29 May 2008

Global Catastrophic Risks Conference this July

Pessimists, mark your calendars: July 17-20 comes the Global Catastrophic Risks Conference at the University of Oxford. The conference aims to open dialogue about the greatest threats to human survival now and into the future. It is curated by the Future of Humanity Institute, whose director is TEDster Nick Bostrom. Among the discussion topics:

+ Advances in nanotechnology leading to radically enhanced intelligences, environmental degradation and social disruption

+ Helpful breakthroughs in biotechnology being mismanaged, leading to the production of biological weapons

+ Objects from outer space colliding with Earth, causing horrendous damage on a continental or global scale

+ Cosmic expansion, entropy and the subsequent darkness that may envelop our universe over trillions of years

At TED in 2005, Bostrom outlined some of humanity's biggest problems -- including death ("most humans who have ever lived have died") and total extinction -- and pointed out that most of such risks are neglected in serious discussion. He recently published a paper in MIT's Technology Review arguing that finding extraterrestrial life would not augur well for humanity.

(Announcement via Accelerating Future.)

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02 January 2008

Edge question 2008: What have you changed your mind about? Why?

Many TEDTalks speakers have answered the 2008 Edge Foundation question: What have you changed your mind about? Why?

Among the more than 160 essays from leading thinkers -- scientists, philosophers, artists -- look for Wired's Chris Anderson, Nick Bostrom, Stewart Brand, Richard Dawkins, Aubrey de Grey, Juan Enriquez, Helen Fisher, Neil Gershenfeld, Daniel Gilbert, Daniel Goleman, Kevin Kelly, Steven Pinker, Carolyn Porco, Martin Rees, Michael Shermer and Craig Venter. Block out some time to sample these -- it's an addictive read.

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20 April 2007

Nick Bostrom on TED.com

Oxford philosopher and transhumanist Nick Bostrom examines the future of humankind and asks whether we might alter the fundamental nature of humanity to solve our most intrinsic problems.

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