Links for Feb
Announcing a new climate advocacy group END — Environmentalists for Nuclear Detonations.
Never mind peak coal, we haven’t even reached ‘peak wood’ yet. Burning of wood for energy hasn’t declined globally, even with the introduction of fossil fuels, total wood burning levelled off but didn’t decline. File under: We are so early.
AI may boost economic growth from 3–9%. A huge deal, but not an ‘explosive growth’ singularity type scenario. I think this is about right. New techs can be amazing, but they always defuse fairly slowly. (see our use of burning wood, still going strong 10,000 years in).
Human gene editing is here (in mice and bodybuilders), and it makes you ripped. Extends lifespans in mice 32%. Purportedly, it ‘de-ages’ you (according to biomarkers, who really knows) by 7–9 years. Not bad.
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Life-extension drugs are here (for dogs). I have a very lovely golden retriever named Kenny. He’s only two, but how much would my partner and I pay when he’s older for a few more years with him? I dread to think.
A sensible suggestion to improve the legal/judicial system: Quicker, simpler trials, shorter and more bearable sentences (to reduce the cost of false positives), and increasing penalties for repeat offenders (since the false positive rate decreases exponentially with each conviction).
A new type of transit– Skyways. Personal, point-to-point, automated and elevated transit. Can’t come to Leeds fast enough.
I got a daylight computer, and I really love it. It makes reading long-form content so much more relaxing. This is the most pleased with a new bit of tech I’ve been in years.
Shameless self-plug — I explore the question of whether the universe evolved, which explains the fine-tuned universe, and in doing so realise what dark energy actually is. You can stick the Nobel prize in the post.
