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The Aerospace Corporation Careers

Posted on October 16, 2018 by Danzig

All Aerospace employees working in organizations with technical responsibilities are required to apply for and maintain at least a Secret clearance. U.S. citizenship is required for those positions.

Equal Opportunity CommitmentThe Aerospace Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We believe that a diverse workforce creates an environment in which unique ideas are developed and differing perspectives are valued, producing superior customer solutions. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If youre an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools, or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at ieo.mailbox@aero.org. You can also reviewThe Equal Employment Opportunity is the Lawposter andthe supplement, as well as thePay Transparency Policy Statement.

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The Aerospace Corporation Careers

Virtual Reality Is “Reuniting” Immigrants With Their Families

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

Homeward Bound

Going home for the holidays or a family reunion is no big deal for many Americans.

But for millions of undocumented immigrants, returning to the place they grew up simply isn’t an option — if they leave the U.S., their immigration status could prevent them from coming back.

One workaround: a nonprofit is using VR to give immigrants an alternate way to “visit” the places and people they left behind.

Fakin’ It

Alvaro Morales and Frisly Soberanis created the Family Reunions Project to help Latinos reconnect with their roots. Using funds from grants and donations, the project has facilitated more than a dozen “reunions” in VR.

Immigrants apply to be a part of the project via its website. It’s not clear how Morales and Soveranis choose participants for their project, but once they do, the pair visits the immigrant’s hometown and records their family and loved ones using 360-degree video technology. Then they convert the footage into a format you can watch with a VR headset.

The Family Reunion Project has already helped more than a dozen families reconnect, according to a report by NBC.

Look for America

Morales and Soberanis, who hail from Peru and Guatemala respectively, have personal reasons for developing this project.

“Both of us being undocumented, we knew the pain, we knew the separation, and we knew how much our parents would really enjoy looking at home,” Soberanis told NBC.

They’re hopeful that their project could have a positive impact on the future of America by helping “humanize” the polarizing issue of immigration in the U.S., while also bringing joy to the lives of immigrants themselves. Truly a win/win.

More on immigration: New Facial Recognition Tech at U.S. Borders Will Scan Your Face, Whether You Like It or Not

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Virtual Reality Is “Reuniting” Immigrants With Their Families

Disrupting the Reaper: Tech Titans’ Quest for Immortality Rages Forward

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

EVERYONE DIES. ‘Just a fact. The knowledge and subsequent fear of our impending doom drives the way we go about this world: Either as methodically and cautiously as we can, playing the odds of hanging onto this mortal coil as long as we can, or, going full-YOLO: smoking, caloric indulgences, skydiving, public restrooms, chainsaw juggling, Tinder dates — whatever it is.

But a handful of uber-successful Silicon Valley entrepreneurs have been trying for years to reconfigure death against its given as an immutable truth — and now, they’re pushing harder than ever before.

Google cofounder Sergey Brin, Oracle chairman Larry Ellison, and (but of course) Elon Musk are approaching their supposed respective demises with the same gusto the average person might a home remodeling. The members of this informal club are set on stretching the limits of the human lifespan, from about 120 to 1,000 (or more). To them, admitting that they’ll die (or die on a typical timeline) is akin to accepting defeat.

“There are all these people who say that death is natural, it’s just part of life, and I think that nothing can be further from the truth,” Paypal co-founder and investor Peter Thiel told Business Insider in 2012. To him, “death is a problem that can be solved.”

These billionaires probably won’t succeed. But even more: If they do stumble upon a technique that actually extends life, it won’t really benefit them — or anyone else.

Since the earliest days of human myth-making, there have been stories of those who work to find ways to avoid or delay death. There’s Gilgamesh, the titular king in an epic that dates back to 2,000 BCE, sought a longevity-granting plant; the Greek legend of Tithonus (who asked Zeus for eternal life but forgot eternal youth), Ponce de Leon (who ventured to new lands in search of the fountain of youth), Dorian Gray (who sold his soul for eternal youth). And so on. These are all men (real or fictional) who sought eternal life, all of whom failed.

It’s not hard to read these legends as cautionary tales. Whether they were struck down in battle, cursed to live forever with the decrepitude of old age, or simply met a swift demise, none of these quests bore the fruits of their labor. Even those hungriest for longer lives can’t deny the physical and cognitive degradation of aging. As we age and certain physiological processes don’t work as well as they once did, our bones break more easily, organs begin to fail, minds dull, locomotion is limited. Is there even a point in trying to extend the human lifespan if it means your existence is reduced to a miserable shadow of its former self?

Of course: None of these concerns will slow down the aforementioned Ponce de Leon-would-bes. Not satisfied with solving problems like how we get around and how we talk to each other, longevity research is Silicon Valley’s new pet project. In 2013, Google founded Calico, a biology company with the stated goal of “solv[ing] death” (a glimpse at the company’s web site shows that since its inception Calico researchers have been mired in what longevity scientists have been doing for decades: testing certain types of molecules on non-human species to see if they extend the organisms’ lives).

Others concern themselves with treating chronic diseases to help humans live longer, better lives. Human Longevity, Inc. uses algorithms to predict an individuals risk of cancers or a genetic condition based on a genetic test. Verily, another Google subsidiary, creates devices which improve quality of life for people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and Parkinson’s.

