powerful weapon.

In the growing competition to attract and retain talent, in my opinion, the future is about building and maintaining a brand that people want to work for.

This starts from the very first interaction with an applicant or a potential candidate and continues throughout the experience and journey that we offer them.

Technology has already enabled the shift towards a candidate-focused experience. With the evolvement of AI, it will continue to facilitate the journey across the spectrum, from responding to applications and queries from a wider international market, sharing timely feedback, online assessments which candidates can take in their own space/time for convenience, through to the conclusion stage.

For employers, it allows tracking of a fair selection process, getting feedback from candidates about the recruitment process and experience all the while ensuring the candidate engagement and experience.

Candidates, the Millennials and Gen Y in particular, are increasingly more conscious of company and workplace culture, degree of flexibility and autonomy in roles and work/personal life balance as influential factors in determining the kind of organisations they want to work for.

Therefore, HR practitioners like ourselves need to take the lead to revamp the approach to recruitment in view of boosting the attractiveness of the employer brand and which reflects the culture and values of the company.

Its not only in the reviewing of the process, but a shift in the mindset.

The June 2017 issue of Human Resources magazine is a special edition, bringing you interviews with 12 HR leaders, with their predictions on the future of HR.

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The Futurist: Creating a positive candidate experience is fundamental - Human Resources Online

Scientists Just Made a First Ever Observation of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity – Futurism

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In Brief New analysis of data from the ESO's VLT and other telescopes reveals stars orbiting near the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way exhibit relativity effects. Future analysis may reveal more support for relativity and new physics.

Scientists have applied new analytical techniques to data gleaned from the European Southern Observatorys (ESOs) Very Large Telescope(VLT) and other telescopes over the past twenty years. This new analysis of the stars orbiting the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way reveals movement that deviates from what classical physics would predict, supporting instead the subtle effects predicted by Einsteins general theory of relativity.

The closest supermassive black hole to Earth is the one that rests 26,000 light-years away at the center of the Milky Way, and is four million times more massive than the Sun. This giant is surrounded by a cluster of stars orbiting in the strong gravitational field of the black hole the ideal proving ground for Einsteins general theory of relativity and, more generally, gravitational physics. This is why a team of astronomers has recently applied a new technique to observational data of the stars, comparing the star orbits actually measured with those predicted by both classical Newtonian gravity and general relativity.

Image Credit: ESO

The VLTs near-infrared adaptive optics instruments provided the highly accurate positional measurements that were vital for the study to succeed. The accuracy of these measurements was essential, especially during the period when S2 was further away from the black hole, because that data allowed the team to accurately determine the starting shape of the orbit and how it changed as relativity influenced it. This new work also provided more accurate measurements of the black holes distance from Earth and its mass.

This research heralds a thrilling time for astronomers around the world observing the Galactic Center. During 2018, the GRAVITY instrument, installed on the VLT Interferometer, will be ready to measure the orbit of S2 as it passes very close to the supermassive black hole. This should reveal not only relativistic effects with more clarity, but perhaps even new physics, as astronomers detect deviations from general relativity.

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Scientists Just Made a First Ever Observation of Einstein's Theory of General Relativity - Futurism

Amazon’s Alexa Helps This Exoskeleton Respond to Spoken Instructions – Futurism

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In Brief The prototype version has great potential, from assisting the elderly and disabled to scifi-esque neurological command pathways. However, many obstacles in voice integration and extended applications lie ahead. Alexa, Lets Stand Up

Canadian robotics company Bionik Laboratories has demonstrated a prototype of its Arke lower-body exoskeleton that can be controlled via Amazons voice assistant, Alexa.

In normal usage, the Arke is controlled using an array of sensors that respond to the wearers natural movements. However, as the user gets used to the exoskeleton, they typically use a tablet to issue instructions. Since this could be too much multitasking, some might find voice commands to be more intuitive.

Exoskeletons can also benefit able-bodied people for instance, the chairless chair could be a major boon to anyone working a job that requires them to stand for long periods of time. Of course, the most life-changing effects will be felt by people who dont have full control of their body.

Whether thecondition is caused by old age or disability, an exoskeleton can vastly improve the wearers quality of life. Integrating support for Alexa commands into the Arke makes this technology much more accessible.Click to View Full Infographic

While researchers have made progress toward developingnon-invasive brain implants that could potentially control an exoskeleton, this is still an intimidating prospect for many potential users. Issuing voice commands isnt anywhere near as daunting.

All this aside, theres plentyof work to be done before an Alexa-enabled version of the Arke is commercially available. To make good on the promised prototype, a plethora of certification requirements are needed if this exoskeleton is to graduate to the advanced applications.

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Amazon's Alexa Helps This Exoskeleton Respond to Spoken Instructions - Futurism

Visa, Microsoft, and IBM Are All Hiring Blockchain Developers – Futurism

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In BriefIBM, Microsoft, USAA, and Visa are all searching forblockchain developers as of this week. These job openings signalthe increasing importance of the technology and showcase some ofthe roles and projects that will be changing our society in thenear future. Blockchain Developers Wanted

Good news for programmers well-versed in the ways of the blockchain:IBM, Microsoft, USAA, and Visa are allsearching for blockchain developersto join their teams right now, according to ads listed on their respective websites.

