Category Archives: Technology and Society

Health, Science And Society, Technology and Society

Life Extension

3 Comments

…though telomerase gene therapy:

Mice treated at the age of one lived longer by 24% on average, and those treated at the age of two, by 13%. The therapy, furthermore, produced an appreciable improvement in the animals’ health, delaying the onset of age-­‐related diseases — like osteoporosis and insulin resistance — and achieving improved readings on aging indicators like neuromuscular coordination.

The gene therapy consisted of treating the animals with a DNA-­modified virus, the viral genes having been replaced by those of the telomerase enzyme, with a key role in aging. Telomerase repairs the extreme ends or tips of chromosomes, known as telomeres, and in doing so slows the cell’s and therefore the body’s biological clock. When the animal is infected, the virus acts as a vehicle depositing the telomerase gene in the cells.

This study “shows that it is possible to develop a telomerase-­based anti-­aging gene therapy without increasing the incidence of cancer,” the authors affirm. “Aged organisms accumulate damage in their DNA due to telomere shortening, [this study] finds that a gene therapy based on telomerase production can repair or delay this kind of damage,” they add.

Faster, please.

Economics, Philosophy, Technology and Society

Cornucopians In Space

10 Comments

Some thoughts on Planetary Resources and Peter Diamandis’ abundance thesis over at Zero Hedge. I need to give it some thought, but I think there is a definitional issue here of what constitutes a “resource.” It’s somewhat related to the question of whether gravity existed before Newton invented it, though a little less philosophical. I’m on a couple deadlines right now, but have at it in comments.

Popular Culture, Technology and Society

The Dirigible

22 Comments

Is the dream dead?

As noted in comments, they still have specialized applications, which may expand with evolving technology, though helium prices are an issue.

This freaked me out, though:

A dock at the top of the Empire State Building, it was thought, would allow airships like the Graf Zeppelin to fly passengers directly to Midtown Manhattan — where the vessels would “swing in the breeze” while those passengers walked an attached gangplank down to the street below.

“Walk” over a quarter of a mile on a “gangplank” that extended to the street? Not for me. No. Way. In. Hell.

That couldn’t be serious. Ignoring the wind issues at that altitude (that can’t be ignored), maybe mating it to the 86th-floor observation deck with something like a long jetway (I know I wouldn’t want to be looking down), so they could take the elevators, but the notion of walking all the way to the street from that height would be insane, even for the non-acrophobes.

[Update a while later]

Here’s a fascinating account of the history (and yes, they were supposed to embark/debark from the 103rd floor). It was so crazy it never happened.

Social Commentary, Technology and Society, Weird

“Hi Hippy”

7 Comments

That was the salutation in the phishing email I got to reset my LinkedIn password (at least three of them today). Whole thing:

Hi hippy,

Can’t remember your LinkedIn password? No problem – it happens.

Please use this link to reset your password within the next 1 day:
Click here

Then sign in to LinkedIn with your new password and the email address where you received this message.

Thanks for using LinkedIn!

How stupid do they think we are? How stupid are they?