But don’t confuse modern medicine’s efforts to extend life with the kind of long-term health many might dream of, warns Linda Waite, professor of urban psychology at the University of Chicago. If we had a choice in the matter, most of us would like to go quick, painless, or else in our sleep.

But heart disease and cancer rates are on the rise, and according to Waite, “the choices that people make often get them the kind of death they all say they don’t want.”

THE WILD THING IS that there are, in fact, a few treatments scientists are exploring which could, in fact, help people live longer, and be affordable for the masses, too. Among them:

Metformin, a medication doctors currently prescribe to patients with diabetes, may reduce DNA damage and help keep cells working normally.
Rapamycin, an immunosuppressant, has shown promise in keeping cell growth and reproduction regular in aging cells.
And in studies, tanespimycin, a drug used in cancer treatments, has helped clear the body of cells which no longer divide properly. It’s not yet clear which of these compounds (if any) will help humans live longer, but the results of early studies are promising.

But these Silicon Valley companies seem more interested in out-of-the-box approaches to longevity.

Most of the interventions they’re looking at aren’t approaching any “anti-aging treatment” that would actually help the average person, nor are they intended to — many of the investors pouring money into these efforts are doing so mostly to help themselves.

The lack of a scientifically proven intervention for extending life isn’t stopping the tech leaders from trying out a few themselves. Peter Thiel is definitely not but maybe kind of receiving injections of blood drawn from healthy young folks, a technique that hasn’t been shown to work in humans and is based on some very scary studies in mice.

At 32, Serge Faguet, founder of video platform TokBox and Russian booking web site Ostrovok, claims he’s spent $200,000 on “biohacking,” including hearing aids to augment his already-perfect and microdoses of MDMA, all in an effort to live his best life (what happens when he actually does get old, well, we’ll have to see).

They do this with the knowledge that, if somehow they do find an intervention to extend the human lifespan, it will almost certainly be too expensive for the average person to afford, which would create two entirely different classes of humans — one group with money that can see 150, and another that just has to take whatever small insights trickle down from the top.

“The disparity of wealth in the United States will create a “class of immortal overlords,” former Facebook President Sean Parker said at a cancer innovation event last November. “Because I’m a billionaire, I’m going to have access to better healthcare so… I’m going to be, like, 160 and I’m going to be part of this class of immortal overlords.”

To think that money and a bit of self-experimentation can solve an issue that plagued humanity and has been unsolved since humans evolved, to create two biologically separate classes of human beings — and be fine with it?

There might be something going on there, you know, psychologically, to explain a bit of that. Are these entrepreneurs just in denial about their own deaths? Because they already changed the world so much by creating the thing that brought them to prominence, are they just bored now?

There’s some hubris in there for sure, says Waite, the psychology professor. “Aren’t they masters of the universe? They think they can have everything just because they’re rich, but it’s so not true.” Sounds a lot like the same kind of pride and arrogance shared by Gilgamesh and Tithonus and Dorian Gray.

Faith — where it’s allocated, and where it’s not — could also be playing a role. “Traditional religion in the Bay Area is being replaced with another sort of faith, a belief in the power of technology and science to save humanity,” according to an article about Christianity in Silicon Valley published by Quartz. Combine this new governing philosophy (what others have called a “religion of technology“) with leaders who are too young to find peace in the concept of death and who haven’t experienced the kinds of traumas that might inoculate them against some of that fear? You get a perfect storm of longevity obsession.

So far, there are no drugs or infusions or special herbs you can eat to live a longer, healthier life. No, the only thing proven to help you live longer is exercise and a healthy diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. No shortcuts.

If Silicon Valley entrepreneurs really wanted to “disrupt” death, they would do more of that, and blow less money on the kind of outside-the-box schemes that might soothe their egos, but won’t really help anyone along the way.

This Weird Robot Has 32 Legs and Is Shaped Like a Lumpy Sphere

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

See Me Rollin’

We’ve seen robots that hop on one leg, saunter like bipedal humans, and mimic our quadrupedal furry friends

But a bot with 32 legs? That’s something we hadn’t seen before. Now here’s Mochibot, on the scene to do exactly that.

Botty Long Legs

The team of Tokyo-based researchers behind this spherical bot presented their creation at the 2018 International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems on October 3.

Each of Mochibot’s 32 legs can extend to a length of about 39 inches or retract until it’s just about 10 inches long. To move in one direction, the bot simply retracts the legs currently touching the ground on that side of itself while extending the legs “behind” it.

Gravity takes over, and the bot rolls in the desired direction. When it wants to stop, it flattens itself out by adjusting its “bottom” feet. Basically, you have to see it to believe it:

Function Over Form

This design might look odd, but it’s actually really clever. If one of Mochibot’s many legs breaks, NBD — it has 31 others. The bot’s center could also house any number of cameras or sensors to expand its capabilities, according to IEEE Spectrum.

Finally, because the length of each of Mochibot’s legs is adjustable, it can maintain its footing on uneven surfaces such as rubble from a collapsed building or the rocky landscape of a planet or moon.

So, while Mochibot might not look as cute as one of those canine-inspired bots we’ve seen making the rounds, it could actually prove far more useful.

READ MORE: 32-Legged Spherical Robot Moves Like an Amoeba [IEEE Spectrum]

More on robots: Glimpse: Man’s Best Friend, Forever? We May Love Robot Dogs as Much as the Real Thing

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This Weird Robot Has 32 Legs and Is Shaped Like a Lumpy Sphere

To Feed a Hungry Planet, We’re All Going to Need to Eat Less Meat

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

Salad Days

Earlier this week, a United Nations report predicted that climate change will likely lead to international starvation, drought, and extreme weather events by the 2040s.