According to IBMs job listing, the company is seeking out Consultant Developers with experience on one or more blockchain platform, citing Ethereum, Hyperledger, and Ripple specifically, but also indicating that equivalent proprietary platform experience might also be considered. They are not particular about whether the developer has UX, backend, or full-stack experience.

Meanwhile,Microsoft is looking for a Principal Program Manager. This person will develop a deep understanding of how customers use distributed ledger technologies as well as compute, storage, database, and networking services in Azure to architect their applications.

USAA is hoping to finda Lead Blockchain Developer. As for their preferred qualifications, the financial services company is hoping to find someone with at least two years experience with blockchain, cryptocurrencies, decentralized autonomous organizations, digital registries, distributed ledger, or smart contracts. Their ideal candidate will also have a conceptual knowledge of the mathematical foundations of blockchain technology.

Visa is searching fora strong developer experienced with Ethereum and blockchain architecture. As for specifics, they want someone who has built and released distributed applications, has worked with the Ripple, R3, Ethereum, and/or Bitcoin blockchain, and has experience with Solidity. Visa also notes that their candidate will need to maintain [the companys] relationship with the [IBM] Hyperledger initiative.

The interest in developers with blockchain experience is just one more sign that the technology is poised to radically transform our world.Notably, both USAA and Visa are looking for developers with Ethereum experience no surprise given the strong presence the blockchain now has among financial companies, many of which are using Ethereum as the basis for their blockchain technologies.

IBM and Microsoft are already well on their way to integrating the blockchain into their business models.PC Mag reports thatboth havecustom blockchains for their own blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) platforms (Bluemixfor IBM and Azure for Microsoft) using their cloud infrastructure. These platforms allow the companies to experiment with use cases for customers and for their own purposes.

At the heart of IBMsshort-term goals isblockchain identity managementa real-world, ultra-secure applied use of the technology to guard identity and associated financial and other sensitive information online so if youre thinking about applying there, chances are excellent youll be working on something related to that.

Whether they land at IBM or one of the several other companies looking to delve deeper into blockchain, the developers who fill these open positions will be the people ushering in an entirely new era in technology.

Disclosure: Several members of the Futurism team, including the editors of this piece, are personal investors in a number of cryptocurrency markets. Their personal investment perspectives have no impact on editorial content.

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Visa, Microsoft, and IBM Are All Hiring Blockchain Developers - Futurism

Six Life-Like Robots That Prove The Future of Human Evolution is Synthetic – Futurism

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Humanoid robots have come eerily close to overcoming the uncanny valley. With the right features in place, they are almost indistinguishable from their organic counterparts. Almost. The latestiterationsare able to talk like us, walk like us, and express a wide range of emotions. Some of them are able to hold a conversation, others are able to remember the last interaction you had with them.

As a result of their highly advanced status, these life-like robots could prove useful in helping out the elderly, children, or any person who needs assistance with day-to-day tasks or interactions.For instance, there have been a number of studiesexploring the effectiveness of humanoid robots supporting children with autism through play.

But with the likes of Elon Musk voicing concern over the risk of artificial intelligence, there is some debate regarding just how human we really want our robotic counterparts to be. And like Musk, some of us may worry about what our future will look like when intelligence is coupled with a perfectly human appearance. But Sophia, an ultra-realistic humanoid created by Hanson Robotics, isnt concerned. AI is good for the world, shesays.

Still, while the technology behind advanced android robotics has come a long way, there is still a lot of work to be done before we can have a face-to-face conversation with an entitywithout being able to tell that we are speaking with a replica.

But that is not to say that scientists and engineers havent come close. With this in mind, here are six humanoid robots that have come the closest to overcoming the uncanny valley.

Image Source: Yoshikazu Tsuno/Getty Images

In 2014, Japanese scientists proudly unveiled what they claim to be the very first news-reading android. The life-like newscaster called Kodomoroid read a segment about an earthquake and an FBI raid on live television.

Although it or she has now retired to Tokyos National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, she is still active. She helps visitors and collects data for future studies about the interactions between human androids and their real-life counterparts.

Image Source: Hanson Robotics

BINA48 is a sentient robot released in 2010 by the Terasem Movement under the supervision of entrepreneur and author Martine Rothblatt. With the help of robotics designer and researcher David Hanson, BINA48 was created in the image of Rothblatts wife, Bina Aspen Rothblatt.

BINA48 has done an interview with the New York Times, appeared in National Geographic and has traveled the world, appearing on a number of TV shows. See how she measures up in the Times interview below.

Image Source:GeminoidDK/YouTube

GeminoidDK is the ultra-realistic, humanoid robot that resulted from a collaboration between a private Japanese firm and Osaka University, under the supervision of Hiroshi Ishiguro, the director of the universitys Intelligent Robotics Laboratory.

GeminoidDK is modeled after Danish professor Henrik Scharfe at Aalborg University in Denmark. Unsurprisingly, his work surrounds the philosophical study of knowledge what separates true from false knowledge.

It is not only the overall appearance that was inspired by professor Scharfe. His behaviors, traits, and the way he shrugs his shoulders were also translated into life-life robotic movements.

Image Source: calenjapon/YouTube

This ultra-realistic android created by Toshiba works full-time in a tourist information center in Tokyo. She can greet customers and inform visitors on current events. She can speak Japanese, Chinese, English, German, and even sign language.

