September 11, 2017
(BBC) – The rather more futuristic-sounding concept of transhumanism – the idea that every human should have the right to enhance themselves beyond the so-called “norm” through science and technology – was the subject under scrutiny at a debate this … Read More
September 6, 2017
(Quartz) – Earlier this week, doctors at the Mayo Clinic and the Scripps Research Institute published a review article in the Journal of American Geriatrics calling and outlining designs for human clinical trials on the first class of drugs developed … Read More
August 28, 2017
(TIME) – The findings have obvious implications for the many people waiting for a transplant. But one of the lead study authors, George Church, a geneticist at Harvard and founder of eGenesis, says the promise of pig organs that are … Read More
August 21, 2017
(Quartz) – Marjorie Prime uses emerging technology as a window into our desire to self-select the past. Directed and co-written by Michael Almereyda and based on a play by Jordan Harrison, the movie’s focus is on a timeless question that … Read More
August 17, 2017
(JAMA) – While media attention has since waned, the underground use of CEs seemingly has not. A 2013 survey found that 19.9% of the 1105 German surgeons who responded admitted to having taken a prescription or illicit drug to enhance … Read More
August 16, 2017
Faith and Philosophy (vol. 34, no. 3, 2017) is available online by subscription only. Articles include: “Christian Cyborgs – A Plea For a Moderate Transhumanism” by Benedikt Paul Göcke
August 4, 2017
Bioethics (vol. 31, no. 4, 2017) is available online by subscription only. Articles include: “Methodological Reflections on the Contribution of Qualitative Research to the Evaluation of Clinical Ethics Support Services” by Sebastian Wäscher et al. “What Outcomes do Dutch Healthcare … Read More
August 1, 2017
(The Conversation) – But there is a darker side to the naive faith that Pearce and other proponents have in transhumanism – one that is decidedly dystopian. There is unlikely to be a clear moment when we emerge as transhuman. … Read More
July 25, 2017
(Quartz) – Three Square Market is believed to be the first US company to offer embedded chips to employees. But over the last decade, the office has become a target market for all sorts of gadgets and software that some … Read More
July 24, 2017
(The Verge) – The better wearable devices get, the less sense it makes to permanently modify your body. Things like exoskeletons, smart glasses, and external brain-computer interfaces are safer and much easier to upgrade than their implanted counterparts. Plus, you … Read More
July 20, 2017
(New Scientist) – Students who take Adderall to improve their test scores may get a slight benefit, but it’s mainly a placebo effect. The drug Adderall is a combination of the stimulants amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, and is used to treat … Read More
July 12, 2017
(Philadelphia Inquirer) – The lymphoma has been tied both to saline and gel implants, both for enlargement and for reconstruction after breast cancer. Nearly all patients, including Arreola, had textured rather than smooth implants. The roughness may trigger chronic inflammation. … Read More
July 12, 2017
(The Economist) – “The technique itself is kind of gross and crude,” admits Michael Conboy, a biologist and parabiosis researcher at the University of California, Berkeley. Perhaps for that reason, research had more or less died out by the late … Read More
July 6, 2017
(Wired) – But helping to restore a damaged brain is only an entry point for Kernel. Johnson, a 39-year-old from Utah, is looking forward—with almost unseemly enthusiasm—to the day that healthy people can get neural augmentation. He has emerged as … Read More
June 29, 2017
(The Guardian) – The maximum human lifespan could far exceed previous predictions, according to work that challenges the idea that humans are approaching a hard limit on longevity. The latest research comes in response to a recent high-profile paper that … Read More
June 23, 2017
(The Guardian) – Children as young as nine are the target of cosmetic surgery apps and makeover games that are likely to make them feel dissatisfied with their own faces and bodies, a new report warns. The Nuffield Council on … Read More
June 23, 2017
(Deutsche Welle) – But the second, and perhaps more interesting aspect of digitalization, is that we can experiment with our identity, Sjoblad says. He calls himself a “biohacker,” a person who “hacks” biological, organic processes to make them better. According … Read More
June 15, 2017
(Newsweek) – For most people, the idea of brain augmentation remains in the realms of science fiction. However, for scientists across the globe, it is fast becoming reality—with the possibility of humans with “super-intelligence” edging ever closer. In laboratory experiments … Read More
June 9, 2017
(Wired) – Life hacks make tedious tasks like slicing avocados or opening jars a bit easier. Such tricks are for amateurs. Hardcore hackers slice open their arms, or hands, or ears to install magnets, RFID tags, and other nifty devices … Read More
June 1, 2017
Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics (vol. 26, no. 3, 2017) is available online by subscription only. Articles include: “Enhancements: How and Why to Become Better, How and Why to Become Good” by Vojin Raki? “Is It Desirable to Be Able … Read More
May 30, 2017
(ProPublica) – The notes document an experiment on Magness in which he was given a large infusion of the supplement L-carnitine to see if it would enhance his running performance. L-carnitine is a legal substance that helps the body convert … Read More
May 18, 2017
(Los Angeles Times) – At some point, we could all use a bit of performance enhancement for the noggin — something to help us ace that test, command the room or nail a project under deadline. Yes, there’s a pill … Read More
May 16, 2017
(Science Daily) – A recent study by researchers at North Carolina State University and the Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) finds that “moral enhancement technologies” — which are discussed as ways of improving human behavior — are neither feasible nor … Read More
May 11, 2017
(The Guardian) – Universities must do more to tackle the growing number of students turning to “smart drugs” to cope with exam stress, leading academics have said. UK institutions are being called on to consider measures such as drug testing … Read More
May 9, 2017
(Wired) – A next-generation technology, likely to arrive in five to 10 years, is being credited as the saviour of capitalism. Known today as neural prosthetics, or neural lace, it’s essentially tech that reads your brainwaves. This tech promises to … Read More