On Wednesday, a team of European researchers pushed the conversation forward with a landmark report about the changes we’d need to make to the global food system to mitigate fallout from climate change and a growing population.

Their conclusion is that sidestepping the worst possible harm from climate change is possible, but it’ll require sweeping dietary changes across the globe. The biggest shift: Everybody will have to lay off meat and adopt a “flexitarian” diet made up mostly of plants.

Sweeping Change

Individuals can make dietary decisions that will offset their carbon footprints, the researchers said, but to avoid looming catastrophe, governments across the world will need to make sweeping policy changes to encourage flexitarian diets.

“I think we can do it, but we really need much more proactive governments to provide the right framework,” said lead researcher Marco Springmann, from the University of Oxford, in an interview with the Guardian. “People can make a personal difference by changing their diet, but also by knocking on the doors of their politicians and saying we need better environmental regulations.”

More on climate change: Report: Unless We Make Dramatic Changes, We’re Headed for Climate Catastrophe

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To Feed a Hungry Planet, We’re All Going to Need to Eat Less Meat

Creeps Will Soon Be Able to Find Almost Anyone on Genealogy Sites

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

DNA Panoptican

Earlier this year, police cracked a decades-old murder case by plugging the Golden State Killer’s DNA into a genealogy site that included his relatives’ genetic samples.

It turns out that wasn’t some statistical fluke.

It’s not clear what percentage of people have already uploaded their genetic data to genealogy sites, but right now, you could use these sites to identify a third cousin or closer relative of about 60 percent of people of European descent.

That’s according to a paper published Thursday in the journal Nature. In fact, the paper continued, if just 2 percent of people upload their data to these sites — a milestone we could hit within three years — you’ll be able to use them to find a third cousin or closer relative of virtually anyone.

GATTACA

Researcher Yaniv Erlich told Gizmodo that the Golden State Killer case motivated him to conduct this study. The ingenuity of the detective work impressed him, but he also found himself worrying about the way people could misuse the idea.

“Of course, there’s some good news,” he told Gizmodo. “If someone did something wrong out there, then [law enforcement] is going to be able to catch them. But down the road, as things continue to evolve, there could be people who use this for illegitimate reasons.”

So while genealogy sites might be a boon for police forces, the rest of us might just have to accept the fact that any creep with access to our DNA could track down our family members with relative ease.

More on genealogy websites: A Genealogy Website Led to a Suspected Killer’s Arrest. Here’s What We Know.

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Creeps Will Soon Be Able to Find Almost Anyone on Genealogy Sites

This Week in Science: Oct 6 – Oct 12

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

Will we ever save the bees? Do they even have a chance once dramatic changes to the global climate or disastrous health epidemics accelerate us towards catastrophe?

It’s easy to feel downhearted about some of the news this week, we’ll admit. But on the plus side, we could finally eliminate cervical cancer in the U.S. So we’ve got that going for us, which is nice. Read on to find out what fascinated us this week:

Australia’s Success Shows That the US Could Eliminate Cervical Cancer If It Really Wanted To. Australia is on track to all but eliminate cervical cancer within its borders by 2066, and the U.S. could follow in its footsteps.

Pour One out for MASCOT, the Asteroid-Exploring Lander. The MASCOT lander has powered down after spending 17 hours exploring Ryugu, an asteroid 180 million miles away from Earth.

We Need a Backup Supply of the World’s Helpful Germs, Say Researchers. Researchers call for the creation of a vault containing all the beneficial germs in the human microbiota to safeguard the future of human health.

A “Vaccine” Created from Mushrooms Could Help Save the Bees. A humble mushroom extract might help with many of bees’ woes, according to new research — and even, maybe, help rebuild their world population.

Report: Unless We Make Dramatic Changes, We’re Headed for Climate Catastrophe. According to a new IPCC report, we need to limit global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, not 2 degrees Celsius.

Oil Will Be Used Less for Fuel, More for Plastics and Fertilizers. Way more of the planet’s oil production will go toward plastics and fertilizers instead of fuel, especially as renewables keep biting into the energy market.

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This Week in Science: Oct 6 – Oct 12

This Week in Tech: Oct 6 – Oct 12

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

While scientists are still working on NASA’s newest space capsule, others are more concerned with the small stuff: coffee mugs with heart rates and crypto scams on Twitter. What do they have in common? You guessed it — they’re about tech. Here’s what else caught our interest:

The US Government Wants to Allow Fully Autonomous Vehicles on US Roads. The Department of Transportation just released an 80-page document outlining its plans for regulating fully autonomous vehicles.

Fake Elon Musks Clutter Twitter with Crypto Scams. Twitter scams are running amok, and the platform can’t shut them down. That’s not great news for users, for Elon Musk, or for the midterms.

This Brain-Analyzing AI Could Kill Your Dream of Being a Professional Athlete. Researchers created a machine learning system that looks at brain activity to determine a person’s skill level at a certain task.

Lockheed Engineers Are Using HoloLens to Build NASA’s New Space Capsule. Lockheed Martin engineers are using Microsoft’s HoloLens to speed up construction of NASA’s next space capsule by showing technicians the next step.