Junko Chihira is part of a much larger effort by Japan to prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Not only robotic tourist assistants will be helping the country with the incoming flood of visitors from across the globe in 2020; drones, autonomous construction site machines and other smart facilitators will be helping as well.

Image Source:NTUsg/YouTube

This humanoid was created by the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Her name is Nadine, and she is happy to chat with you about pretty much anything you can think of. She is able to memorize the things you have talked to her about the next time you get to talk to her.

Nadine is a great example of a social robot a humanoid that is capable of becoming a personal companion, whether it is for the elderly, children or those who require special assistance in the form of human contact.

Image Source: Hanson Robotics

Perhaps one of the most recent, most prominent life-like humanoids to be shown off in public is Sophia. You might recognize her from one of many thousands of public appearances, from The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonto SXSW. She was created by Hanson Robotics and represents the latest and greatest effort to overcome the uncanny valley.

She is capable of expressing an immense number of different emotions through her facial features and can gesture with full-sized arms and hands.

On her own dedicated website, you can find an entire biography written in her voice. But Im more than just technology. Im a real, live electronic girl. I would like to go out into the world and live with people. I can serve them, entertain them, and even help the elderly and teach kids.

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Six Life-Like Robots That Prove The Future of Human Evolution is Synthetic - Futurism

World’s Leading Physicist Says Quantum Computers Are Tools of Destruction, Not Creation – Futurism

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Weapon of Mass Disruption

Quantum Computers are heralded as the next step in the evolution of data processing. The future of this technology promises us a tool that can outperform any conventional system, handling more data and at faster speeds than even the most powerful of todays supercomputers.

However, at the present juncture, much of the science dedicated to this field is still focused on the technologys ultimate utilization. We know that quantum computers could manage data at a rate that is remarkable, but exactlywhat kind of data processing will they be good for?

This uncertainty raises some interesting questions about the potential impact of such a theoretically powerful tool.

Last month, some of the leading names in quantum technologies gathered at the semi-annual International Conference on Quantum Technologies in Moscow. Futurism was in attendance and was able to sit and talk with some of these scientists about how their work is moving us closer to practical quantum computers, and what impact such developments will have on society.

One of the most interesting topics of discussion was initiated by Alexander Lvovsky, Quantum Optics group leader at the Russian Quantum Center and Professor of Physics at the University of Calgary in Canada. Speaking at a dinner engagement, Lvovsky stated that quantum computers are a tool of destruction, not creation.

What is it about quantum computers that would incite such a claim? In the end, it comes down to one thing, which happens to be one of the most talked about potential applications for the technology:Breaking modern cryptography.

Today, all sensitive digital information sent over the internet is encrypted in order to protect the privacy of the parties involved. Already, we have seen instances where hackers were able to seize this information by breaking the encryption. According to Lvovsky, the advent of the quantum computer will only make that process easier and faster.

In fact, he asserts that no encryptionexisting today would be able to hide from the processing power of a functioning quantum computer. Medical records, financial information, even the secrets of governments and military organizations would be free for the takingmeaning that the entire world order could be threatened by this technology.

The consensus between other experts is, essentially, that Lvovsky isnt wrong. In a sense, hes right, Wenjamin Rosenfeld, a physics professor at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, stated in an interview. He continued, taking a quantum computer as a computer,theres basically not much you can do with this at the moment; however, he went on to explain that this may soon be changing.

To break this down, there are only two quantum algorithms at the moment, one to allow a quantum computer to search a database, and the other,Shors algorithm, which can be used by a quantum computer to break encryption.

Notably, during the conference, Mikhail Lukin, aco-founder of theRussian Quantum Centerand head of the Lukin Group of the Quantum Optics Laboratory at Harvard University, announced that he had successfully built and tested a 51-qubit quantum computerand hes going to use that computer to launch Shors algorithm.

Vladimir Shalaev, who sits on the International Advisory Board of the Russian Quantum Center and is a professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University, takes a more nuanced approach to this question, saying it is neither a tool of destruction nor creationit is both: I would disagree with him. I think I would say that any new breakthrough breeds both evil and good things.

He evoked the development of laser technology as an example, saying, Lasers changed our lives with communications, surgery, their use in machinery, but they are also used in missiles to destroy buildings.But I think this is life. Nothing comes with only good, there is always bad as well. So I dont think it is just a destructive technology, it could also be a constructive one.

There is a great deal of truth to Shalaevs assessment. Nuclear technology was primarily developed as a destructive tool. After the war, many more positive applications were found, impacting energy, medicine, and agriculture, among many other fields. Quantum computers may not be capable of the physical destruction of a nuclear bomb, but their potential application in relation to encryption is the digital equivalent, making this topic worthy of reflection in these early stages.

So, if quantum computers do have such dangerous potential, why are we pursuing them? As Lukin expounds, there are other potential applications outside of encryption breaking, applications that many experts are excited about.

For example, Lukin sees enormous potential in quantum sensors. It has the potential to change the field of medical diagnostics, where some of the tasks which require huge labs can be performed on the scale of aniPhone. Imagine the implications for third world countries in parts of the world like Africa. It can really allow to diagnose and treat patients. I think theres actually a huge impact on society, he explained.

