1/22/14 Episode 11: The Human Experience

Oh, to be human!  We have the unique ability to analyze our thoughts, research the world around us, and use all we learn to do things like:

Compress our own ashes into heirloom jewelry

Sequence tens of thousands of genomes for $1,000

Create recognition algorithms that learn without us

Build robots that learn through improvising--and look like Pixar characters!

Model biobots after our own sperm

And, as a bonus, we can also calculate infinity.  What's next?  Or could anything be next after infinity?  If so, we'll find it.

http://www.npr.org/2014/01/19/263128098/swiss-company-compresses-cremation-ashes-into-diamonds?utm_content=socialflow&utm_campaign=nprfacebook&utm_source=npr&utm_medium=facebook

http://www.kurzweilai.net/worlds-first-1000-genome-enables-factory-scale-sequencing-for-population-and-disease-studies

http://www.kurzweilai.net/a-smart-object-recognition-algorithm-that-doesnt-need-humans

http://www.ted.com/talks/guy_hoffman_robots_with_soul.html

http://www.kurzweilai.net/tiny-swimming-biobots-propelled-by-heart-cells-or-magnetic-fields

http://www.npr.org/2014/01/21/264575969/after-hibernation-rosetta-seeks-its-stone

http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2014/01/21/263455905/treat-yourself-to-a-huh