Fitness Trackers Say This Coffee Cup Has a Pulse. Wait, What? Chinese website Abacus found that a toilet paper roll had a pulse using Xiaomi’s latest fitness tracker. The reason why is not as surprising as you think.

Ford Patent Would Let You Steer Your Car by Tilting Your Phone. A new Ford patent describes a control system that would let a driver steer a car by tilting or swiping their smartphone.

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This Week in Tech: Oct 6 – Oct 12

The Boston Dynamics Robot Atlas Is Now a Parkour Master

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

Running With Style

They grow up so fast.

Seems like just yesterday we were marveling at the ability of Boston Dynamics’s Atlas robot to walk on rough terrain. Then our jaws dropped as we watched the humanoid bot execute flawless backflips.

And now Boston Dynamics has upped the ante again, by showing off Atlas’s ability to parkour its way across a makeshift obstacle course.

Jump, Jump

In a short video released on Thursday, Atlas leaps over a log before scaling a tri-level platform. Not exactly enough to qualify for the World Parkour Championships, but definitely more than most bots (and more than a few humans) could accomplish on two legs.

See Atlas parkour across the course in the clip below, and start taking bets now on the next skill Boston Dynamics’s bot will show off. Our money’s on slacklining, because why the heck not?

READ MORE: Boston Dynamics Will Definitely Win the First Robot Ninja Warrior [The Verge]

More on Atlas: Boston Dynamics’ Bipedal Robot Can Now Do a Backflip

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The Boston Dynamics Robot Atlas Is Now a Parkour Master

A Robot Is Scheduled to Testify in Front of the UK Parliament

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

Expert Witness

On October 16, the U.K. Parliament will hear testimony from a peculiar witness.

Name: Pepper

Occupation: Robot

Please Rise

The appointment, first spotted by the U.K. publication TES, will occur during an inquiry on the “fourth industrial revolution,” a loose term technologists use to refer to technology that blends physical, biological, and digital components. Pepper is the last witness after a selection of academics, roboticists, and computer scientists.

According to the BBC, this will be the first time a robot has appeared before British lawmakers. But Robert Halfon, the chair of the committee that will hear from Pepper, struggled to explain the point of the robot testimony.

“This is not about someone bringing an electronic toy robot and doing a demonstration, it’s about showing the potential of robotics and artificial intelligence and the impact it has on skills,” he told TES.

Pepper Spray

We’ve written previously about Pepper, a line of robots created by Japan’s SoftBank Robotics. The robot has limited conversational ability and can interpret and respond to emotions.

Brands that have dabbled with using Pepper to interact with customers include Pizza Hut and a Scottish grocery store, which eventually fired the robot.

We’ll be watching to see if the bot can do any better in Parliament.

READ MORE: MPs to Quiz Robot About Education [TES]

More on Pepper: Meet Pepper, the Cute Little Robot Knows That How You’re Feelin

The World’s Largest Collection of Rice Is Now Permanently Funded

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

Of Rice and Men

Roughly half the people in the world eat rice every day. Soon, we’ll be able to put aside any worries about running out of samples of this dietary staple — samples researchers can use to help us deal with the consequences of climate change and a growing population.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) maintains the world’s largest collection of samples of various types of rice at a gene bank in Los Banos, Philippines. On Friday, it secured $1.4 million per year in funding — enough to maintain the facility forever.

Mr. Rice Guy

Like the “doomsday” seed vault in Norway, the purpose of the IRRI gene bank is to ensure we never find ourselves in a position where our food supply isn’t secure and diverse. To that end, the IRRI gene bank houses samples of more than 135,000 varieties of rice that researchers can access for their studies.

On Friday, the Crop Trust, an organization dedicated to supporting global food security and crop diversity, agreed to permanently fund the gene bank. The organizations will sign an agreement guaranteeing this funding on the very appropriate date of October 16 — World Food Day — at the Fifth International Rice Congress in Singapore.

Arms Rice

Of course, “permanent” is pretty impossible to guarantee, and the agreement will actually start with a five-year-long phase ending in 2023. After that, the organizations will need to renew it every five years.

Still, the Crop Trust seems dedicated to providing the IRRA gene bank with the funding it’ll need to keep researchers rolling in rice for the foreseeable future.

“Providing permanent funding to the world’s most important crop collections is at the core of the Crop Trust mission,” said Marie Haga, Executive Director of the Crop Trust, in a news release. “Today’s announcement validates 20 years of work and 50 years of thinking on how the international community can safeguard crops used for food and agriculture.”

READ MORE: The World’s Rice Bowl: Protected in Perpetuity [Crop Trust]

More on food security: Norway’s “Doomsday” Seed Vault Is Getting a $13 Million Upgrade

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The World’s Largest Collection of Rice Is Now Permanently Funded

The World’s Fastest Camera Can “Freeze Time,” Show Beams of Light in Slo-Mo

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

High Beam

When you push the button on a laser pointer, its entire beam seems to appear instantaneously. In reality,though, the photons shoot out like water from a hose, just at a speed too fast to see.

Too fast for the human eye to see, anyways.

Researchers at Caltech and the University of Quebec have invented what is now the world’s fastest camera, and it takes a mind-boggling 10 trillion shots per second —enough to record footage of a pulse of light as it travels through space.

Spell “T-CUP”

The extraordinary camera, which the researchers describe in a paper published Monday in the journal Light: Science & Applications, builds on a technology called compressed ultrafast photography (CUP).

