scholarly journals The Singularity May Be Near

Information ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman Yampolskiy

Toby Walsh in “The Singularity May Never Be Near” gives six arguments to support his point of view that technological singularity may happen, but that it is unlikely. In this paper, we provide analysis of each one of his arguments and arrive at similar conclusions, but with more weight given to the “likely to happen” prediction.

Author(s):  
Roman V. Yampolskiy

Toby Walsh in “The Singularity May Never Be Near” gives six arguments to support his point of view that technological singularity may happen but that it is unlikely. In this paper, we provide analysis of each one of his arguments and arrive at similar conclusions, but with more weight given to the “likely to happen” probability.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 39-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
A V Popova ◽  
M G Abramova

The authors offer their views on the processes of establishing and developing worldwide digital technologies of intruding in human civilization. The world is now witnessing the creation of a wide range of cyber-physical systems, different types of robots, artificial intellects, robot-engineering units, intellectual and brain systems. Because of this, there is an imperative need to resolve all the different philosophical, legal, political and moral problems that have come to the surface.We may ask: how can these new types of intellects, these so-called «post-humans» interact with Homo sapiens? Do they have a conscience, and are they, in this case, subjects of law? By the actions of humanoids, androids, hynoids, different types of industrial and social robots, is it possible to speak about their empathy, responsibility for what they do from the point of view of moral dogmas and norms of law?It is noteworthy that the current development of brain-computer interface based on direct contact between human and computer consciousness will have an impact on changing the concepts of democracy, rights and freedoms, equality, justice and religious convictions.The article offers a brief analysis of the philosophy of trans-humanism. Having reached the point of technological singularity from which it will no longer be possible to return to the past. Therefore, technological singularity is that critical point for mankind which can lead to self-liquidation. The only possible way to exclude such a pessimistic future for the whole of mankind is to pool the efforts of the community, by upgrading the role of collective start- ups, common interests and social interests as a special universal boon.Only by coordinating and harmonizing public, collective interests, the interests of Man and Nature, will it be possible to begin elaborating general norms for helping us to regulate new public relationships with this technological element.


1962 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 169-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Green

The term geo-sciences has been used here to include the disciplines geology, geophysics and geochemistry. However, in order to apply geophysics and geochemistry effectively one must begin with a geological model. Therefore, the science of geology should be used as the basis for lunar exploration. From an astronomical point of view, a lunar terrain heavily impacted with meteors appears the more reasonable; although from a geological standpoint, volcanism seems the more probable mechanism. A surface liberally marked with volcanic features has been advocated by such geologists as Bülow, Dana, Suess, von Wolff, Shaler, Spurr, and Kuno. In this paper, both the impact and volcanic hypotheses are considered in the application of the geo-sciences to manned lunar exploration. However, more emphasis is placed on the volcanic, or more correctly the defluidization, hypothesis to account for lunar surface features.


1984 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 331-337
Author(s):  
Richard Greenberg

ABSTRACTThe mechanism by which a shepherd satellite exerts a confining torque on a ring is considered from the point of view of a single ring particle. It is still not clear how one might most meaningfully include damping effects and other collisional processes into this type of approach to the problem.


Author(s):  
A. Baronnet ◽  
M. Amouric

The origin of mica polytypes has long been a challenging problem for crystal- lographers, mineralogists and petrologists. From the petrological point of view, interest in this field arose from the potential use of layer stacking data to furnish further informations about equilibrium and/or kinetic conditions prevailing during the crystallization of the widespread mica-bearing rocks. From the compilation of previous experimental works dealing with the occurrence domains of the various mica "polymorphs" (1Mr, 1M, 2M1, 2M2 and 3T) within water-pressure vs temperature fields, it became clear that most of these modifications should be considered as metastable for a fixed mica species. Furthermore, the natural occurrence of long-period (or complex) polytypes could not be accounted for by phase considerations. This highlighted the need of a more detailed kinetic approach of the problem and, in particular, of the role growth mechanisms of basal faces could play in this crystallographic phenomenon.