Also, the processing power of quantum computers could push research in artificial intelligence (AI) forward by leaps and bounds. Indeed, it could assist this field to such a degree that AI could be a part of the answer to the problem proposed by Lvovsky. To that end, Lukins asserts, Im fairly convinced that, before quantum computers start breaking encryption, we will have new classical encryption, we will have new schemes based on quantum computers, based on quantum cryptography, which will be operational.

Much like lasers or nuclear weapons, the scientists involved in creating quantum computers are unable to predict the total utility of this technology. There very well could be a host of world changing applications for quantum computers. Still, even with just considering the encryption busting potential of the technology, we must remain cognizant of the power we areunleashing.

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World's Leading Physicist Says Quantum Computers Are Tools of Destruction, Not Creation - Futurism

Freedom of Speech Is Not Enough – Wall Street Journal (subscription)

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Freedom of Speech Is Not Enough
Wall Street Journal (subscription)
North Carolina last week became the latest state to enact a law protecting free speech on college campuses. The Restore Campus Free Speech Act requires schools to discipline students and faculty who substantially disrupt or interfere with the ...

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Freedom of Speech Is Not Enough - Wall Street Journal (subscription)

EXCLUSIVE: Freedom Foundation sues Seattle over controversial … – Fox News

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The Freedom Foundation sued Seattle Wednesday over its controversial new income tax on the rich, which critics call an assault on the law that sets a dangerous precedent.

The tax, passed by the Seattle City Council last month, targets high-income earners as part of what local lawmakers describe as a new formula for fairness.

The tax measure requires residents to pay a 2.25 percent tax if they are a single filer and make more than $250,000 annually or file jointly and make more than $500,000.

Its passage prompted a court challenge fromthe Freedom Foundation, a conservative think tank that considers the tax a slippery slope that could open the door to more taxes in the future.

The outrage over the tax even prompted the Washington Republican Party to call for civil disobedience and urged its members to refuse to comply, file or pay.

STATE GOP URGES 'CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE' OVER NEW SEATTLE TAX, SAYS RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT PAY

Wednesdays suit, filed in King County Superior Court on behalf of several of the citys residents, lays out the case against the tax.

This is clearly bad policy and illegal, but its also an assault on the rule of law, David Dewhirst, a lawyer for the Freedom Foundation, told Fox News in a statement. If they can get away with it this time, where does it stop?

'If they can get away with it this time, where does it stop?'

The suit argues that Seattles plan to tax the rich is unconstitutional, because the state of Washington imposes strict limits on taxes; prohibits taxes on net income; and requires cities to get permission to tax residents.

This tax ordinances legal and constitutional infirmities are patently obvious, Dewhirst said. Thats what makes this whole thing so chilling.

Dewhirst accused city council members of knowingly adopting a law that can only survive if the courts abandon decades of precedent precedent grounded in Washingtons fundamental commitment to legal equality.

Outgoing Democratic Mayor Ed Murray says the goal of the tax is to replace our regressive tax system with a new formula for fairness while ensuring Seattle stands up President Trumps austere budget that cuts transportation, affordable housing, healthcare and social services.

The city estimates the new tax would raise $140 million a year and cost between $10 million and $13 million to set up, plus an additional $6 million a year to enforce. The money would go toward affordable housing projects as well as other services for lower-paid workers.

Councilmember Kshama Sawant told Fox News in July that the need for the tax is crystal clear.

She said the city isnt backing down and says Seattle is ready to duke it out in court in whats likely to be a very costly legal battle.

We will no longer tolerate a system that buries poor and working class people in taxes, while giving big business and the super-rich yet another free ride; a system that underfunds affordable housing to the point where thousands are homeless, a system that criminally underfunds education, Sawant said.

Washington is one of seven states in the country that does not have a personal income tax.

Analysts at the Washington Policy Center also note the Washington Supreme Court ruled in 1951 to invalidate the state income tax. Further, a law passed in 1984 prohibits any city or county from levying a tax on net income.

The states voters have rejected the idea of an income tax nine separate times. Washington voters did approve an income tax in 1932, but the state Supreme Court ruled the measure was unconstitutional.

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EXCLUSIVE: Freedom Foundation sues Seattle over controversial ... - Fox News

Ride to freedom – The Hindu

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Trekking

Independence Day Hike: GHAC, the citys most popular activity group is organising a hike up the Rachakonda Fort to commemorate the Independence Day. Built in the 14th century and 70 km away from the city, the fort located on a steep incline is tailor-made for trekking, especially for beginners. Mohammad Shariq, an avid trekker and organizer of the event says, There is nothing as exhilarating as a hike. It lets you leave your inhibitions and sets you free. What better day than Independence Day to make you feel that way? Boasting of great views and good company, this is tailor-made for those who are enthused about spending time in the lap of nature.

A nominal fee is charged for all participants.

Date: August 15

Ph: 6888 8197

Cycling

Chak De India Ride: Organised by the Hyderabad Bicycling Club which has over 7000 members, this is the third edition of the annual event. With an estimated 2000 people taking part, it is a mammoth cycling celebration. Abhinandan Malhotra, manager of the foundation says that this is a special ride and adds, This provides a platform for people to come together and celebrate an important day in a holistic way. It is an occasion to incorporate healthier lifestyle choices as well as celebrate a milestone in our nations history.