CUP can lock down an impressive 100 billion frames per second, but by simultaneously recording a static image and performing some tricky math, the researchers were able to reconstruct 10 trillion frames.

They call the new technique T-CUP, and while they don’t say what the “T” stands for, our money is on “trillion.”

Ludicrous Speed

The camera more than doubles the speed record set in 2015 by a camera that took 4.4 trillion shots per second. Its inventors hope it’ll be useful in biomedical and materials research.

But they’ve already turned their attention to smashing their newly set record.

“It’s an achievement in itself,” said lead author Jinyang Liang in a press release, “but we already see possibilities for increasing the speed to up to one quadrillion frames per second!”

More on high-speed cameras: See the World’s Fastest Cameras in Action: 4.4 Trillion Shots Each Second

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The World’s Fastest Camera Can “Freeze Time,” Show Beams of Light in Slo-Mo

Tesla Filed a Trademark Application for “Teslaquila,” Because of Course It Did

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

Drink and Drive

Tesla is getting into the alcohol business.

On Monday, Elon Musk’s electric car company filed a trademark application for an agave liquor it’s calling “Teslaquila.”

Musk seemed to confirm that a liquor was in the works on Friday with a tweet claiming itwas “coming soon.” He followed up with a photo of a Teslaquila bottle, which he called a “visual approximation.”

Passed Out

Friday’s tweets weren’t Musk’s first references to Teslaquila. The first time he mentioned the product, though, it seemed like a well-timed joke:

On April Fool’s Day, Musk tweeted that he had been “found passed out” near bottles of the liquor, “the tracks of dried tears still visible on his cheeks.”

Feature Creep

Of course, a trademark application is no guarantee that a product will actually hit store shelves.

The liquor could be a clever marketing stunt or a source of short-term revenue for the troubled energy company — or, more likely, some combination of the two.

READ MORE: Elon Musk’s Tesla seeks to trademark ‘Teslaquila’ [CNBC]

More on Tesla: The Five Funniest Things about the SEC’s Lawsuit against Elon Musk

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Tesla Filed a Trademark Application for “Teslaquila,” Because of Course It Did

The Quest for Immortality Could Create Two “Classes of Humans”

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

Immortal Overlords

Last year, former Facebook president Sean Parker raised some eyebrows at a cancer innovation event when he suggested that the super-rich could defeat death within his lifetime.

“Because I’m a billionaire, I’m going to have access to better health care,” he said. “I’m going to be like 160 and I’m going to be part of this, like, class of immortal overlords.”

Life Eternal

The reality, according to a compelling new feature by Futurism social editor Jake Banas, is that cutting-edge medical science has yet to dream up a treatment that’s more effective than exercise and a healthy diet. Life expectancy will likely continue to creep up, but there’s no guarantee we’ll ever discover a trick to unlock true immortality.

That hasn’t stopped dreamers, including Parker and other Silicon Valley luminaries, from pouring money into research intended to radically extend the human lifespan. Still, even many experts who study aging and mortality aren’t convinced that it’s possible to cheat death forever.

Treat the Rich

As Parker hinted last year, though, such treatments would be unlikely to reach the general population — if everyone had access, after all, it’d quickly create an overpopulation crisis as new babies were born while the old refused to die.

Ultimately, we’ve seen this 21st century quest to cheat death pop up before, and from Gilgamesh to Dorian Grey, it’s seldom turned out well.

More on eternal life: New Tech Is Giving Humanity Many Potential Paths to Immortality

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The Quest for Immortality Could Create Two “Classes of Humans”

Pleural Mesothelioma | Symptoms, Stages, Prognosis & More

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

Patients experiencing any of these symptoms should talk to their doctor about any possible exposures to asbestos in the past. Even if it happened years ago, no amount of exposure is considered safe, and it can help your doctor test for mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases.

With these nonspecific symptoms and the long latency period associated with all forms of mesothelioma, some patients have to wait weeks or even months before receiving a proper pleural mesothelioma diagnosis. Though a diagnosis will generally begin with a variety of imaging tests like CT scans and x-rays to determine the presence of cancer, a biopsy is currently the only method to confirm pleural mesothelioma.

The biopsy will consist of taking samples of pleural tissue for testing. The doctor may also perform a thoracentesis, or a pleural tap, which is a slightly invasive procedure that removes fluid from the pleura for analysis. A pathologist will determine if the cells are malignant, and if pleural mesothelioma is confirmed they will also be able to decipher the cell type.

Unlike the other forms of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma has several staging systems that oncologists rely on to determine the progression of the disease. The most widely used and accepted, however, is the TNM Staging System, which stands for Tumor, Nodule, and Metastasis. Doctors will use the system to score an area for each category, which will collectively make up the stage.

Refers to disease which is confined to the primary site, or site of origin. The lymph nodes are free of disease and there are no metastases present. Most often, treatment for stage I mesothelioma consists of surgical resection, or removal, of the disease.

Refers to disease which is confined to one site. While the lymph nodes are still free of disease and there are no metastases present, the tumor extends into the deeper pleural surfaces on the same side as the tumor as well as at least one of the following: the diaphragm or the lung.

Refers to disease which either has spread to lymph nodes on the same side as the tumor; or, a tumor which is extensive and involves the deeper pleural surfaces as well as at least one of the following: chest wall, thoracic fascia, sac around the heart, or mediastinal fat. The tumor is still considered resectable by surgery. There is no metastasis present.