Author(s):  
T. E. Mitchell ◽  
M. R. Pascucci ◽  
R. A. Youngman

1. Introduction. Studies of radiation damage in ceramics are of interest not only from a fundamental point of view but also because it is important to understand the behavior of ceramics in various practical radiation enyironments- fission and fusion reactors, nuclear waste storage media, ion-implantation devices, outer space, etc. A great deal of work has been done on the spectroscopy of point defects and small defect clusters in ceramics, but relatively little has been performed on defect agglomeration using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in the same kind of detail that has been so successful in metals. This article will assess our present understanding of radiation damage in ceramics with illustrations using results obtained from the authors' work.


Author(s):  
C. Wiencke ◽  
A. Lauchli

Osmoregulatory mechanisms in algae were investigated mainly from a physiological point of view (KAUSS 1977, HELLEBUST 1976). In Porphyra two osmotic agents, i. e. floridoside/isofloridoside (KAUSS 1968) and certain ions, such as K+ and Na+(EPPLEY et al. 1960) are considered for osmotic balance. Accumulations of ions (particularly Na+) in the cytoplasm during osmotic adaptation is improbable, because the activity of enzymes is generally inhibited by high ionic concentrations (FLOWERS et al. 1977).The cellular organization of Porphyra was studied with special emphasis on the development of the vacuolar system under different hyperosmotic conditions. Porphyra was cultivated at various strengths of the culture medium ASP 12 (PROVASOLI 1961) ranging from normal to 6 times concentrated (6x) culture medium. Por electron microscopy freeze fracturing was used (specimens fixed in 2% glutaraldehyde and incubated in 30% glycerol, preparation in a BALZERS BA 360 M apparatus), because chemical fixation gave poor results.


Author(s):  
N.V. Belov ◽  
U.I. Papiashwili ◽  
B.E. Yudovich

It has been almost universally adopted that dissolution of solids proceeds with development of uniform, continuous frontiers of reaction.However this point of view is doubtful / 1 /. E.g. we have proved the active role of the block (grain) boundaries in the main phases of cement, these boundaries being the areas of hydrate phases' nucleation / 2 /. It has brought to the supposition that the dissolution frontier of cement particles in water is discrete. It seems also probable that the dissolution proceeds through the channels, which serve both for the liquid phase movement and for the drainage of the incongruant solution products. These channels can be appeared along the block boundaries.In order to demonsrate it, we have offered the method of phase-contrast impregnation of the hardened cement paste with the solution of methyl metacrylahe and benzoyl peroxide. The viscosity of this solution is equal to that of water.


Author(s):  
S. E. Miller

The techniques for detecting viruses are many and varied including FAT, ELISA, SPIRA, RPHA, SRH, TIA, ID, IEOP, GC (1); CF, CIE (2); Tzanck (3); EM, IEM (4); and molecular identification (5). This paper will deal with viral diagnosis by electron microscopy and will be organized from the point of view of the electron microscopist who is asked to look for an unknown agent--a consideration of the specimen and possible agents rather than from a virologist's view of comparing all the different viruses. The first step is to ascertain the specimen source and select the method of preparation, e. g. negative stain or embedment, and whether the sample should be precleared by centrifugation, concentrated, or inoculated into tissue culture. Also, knowing the type of specimen and patient symptoms will lend suggestions of possible agents and eliminate some viruses, e. g. Rotavirus will not be seen in brain, nor Rabies in stool, but preconceived notions should not prejudice the observer into missing an unlikely pathogen.


Author(s):  
Takanori Sohda ◽  
Hiroshi Saito ◽  
Goro Asano ◽  
Katsunari Fukushi ◽  
Katsuya Suzuki ◽  
...  

Recently, the functional aspect as well as morphological aspect of the reserve cells in the cervix uteri drew much attention in view of the carcinogenesis in squamocolumunar junction. In this communication, the authors elucidate the ultrastructural features of the reserve cells in patients of various age groups visiting our university hospital and affiliated hospital.From conventional light microscopic point of view, the reserve cells tend to be pronounced in various pathological conditions, such as the persisting inflammation, proliferative disorders and irritation of hormones. The morphological patterns of the reserve cells from various stage and degree of irritation were observed.


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