Exploring Possibilities

Fiction Becomes Reality

It’s a (semi) Geekout as Phil and Stephen discuss scenarios from fiction (and from non-fictional speculation) that are coming true or that we hope to see come true soon. We begin with this story: Nanobots […]

Accelerating Tech

Infinite Computing or Infinite Hype?

How do we sort amazing new capabilities from eloquent marketing hype? Headline on Facebook: What if We Could Unlock Infinite Computing Power? Headline when you get to the page: What if we could unlock our […]

Accelerating Tech

New Capabilities, New Risks

New technologies bring unintended consequences and often unexpected risks. A new method of treatment introduces a whole new category of risk: Could genome sequencing in healthy persons create “sick patients for life”?  It was also […]

Adjacent Realities

Adjacent Realities: Crossing the Line

We are all realized possibilities. Before you existed, before you became a part of reality, you were a possibility — and a very remote possibility at that. As we have explored in earlier posts and […]

Philosophy

Adjacent Realities: The Big Lie

When talking about the possible, we must from the outset confront the big lie that all too often accompanies it. Unlike many big lies, this one is not always offered with an intent to deceive. […]

Philosophy

Adjacent Realities: The Fourth Wall

Most of us like to think that reality is something that human beings can comprehend. And, more to the point, we tend to think that we personally are among those who have a pretty good […]

Accelerating Tech

Is Social Media Killing Us?

Is social media killing us? If so, how do we fix it? Correlation is not causation, but still there is a huge correlation between rising depression rates and the ascendancy of social media. For example, […]

Accelerating Tech

Closer Than We Think

Are breakthrough technologies progressing faster than we think? Phil and Stephen review three recent news items that indicate they may be. Sucking carbon dioxide from air is cheaper than scientists thought https://go.nature.com/2JhnFLT Siphoning carbon dioxide […]

Accelerating Tech

Frickin’ Lasers! (Save the Universe)

Frickin’ Lasers Save the Universe Lasers Could Make Computers 1 Million Times Faster Phil and Stephen discuss two recent examples of the amazing potential of lasers to change everything. Lasers Could Make Computers 1 Million […]