Refers to disease in which one of the following occurs: the tumor is too extensive for surgery, there is distant lymph node involvement on the opposite side from the tumor, or there is distant metastasis present.

Doctors may also use the Brigham staging system, which focuses on a tumors ability to be surgically removed, or the Butchart system, which focuses on the extent of the primary tumor and in general is viewed as more limiting. Regardless of the staging system used, the stage of pleural mesothelioma has a large impact in determining what treatments a patient is eligible for and their prognosis. A stage 1 patient, for instance, will have more treatment options like curative surgery, compared to a stage 4 patient whose malignant mesothelioma has likely spread to other parts of the body or the tumors are too extensive for removal.

Learn More About Mesothelioma Stages

Like the other types of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma patients also face a poor prognosis. Though it is the most common and most researched, doctors still face difficulties in diagnosing and treating the disease. Advancements in treatment and ongoing clinical trials have provided hope in finding new, effective treatments like immunotherapy, which has already shown promise in extending survival for some patients. On average, pleural mesothelioma patients have a life expectancy of about one year, though a number of factors can influence an individuals prognosis like stage, cell type, and the patients age.

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Pleural Mesothelioma | Symptoms, Stages, Prognosis & More

Mesothelioma Symptoms, Causes & Prognosis

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

What Is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelial cells are a layer of specialized cells that line the body cavities, including the pleura (lining of the lung), peritoneum (lining of the abdominal cavity), and pericardium (lining of the heart). The tissue formed by these cells is called mesothelium.

The mesothelium contains both an outer and an inner layer. The inner layer surrounds the organs themselves, while the outer layer lines the body cavities in which the organs covered by mesothelial cells reside. The mesothelial cells themselves produce and secrete a small amount of lubricating fluid between the two layers that permits the organs to move smoothly against adjacent organs and structures.

Like other cells of the body, mesothelial cells can also grow abnormally, leading to the development of tumors. The tumors of the mesothelial cells can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). A malignant tumor of the mesothelium is called a malignant mesothelioma. Because most mesothelial tumors are cancerous, malignant mesothelioma is often simply referred to as mesothelioma. This article focuses on mesothelioma of the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), which is the most common form of all mesotheliomas.

Mesothelioma is an uncommon disease. The disease is more common in men of Caucasian and Hispanic ethnicity, and less common among Asian and African American men. The disease shows a male predominance, which is like due to occupational exposure.

The main risk factor for developing pleural mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally as strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed.

Prior to the 1970s, enormous amounts of asbestos were used in commercial construction and shipbuilding. After the health risks of asbestos became known, production of asbestos slowed drastically in the 1970s. Governmental restrictions were placed on its use, and alternative materials became available. Despite these changes, asbestos continues to be used.

Occupations that deal with asbestos and typically associated with the onset of mesothelioma later in life include asbestos production, insulation work, heating trades, shipyard work, and construction.

The period between asbestos exposure and the development of mesothelioma is generally 35-40 years. Usually, people who develop mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos for a prolonged period of time; however, some people with only brief exposures have also developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma can also occur in family members and other people living with asbestos workers. It may be a result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers.

In some people with mesothelioma, no specific asbestos exposure can be found. Frequently, such people have worked in a job where the exposure was not recognized or typically associated with asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma without asbestos exposure does occur.

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Mesothelioma Symptoms, Causes & Prognosis

Top 10 Florida Beaches : Best Beaches in Florida : Travel …

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

Key West

A beach lovers heaven, Key West is one of the most enchanting of the 1,700 islands that make up the Florida Keys. Its also the southernmost city in the continental US.

The beaches in Key West are ideal for swimming and snorkeling, and fishing is allowed off the piers at most beaches. Enjoy these activities at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, Floridas southernmost state park -- and one of its most beautiful spots -- thats home to wide stretches of sand and tranquil waters. We recommend renting a 2-person, glass-bottom kayak if youre looking for a fun but romantic escape.

One of Americas finest white-sand beaches, Clearwater Beach spans a narrow, 3-mile stretch of the Pinellas Peninsula on the Gulf Coast. Clearwaters proximity to Tampa offers visitors ample activities to enjoy, including beach volleyball, parasailing, a dolphin-watching cruise and a fun fishing excursion.

Piers are a Florida shore staple, and Clearwater Beach is no different. Walk to the end of the famed Pier 60 to take in one of the states many beautiful sunsets, whether its the one in the sky or the daily festival of the same name, which is held 365 days a year.

Known as one of the best shelling locations thanks to the abundant seashells that wash ashore from the Gulf of Mexico, Sanibel Island attracts collectors from all over the world.

With a small population of locals, along with breathtaking, clear-blue waters and immaculate white-sand beaches, Sanibel Island offers a fun and relaxing vacation for families and couples alike.

Just north of its aforementioned sister island, Sanibel, Captiva Island is a tropical paradise right here in the United States. It offers some of the best fishing and boating in Florida.

The blue waters and white-sand beaches of Captiva Island stretch into the horizon. So we recommend watching a spectacular sunset at the end of Captiva Drive. But before the sun sets, go boating down the waterways of the island to see local wildlife, including dolphins, crocodiles, blue herons and many different species of colorful birds.