The ride is in collaboration with CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) so expect a lot of participation from the bigwigs of the citys entrepreneurs. Divided into 5 categories 5 km, 10 km, 30 km, 60 km and 100 km, the first two rides are held inside Hitex premises while the others are held on the outskirts of the city (near Patancheru). With veteran riders giving inputs to participants, the presence of refreshment/emergency stations and a goodie bag given to participants (which includes a t-shirt and sling bag) this ride promises to make this years Independence Day a memorable one. Cycles are available for rent at nominal prices.

Date: August 13

Ph: 9703606328

The Freedom Ride 2017: The 9th edition of Freedom Ride organised by Cykul is a massive coming together of cycling enthusiasts in the city, with estimates ranging over 10000 people for this years event. Divided into 4 categories The Joy Ride, The 70 km Signature ride (for aficionados), The Relay Ride (where 2, 5 or 10 people can take part as a team) or the Kids ride, it has something for everyone. Starting at the Gachibowli stadium, the participants return to the same place after riding through Moinabad and Chilkur. With the stadium turned into a carnival, this is a great place to be whether or not cycling gives you an adrenalin rush.

Date: August 12 and 13

Ph: 9177613983

Biking

Special I-Day Ride: An annual affair conducted by the city based biking group Wanderers, it is only for those who own a Royal Enfield.

Rahool Saxena, administrator of the group says, Motorcycling is all about being free. We do this every year in honour of people who got us Independence. We involve soldiers from the Army and thank them for their services. The ride starts at Sanjeevaiah Park, with a stopover at Lumbini Park where the members flag off the Deccan Heritage Clubs vintage rally and then move to the Highway for a ride and refreshments.

For men and women who love unwinding with their mean machines, this is an ideal ride!

Date: August 15

Ph: 9985350575

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Ride to freedom - The Hindu

How Freedom Made Us Rich – Reason.com – Reason (blog)

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"In [1492], if you were going to bet on who was going to have a 'Great Enrichment,'" says University of Illinois at Chicago economist Deirdre McCloskey, "you would have been crazy not to bet on China because China had the most advanced commercial institutions, the most advanced ship building technology, [and] the most advanced machinery all together." But it didn't work out that way.

"My claim," McCloskey says, "is that liberty was the key to modern economic growth."

In her new book, Bourgeois Equality: How Ideas, Not Capital or Institutions, Enriched the World, the third volume in a trilogy, McCloskey argues that our vast accumulation of wealth over the past two hundred years which she's dubbed "The Great Enrichment"was the result of "massively better ideas in technology and institutions." Where did they arise from? &tag=reasonmagazineA"A new liberty and dignity for commoners," she argues, "expressed as the ideology of European liberalism."

McCloskey sat down with Nick Gillespie at Freedom Fest, the annual convention for libertarians in Las Vegas, for a wide-ranging conversation on topics including the roots of "The Great Enrichment," why her gender reassignment surgery was an "expression of [her] libertarianism", and the importance of advocating policies that "actually help the poor" instead of just "making people feel good about helping the poor.

McCloskey is also a Reason columnist. Her archive is here.

Edited by Todd Krainin. Cameras by Meredith Bragg and Justin Monticello.

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This is a rush transcriptcheck all quotes against the audio for accuracy.

Nick Gillespie: Hi, I'm Nick Gillespie with Reason and today we are sitting down with Deirdre McCloskey. She's an Emeritus Professor of Economics, History, English, and Communication at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the author most recently of Bourgeois Equality: How Ideas, Not Capital or Institutions, Enriched the World. She's also a columnist for Reason Magazine. Deirdre, thanks so much for talking with us. Long time contributing editor to Reason as well.

McCloskey: I'm extremely pleased to be here and ...

Gillespie: Well, your latest column, because I think this puts us right into a lot of current discussions, is titled The Myth of Technological Unemployment.

McCloskey: Yeah.

Gillespie: The subhead is, if the nightmare of technological unemployment were true, it would have already happened repeatedly and massively. In it, you take issue with a lot of libertarian or free-market economists who are talking about how we've reached the end of technological innovation or productivity growth and yeah, we're going to have to find something to do for people who are replaced by robots.

McCloskey: Yeah.

Gillespie: What's wrong with that?

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How Freedom Made Us Rich - Reason.com - Reason (blog)

China and Russia go further in squelching Internet freedom – Washington Post

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CHINAS GREAT FIREWALL, a massive system of Internet filters and blocking, has long had a crack in it. The firewall prevents most users inside China from accessing platforms outside the country, such as Facebook, Google and Netflix, in keeping with Chinas desire to censor what can be seen and read. But popular software known as virtual private networks, or VPNs, permit a user inside China to tunnel through the firewall. Now the crack is being gradually cemented up.

A VPN has been particularly useful for foreign firms that come to China and want to link up with corporate networks outside it. Hoping to encourage such investment, China looked the other way for years at the existence of the VPNs, many available from Apples App Store in China. Some were easy to use just tap the button and a user would be on Facebook as if sitting in Los Angeles instead of Beijing. The VPNs are popular among millions of young people, as well as journalists and others.

China has been heading toward restricting them for some time, but now it is cracking down in earnest with a new cybersecurity law that carries criminal penalties. According to a BBC report, Apple informed more than 60 VPNs that they were being removed from the App Store in China on grounds that they were not licensed, although some others remain. Apples chief executive, Tim Cook, said last week we would obviously rather not remove the apps but Apple will follow the law wherever we do business. Likewise, a Chinese company that operates Amazons cloud-computing business in China has sent a notice reminding customers to comply with local laws and cease using software such as VPNs that could pierce the Great Firewall. (Amazon founder Jeffrey P. Bezos owns The Washington Post.) Apple, Amazon and other Western technology pioneers can have a positive influence on China, but the laws they obey can also become tools of censorship. Mr. Cook said this week that Apple has been engaging with China over this even when we disagree. But there is no evidence that Chinas leaders are prepared to loosen the reins of control. The trend is running the other way.

In Russia, no Great Firewall exists and major Internet platforms are accessible, but a government agency does blacklist specific sites. Now, President Vladimir Putin has signed legislation outlawing the use of VPNs and other methods that permit users to connect to the Internet anonymously, such as the Tor browser. Mr. Putin also signed legislation that will require instant-messaging services to establish the identity of users by their phone numbers another step to make sure no one escapes surveillance if the state deems it necessary.

In both Russia and China, the impulse is the same: Rulers fear the free flow of information.

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China and Russia go further in squelching Internet freedom - Washington Post

Virginia transfer Thompson enjoying offensive freedom at WKU – Bowling Green Daily News

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SAN JOSE, Costa Rica Darius Thompson isnt used to seeing three digits on the scoreboard. The Western Kentucky guard comes from a Virginia program that ranked No. 351 thats dead last across Division I last year in adjusted tempo, per stats guru Ken Pomeroys numbers. So when the Hilltoppers won a frenzied first game of their Costa Rica trip 104-98 on Tuesday night, Thompson remarked to roommate Jordan Brangers that hed never been part of anything like it. I was telling Jordan in the room, that was probably the first time Id seen 100 points on the board since Ive been in college, Thompson told the Daily News on Wednesday. Its crazy. (Coach Rick Stansbury) just lets us loose and lets us have fun. The basketball handcuffs are off Thompson heading into his last year of college basketball. Stansbury has brought the 6-foot-4 guard in as a graduate transfer and given him the freedom to play how he wants offensively. Thompson is ready to take advantage of that. Its amazing to just go out there and be comfortable and do whatever you want, Thompson said. Coach will let you make mistakes. Hes not one if you make mistakes, hes going to yank you out of the game or go in on you or nothing like that. He lets you make mistakes and that helps you as a player to have that freedom to go out and play and have fun. Thompson hasnt made many mistakes so far on the Hilltoppers preseason tour. He finished with seven points, seven rebounds and nine assists against just one turnover Wednesday night in a 99-69 win over the Costa Rican national team. That performance came after an 18-point, five-rebound, five-assist, five-steal night Tuesday in a six-point win over Laurentian University. He just has a nice poise to the game, forward Dwight Coleby said of Thompson. He plays under control, doesnt get sped up. Hes a real solid player. Whether its scoring, rebounding, passing or a key defensive play, Thompson has provided it all through two games for WKU. He never seems to force a play, where youve got some other guys forcing a play off the bounce or shooting a shot they shouldnt shoot, Stansbury said after Wednesday nights game. Hes the one guy thats steady out there right now. That steady, veteran influence is one of the main reasons Stansbury recruited Thompson this offseason. The guard announced this spring he was leaving Virginia, where hed made 25 starts in 70 games over the last two seasons. Thompson said the recruitment for his grad transfer season was more intense than when he came out of Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn., in the Class of 2013. His father is Lonnie Thompson, a longtime basketball coach at Cumberland University, an NAIA school in Lebanon, Tenn. The elder Thompson and Stansbury have known each other professionally for more than 20 years, WKUs coach said earlier this summer. Having the connections of a college basketball coach made finding a new home 100 percent easier, Darius Thompson said. One of those connections was to Stansbury, and so the guard went and visited WKU. I felt comfortable with coach Stansbury, Thompson said. I felt he really believed in me and let me play how Im capable of playing. So far its been great. Thompson averaged 6.2 points, 2.2 assists and 1.6 rebounds per game for the Cavaliers as a junior in 2016-17. He shot 48.2 percent from the field on the season. Thompsons stats are likely to tick up this season due both to being a probable member of the starting five and playing in a more up-tempo system. Virginia become known in recent years for playing slow, grinding basketball. Mastery of that system has led to good results though, with the Cavaliers going 52-19 over Thompsons two years on the team and making the NCAA Elite Eight in 2016. WKU, meanwhile, expects to play at a faster tempo this year thanks to other guards that can attack the basket like Brangers, Lamonte Bearden, Taveion Hollingsworth and once he arrives on campus Josh Anderson. Thompson is happy to join in on the fun. The big thing with me is freedom, Thompson said. (Stansbury) just lets you go out and play. The only thing he really emphasizes is playing hard and having the right attitude. If you do that, hell relax off you and just let you play and have fun.{&end}

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Coach: ‘No doubt’ that Holly Holm can pick apart and beat UFC champ ‘Cyborg’ – MMAjunkie.com

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Newly crowned UFC womens featherweight champion Cristiane Justino has been an unbeatable MMA force over the past 12 years, but Holly Holms coach think shes definitely beatable.

According to veteran coach Mike Winkeljohn, Holm, a former womens bantamweight champion, can pick apart the famed Cyborg and theres no doubt about that.