The easternmost town in all of Florida, Palm Beach is lined with its namesake majestic trees and loaded with beautiful beachfront properties, high-end hotels and sprawling resorts.

This 16-mile-long, half-mile-wide island is the epitome of wealth and extravagance. In times past, it served as the winter home to the Vanderbilts, the Kennedys, the Rockefellers and other millionaires. True to form, the town still features some of Floridas finest hotels, restaurants and shops, as well as beautiful beaches. Perched next to the Gulf Stream, this beach town also enjoys the extra benefit of warm blue water and gentle breezes.

Situated between Roberts Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, just a short distance from downtown Sarasota, Siesta Key is as laid-back and enjoyable as any beach youll find in Florida.

Spend the perfect family vacation in Siesta Key, a barrier island off Floridas central western coast that boasts beachside picnic areas and playgrounds. Go shell collecting, kayaking or hop on a catamaran for more active pursuits. For adults who want a more low-key experience, spend a candlelit dinner at a restaurant or rent a cozy cottage for a romantic getaway.

Located in southern Florida on the Gulf of Mexico, Naples offers phenomenal fishing experiences along the pier, top-notch outdoor restaurants and fun but difficult golf courses.

Watch the rolling waves and gaze at the mansions that line some of Naples most popular beaches along 12th Avenue South. For a family looking to camp out on the beach for the day, we recommend heading a few miles north of Old Naples to Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park. Food stands and on-site rentals for umbrellas, kayaks and snorkeling gear are available nearby.

Take a dip in the crystal-blue waters of Miamis South Beach, an international playground that offers non-stop nightlife, high-end shopping, luxurious boutique hotels and unique Art Deco architecture. This man-made beach is perfect for early morning runs and topless sunbathing.

Take in a beautiful sunrise accompanied by blue skies and colorful clouds as you walk along one of the worlds most renowned beaches.

Each year, nearly 1 million people visit family-friendly Delray Beach to enjoy the 2-mile-long beach thats ideal for fun beach activities, including sandcastle-building. Take a break from the beach and hit nearby Atlantic Avenue, lined with boutiques, seafood restaurants and the luxurious Seagate Hotel and Spa.

From sailing and surfing to snorkeling and paddleboarding, water-sport lovers are in for a treat when visiting Delray.

Relaxing is easy on Atlantic Beach: Sand as soft and white as sugar, brilliant sunshine and azure waters abound. And while Atlantic Beach has heaps of small-town charm, its also just a short drive from Jacksonville, making it convenient for day-trippers and vacationers who want a short airport-to-beach commute.

History buffs can learn about the development of the Atlantic Beach and neighboring Jacksonville beaches at the areas Beaches Museum and History Center. After spending the afternoon strolling the shores, head to Beaches Town Centers pedestrian-friendly cobblestone streets and check out the towns restaurants, galleries, boutiques and frequent special events, including live music and the monthly North Beaches Art Walk, held on the third Thursday of every month.

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Stem Cell Therapy for Arthritis and Injuries | Regenexx

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

Select a Problem Area

If you have pain, we're here to help. Regenexx Procedures are patented stem cell and blood platelet procedures that are used to treat a wide range of joint and spine conditions.

Click a problem area to discover what Regenexx can do for you.

The Regenexx family of non-surgical stem-cell & blood platelet procedures are next generation regenerative injection treatments for those who are suffering from shoulder pain due to arthritis, rotator cuff and shoulder labrum tears, overuse injuries, and other degenerative conditions. Regenexx is also a viable alternative for those considering shoulder replacement surgery.

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Shoulder Procedure Video

Regenexx Procedures are advanced stem cell and blood platelet procedures for foot and ankle conditions. Before you consider ankle surgery, fusion or replacement, consider the worlds leading stem cell and prp injection treatments.

View Details About Foot & Ankle Treatments

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Ankle Procedure Video

The Regenexx family of non-surgical stem-cell & blood platelet procedures are next generation regenerative injection treatments for those who are suffering from pain or reduced range of motion due to basal joint / cmc arthritis, hand arthritis, or other injuries & conditions in the hand.

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The Regenexx family of non-surgical stem cell and blood platelet procedures offer next-generation injection treatments for those who are suffering from knee pain or may be facing knee surgery or knee replacement due to common injuries, arthritis, overuse and other conditions.

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ACL Procedure VideoIn-Depth with Dr. John Schultz ACL Procedure Video

The Regenexx family of non-surgical stem-cell & blood platelet procedures are next generation regenerative injection treatments for those who are suffering from pain, inflammation or reduced range of motion due tocommon elbow injuries, arthritis and overuse conditions.

View Details About Elbow Treatments

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The Regenexx family of hip surgery alternatives are breakthrough, non-surgical stem-cell treatments for people suffering from hip pain due to common injuries, hip arthritis & other degenerative problems related to the hip joint.

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Hip Labrum Procedure Video Hip Avascular Necrosis Procedure Video

Regenexx has many non-surgical platelet and stem cell based procedures developed to help patients avoid spine surgery and high dose epidural steroid side effects. These procedures utilize the patients own natural growth factors or stem cells to treat bulging or herniated discs, degenerative conditions in the spine, and other back and neck conditions that cause pain.

View Details About Spine Treatments

Commonly Treated Conditions:

Intradiscal Procedure Video

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Commonly Treated Conditions:

Cervical Spine Video

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Personal Empowerment: Empower the Leader Within You …

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

Across their lifetime, undergraduate students will have studied from 22,000 to 26,000 hours whereas graduate students will have studied 31,000 to 35,000 hours. They will have explored many subjects, from literature to technology, from science to management. When asked how many hours they have studied themselves, most students realize that not even an hour was dedicated to explore, understand, and develop their inner growth as part of the current educational system.

Success in your personal and professional life can only be achieved when all parts of you, from your emotional self, to your imagination, are fully understood, supported and skillfully operated. It is not a coincidence that emotional intelligence has been found to be the most influential trait of successful leaders. Similarly, using imagination has been credited by Oprah, Steve Jobs and Nelson Mandela as a fundamental skill for achieving success. Why didnt we study these subjects in school?

Personal Empowerment: Empower the Leader Within You provides you with a holistic, practical, and highly experiential approach to study and understand yourself. You will be introduced to new aspects of you and will explore and effectively use inner tools that have been ignored and left unused for many years. This book is filled with exercises that will challenge you to design a new you and activate your full potential.

CHAPTER 1 Why Personal Empowerment?What Should You Expect from This Book?Do You Want to Be: Educated or Empowered?The Building Blocks of Personal Empowerment

CHAPTER 2 Your NeedsMaslows Hierarchy of NeedsOn the Way to Self-Actualization

CHAPTER 3 Your ValuesWhat Are Your Values?Are You Living in Alignment with Your Values?How Can You Use Your Values to Become More Successful?Understanding Others Values

CHAPTER 4 Your Talents and SkillsYour Hard SkillsYour Soft SkillsYour Natural TalentsYou Know Your Skills and Talents: What Now?Matching Your Talents with Your Current and Future Skills

CHAPTER 5 Your ProgrammingGetting to Know Your ThoughtsBecoming More Aware of Your ThoughtsSurfacing ThemBecoming More Aware of Your ThoughtsNotice How You FeelBecoming More Aware of Your ThoughtsWhat Is the Opposite of What I Do Not Want?Where Do Your Thoughts Come From?How to Surface Your Unsupportive BeliefsGetting to Know Your Self-Defeating BeliefsChanging Your Beliefs

CHAPTER 6 Your EmotionsWhat Are Emotions?Understanding Your Emotions Based on the Four Feeling GroupsHow Do Emotions Manifest?How Can You Measure Your Emotions?Managing Your Emotions

CHAPTER 7 Your Communication SkillsWhy Communication?Are You a Good Communicator?Improve Your Communication EffectivenessNon-Violent Communication: Expressing What Is Alive Inside of You

CHAPTER 8 Your Life PurposeWhat Is a Life Purpose?Benefits of Knowing Your Life PurposeFinding Your Life PurposeThe Entrepreneurial Spirit That Is Inside of YouEnvisioning and Formulating Your Life Purpose

CHAPTER 9 Your ImaginationImagination DefinedScience and ImaginationIntended ImaginationThe Necessary Steps in Using My Imagination

CHAPTER 10 Your Life PlanPlanning Your LifeWhat Do You Really Want?Planning Your Time and Timing Your PlanYour Vision StatementYour GoalsYour Habits and RitualsYour Action Plan

CHAPTER 11 Conclusion

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Personal Empowerment: Empower the Leader Within You ...

What is ‘personal empowerment’? – Answers.com

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Danzig

Women empowerment is, contrary to what modern day media may advertise for the sake of the pecuniary, the cultivation and fortification of women's sense of identity, power, recognition and conviction through fostering in women the capacity to acquire self-actualization critically with concrete forces- education and knowledge. Whereas befuddled women such as the Pussycat Dolls and Girlicious will argue that slavishly coquettish attire and booty-and-bosom-flashing hoverings offer women a sense of empowerment, identity and recognition, when we rarify this claim, it stipulates that our sense of power, identity, recognition and convention is viable not only just through men, but furthermore through something ephemeral and unmerited- hotness. Not only is hotness is the mere upshot of genetical lottery (unless plastic surgery is involved), but it is transient as it's definition is always changing. Moreover, it is transient as the the ramifications of inhabiting an earth with a strong gravitational pull are inevitable for both men and women. Therefore, "hotness" cannot be relied on for power, identity, recognition and approbation if we are to live provident, prudent, judiscious lives. Our empowerment must then be derived from something concrete- knowledge or education. With knowledge we can critically discern the means of acquiring a healthy sense of identity and power and we can empower ourselves based on what our concrete knowledge tells us is provident and judiscious rather than simply hot. With education, we can understand and recognize happiness as something that is not transitory, but lifelong. Empowment, at its most ideal, should imply lifelong and healthy power for women. The only way we can acquire this is through possessing, retaining and maintaining something that can endure such a lengthy period of time. And unlike anything related to the hotness and physical beauty that are inevitably doomed by gravity, knowledge can offer us this sense of empowerment, identity, recognition and approbation that is enduring. Our established and developed knowledge is the true reflection of our empowerment because it's something that we merit and deserve through habituation, through effort and through work whereas hotness, as I stated above and will restate, is often simply a reflection of a genetic lottery (or plastic surgery or makeup) and thus not in any way, shape, or form a reflection of our merit, value or personhood. To encapsulate it in one phrase: Women empowerment is the cultivation of personhood in women that consists of the only concrete, everlasting ingredient of one's identity- their mind and the knowledge it possesses.

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What is 'personal empowerment'? - Answers.com

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