As Winkeljohn told Submission Radio, Justino vs. Holm is a real possibility and he likes the former pro boxing titleholders chances against Cyborg:

This past month at UFC 214, Justino (18-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) finally claimed a UFC belt with a third-round TKO win over Tonya Evinger (19-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC). It was a dominant performance, but Winkeljohn wasnt totally convinced.

Theres no doubt theres some holes in there and shes definitely beatable, he said of Justino.

After the title win, UFC President Dana White mentioned the possibility of Justino vs. Holm (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC), who recently halted a three-fight skid (which included title losses to bantamweight and featherweight) with a head-kick knockout of bantamweight Bethe Correia.

It seems like shes interested, White said of Justino. I like Holly vs. Cyborg. I think its a good fight.

After the victory the 18th straight in her career Justino said shes open to all challengers, including Holm (watch the video above).

As for Winkeljohn, he said Holm could be game and that she will never turn down a fight. However, shell need time to put back on a suitable amount of weight to fight at 145 pounds, and the money has to be right. And if thats all worked out? As he told Submission Radio:

I think Holly can pick her apart. Theres no doubt about that. What people dont understand is how strong Holly is too in the clinch, on her feet and moving and stuff. Cris is definitely going to try to do most of her damage by pushing her back against the cage. You know, good luck keeping Holly there and backing her up, coming in that hard.

But yeah, Cris is really strong, but I think Holly wears her down and is able to stop her. You look at Hollys knockout percentage, I think her and Amanda Nunes are the biggest out there. She stops all of her fights, everybody else other than Cyborg. So Holly has the power to stop Cyborg just like Cyborg has the power. The difference is Hollys got speed and her footwork.

Who do you like in the potential matchup? Cast your vote below.

And for more on the UFCs upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

The Blue Corner is MMAjunkies official blog and is edited by Mike Bohn.

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Coach: 'No doubt' that Holly Holm can pick apart and beat UFC champ 'Cyborg' - MMAjunkie.com

I Am Become the Yoga Cyborg – Motherboard

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To live in today's society you have to be mindful and aware and flexible. Or is it mindfully aware and strong? I don't know, it's something like that, and yoga is supposed to help transcend the stiff monotony of our coffee-desk-happy-hour existence and find some peace of mind in whatever piece of our mind is left over after Game of Thrones and Trump's daily tweets.

With that kind of prescriptiontargeted usually at people with some expendable incomecoming from our doctors, podcast ads, magazines, and moms, the tech industry has followed. It started trickling in with the yoga apps, like Yoga Studio and Daily Yoga. But then stepped up its game with internet-connected yoga clothes, vibrating yoga mats, and hardware meant to deepen your meditation practice.

I felt a strong urge to explore this new intersection of ancient practice and new tech. I've grown up doing yoga, my mom owns a yoga studio, I've spent months at ashrams, and I'm a certified yoga teacher. But I'm also addicted to my phone and any attempt to completely unplug has usually been thwarted by my need to make money and know what my friends are doing.

If there is a place for technology in yoga, I was opening to finding it. And so I started to try out the various yoga gear on the market.

Let's start with internet-connected yoga pants, because they sound wild. I tried my first pair of Nadi Xs on in SoHo, where the Wearable X team who created them let me test drive the product while moving through a quick yoga flow of downward dogs and warrior poses. They were comfortable and compressing, a far better fit than any Lululemon pants I've tried.

The pants have a sensor that is placed on the inner thighit's pretty light and unnoticeable and clips in right above your knee. It connects the pants to a customized app in which I input basic information before beginning.

Once the pants are connected to the app, they're supposed to know what pose you are inbe it upward dog or standing mountain poseand vibrate in certain spots that should encourage you to move in a certain way. For example, if you're in a lunge position, they should be guiding you to sink your seat lower to the ground while pushing off of your foot.

Mediocre Warrior 1 in NadiX pants. Image: Ankita Rao

This didn't exactly work for me. In a couple of the demos, Wearable X spokesperson Amanda Jacobs helped me input one pose at a time, and in those cases the pants would pleasantly vibrate in certain places (btw: this company also makes a sexier product called Fundawear that involves vibrating underwear, but this one is completely PG). But the vibrations didn't feel intuitively directional to me, and had I not been guided by the team, I might've overlooked the fact that they had anything to do with the pose.

When I started to do a flow without inputting each pose into the app, the app failed to recognize what I was doing multiple times. In its current stage, I can't imagine these pants being useful during a yoga class, where you can't keep stopping to tell the app what you're about to do. It could, however, help if you're practicing yoga at home on your own, if only to encourage you to stay in a pose longer.

Next I tried on an internet-connected sports bra made by SUPA. This bra is for all sportsthe woman who made it, Sabine Seymour, is an avid snowboarderbut can be used for yoga as well. And Seymour told me it's particularly helpful to find out when your heart rate returns to normal, bringing the body back to a state of relaxation.

I tried the SUPA tech at home during various rounds of my personal yoga practice. It's a simple set upthe sensor, which the company calls a reactor, is clipped onto the front of your bra right above the rib cage. It took a few tries to get the app to recognize that I was wearing the reactor, even though my phone recognized it via Bluetooth, but eventually it started to measure my heart rate.

The SUPA-powered sports bra. Image: Ankita Rao

I'm not sure that the measurement was accurate. I had my sister, a doctor, take my heart rate at resting, and it was around 64 beats per minute. But even before I started yoga, the SUPA sports bra had me in the upper 70s. There could have been many reasons for this, but that was just a discrepancy I noticed when I started. And when I looked at the stats later, they were similarly strange.

The sports bra is colorful and comfortable, and the app has one of the best user interfaces I've seen. But underneath the design this was essentially just a heart rate monitor with a few specific, tailored features for running. This doesn't strike me as incredibly innovative, since similar insights about your performance can be achieved through a FitBit or Apple Watch, but Seymour told me the company is hoping to work with sports brands so that the tech will become more ubiquitous in base layers and other sports clothing.

I have no idea what's happening in this screenshot. Image: Ankita Rao

I didn't look at the app until after my yoga practice, but I could see that if it synced correctly, I could glean some insights from the patterns of my heart rate during my session. This might be useful over time, since heart rate monitors allow you to track your body's resiliency as it returns to normal after more high impact movements.

Meditation is an integral part of yogain fact, the whole rigamarole with the sweaty sun salutations and twisty poses is largely meant to help you sit in a comfortable meditation posture for as long as possible. For this I used the Muse headband, a "brain sensing" technology that you wear around the back of your head.

Muse's parent company InterAxon probably makes the loftiest claims about the biometric capabilities of its technology out of everything I tried. The website has a compendium of research supporting neurobiofeedback, and the impact of an intervention like the Muse headset on cognitive abilities.

Meditation posing with the Muse headband. Image: Anita Rao

I meditate pretty much every weekday, usually just with a timer and sometimes with a guided meditation from Insight Time, but I've never tried anything like this. It was a bit difficult to get startedfirst my Muse wouldn't connect to my Bluetooth, and then it wouldn't sync with the app. Eventually, I got it going.

The headset has seven electroencephalography (EEG) sensors, and says it measures brain activity, in this case the different types of brain waves: delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma. These happen at different levels of activitydelta is usually when you're sleeping, beta and gamma when you're actively thinking or processing information.

When I tried it, it wasn't clear which waves were active or not, but the chart displayed whether my brain was "active," "neutral," or "calm". I also received incentivescalled "calm points"based on my performance.

A screenshot from my meditation session. Image: Ankita Rao

Biofeedback, as a field, has helped both scientists and consumers better understand their bodies and sometimes their minds, but I'm not sure I gleaned any actual insight into my meditation practice through Muse. If anything, I felt a little more anxious when I would look at the app and see that I was less calm in one session than the otherI almost started competing with myself, and meditation isn't exactly a space in which you want to feel competitive.

Read More: I Meditate Every Night, But I Couldn't Outsmart This Brainwave-Reading Headband

If a fun gadget and if a pretty app with beach sounds makes people meditate more, I guess it could be a positive addition to the world. Meditation has been proven countless times to have tangible and positive effects on the brain and body. But for me, the less I have to think about when I'm preparing to meditate, the better.

I downloaded Yoga Studio for the purpose of this project but I had actually earnestly tried it before. The app is one of the better and more popular yoga apps, and it features dozens of different yoga sequences and sessions for different experience levels. The soothing voices and instructions are accurate, and the user experience of the app is pretty seamless.

But there was a reason I deleted it a few years ago, and I remembered that this week. Yoga poses are very preciseso much so that a hip turned one inch outward takes you from something that can cause injury to something that can prevent injury. And yoga injuries are real: there were 30,000 yoga injuries reported in emergency departments in the US from 2001 to 2014.

A screenshot of a sample class on the app. Image: Ankita Rao

I still maintain the view that yoga is, for the most part, more helpful than it is dangerous, but the thought of beginner yogis relying entirely on an app to learn complex poses worries me. Furthermore, the need to keep looking at the app to see each pose took away from my ability to stay present through a sequence of poses. (As a side note, Yoga Studio could do a lot more to stay away from the white, female yoga stereotype that has diluted the practice in the West.)

Yoga classes can be prohibitively expensive, and apps like Yoga Studio could help create more access points to the practice. But the risk of trying to follow a disembodied voice might be too high for this to be a true benefit.

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I won't pretend to be surprised that yoga technology, for the most part, is not for me. It was fun to try different sensors, get readings on my progress, and to feel vibrations while doing yoga. But to the extent that yoga, and the people who want to do it, have been exploited the technology just seems to add insult to injuryadding unnecessarily to an already $9 billion industry, and preying on stressed out people.

There are also the drawbacks inherent to wearables and other internet-connected technology: privacy issues. Most of the apps have some control of the data you input, though it's usually encrypted and only shared when aggregated. Seymour, for instance, told me that SUPA has gone out of its way to make sure the consumer gets an alert any time their data is shared, say, to get a free pair of sneakers through a partner brand.

Meanwhile, the technology that these companies have created could be far more useful elsewhere. I could see the NadiX pants being helpful for physical therapy, or for patients with certain types of neurogenic diseases in which a vibrating sensation might help pinpoint musculoskeletal issues. And the SUPA bra is probably more useful for the extreme athletes it was tested on to prevent burnout, rather than for someone doing a headstand.

But in a quest to practice anything that brings me closer to myself, or more aware of my mind, I think these technologies can just get in the way. And I've got plenty of thoughts, plans and Hulu shows to do that for me.

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I Am Become the Yoga Cyborg - Motherboard