How to Save the Future? - June 8th, 2008

Nanotechnology. A Storm in Research Labs. (Are They Creating a Superweapon?)

What is a nanorobot? Why is nanoresearch receiving increased funding? Is it a new revolution in science and technology? What opportunities it may open for us? Or what dangers it may bring about?

Indeed, the breakthrough which is in the offing in research labs is likely to affect practically all facets of our life – from food production to engineering and military applications. The ability to manipulate atoms and molecules just as easily as we manipulate machine parts or grow plants will open the way to fundamentally new processes, techniques, devices, medical systems, etc.

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Manipulation of consciousness

[Jun. 8th, 2008|06:29 am]

Manipulation of consciousness. How are present democracies different from former monarchies?

...people are poor and blank. ...
On a blank sheet of paper free
from any mark, the freshest
and most beautiful pictures
can be painted." (Mao Zedong)

One of the primary tasks for leaders and ruling classes is to upkeep their regime so that it lasted for as long as possible. This, in the first place, requires stability and calm in the country, better – docility of the people. In distant past, when all countries lived under autocratic regimes (various kinds of monarchy), and in more recent historical epochs, when clergy or party leaders where at the helm, the main instrument for maintaining order were special military formations, police and appropriate legal, judicial and penitentiary systems.

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Economic Miracle

[Jun. 8th, 2008|06:41 am]

Economic Miracle: A Decade-long Way from the Defeated in the War to the World Leaders

There were two parallel running efforts implemented in Germany and Japan after the end of the World War II: The first was restoration and the second was conversion of economy aimed to eliminate the threat of new conflicts in the future. Germany found itself amid crisis: Many of its cities and factories were ruined and much of the able-bodied male population was killed. Germany was to pay many billions in reparations and the Nazi ideology, which used to be the country's national ideology, had collapsed. The winning statepowers were facing a difficult task: To establish a new democratic system, to create a demilitarized economy, to change the system of government, public mentality and their behavior patterns. First of all it was required to transit from the centralized and rigidly controlled system of social order to free competition and promotion of private entrepreneurship.

Decisive role in the success of the German reforms was played by financial assistance provided under the Marshall Plan combined with the industriousness of German burghers and their desire for well-being and comforts. Under the supervision of the Allied Powers and under the influence of the defeat shock, a repentance of almost a whole nation took place – something without a precedent in history. Structures of civil society and political parties were restored. At the initiative of the Germany's then-minister of economy, Ludwig Erhard, a monetary reform was implemented, the main emphasis being made on consumer goods production, monetary stability, free prices and elimination of the government-regulated distribution system. Huge corporations were divided up which facilitated workers' involvement in the management. And a sweeping conversion of the military industry was accomplished. In a brief period of several years, the reforms brought abundance and plenty to the consumer market. As a result, within just one generation's lifetime Germany managed to return to the world economic elite club.

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Terrorism and Megaterrorism

[Jun. 8th, 2008|06:47 am]

Terrorism and Megaterrorism

Modern-day political terrorists aim for maximum effect. To accomplish that, they try to kill as many innocents as possible in a crowded place or take hostages. This receives broad media coverage. Violence is getting more and more intense. Today, it allows even small groups with meager resources at their disposal to challenge world powers and change the life of the world. What we are witnessing today is a mixture of confrontations between codes of ethics and faiths, between conservatism and liberalism, and between traditionalism and modernism.

A noticeable "progress" has been achieved in both scale and methods of terrorism which is manifested in the destruction of high-rise residential buildings with people inside and the use of sophisticated gear and means of transportation driven by shahids – automobiles and aircraft stuffed with high explosives. It cannot be ruled out that major engineering structures, such as bridges, tunnels, dams, power plants, water supply systems, etc., are next on their list of targets. Also, terrorists might seek to disrupt operation of major life-support systems or even to use weapons of mass destruction. It is known for certain that such preparations are under way, the question is how effectively will we manage to hold them back. Suicide bombers are brought up with a mentality permitting suicide and mass murder; therefore, extrapolating from this, we can presume that groups of people may appear one day who will be ready to eliminate not only big cities, but the whole world.

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Power Pyramids

[Jun. 8th, 2008|06:52 am]

Power Pyramids

Who rules us? Governmental and other types of power pyramids and some peculiarities of their "construction."

More often than not, having the highest chance to win competition for power are those who are "good fighters," i.e. who boast such qualities as aggressiveness, vigor, perseverance, etc. Other factors that may contribute to one's success in climbing up a pyramid of power include connections with influential people or support of a political group. Incidentally, pursuing its interests, a group may choose to promote a weaker one who would be better controllable and more predictable. Other conditions being equal, the better chances to make it to the top belong to the one who employs a wider arsenal of methods, and, as it often happens, to the one who is not too scrupulous about ethics or even the law. Sometimes, those involved in political rivalry sink to overtly illegal activities, such as blatant lies, hoax, fraud, eavesdropping, etc. In effort to take the desired post, a candidate will not stop at giving promises which he has no intention of keeping.

Behavior of any human being, and those in power are no exception, is strongly influenced by natural instincts; the difference, however, is that those in power are less controllable and enjoy more freedoms. Power is like a narcotic drug: It creates the feeling of all-permissiveness and gives the opportunity to suppress critics. These negative trends acquire their ultimate forms in totalitarian or autocratic regimes. A certain role here is played by the propensity of a large part of the population to idolize those in power and blindly follow their calls and ideas however absurd they might be.

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Why is the Universe Silent?

[Jun. 8th, 2008|11:17 am]

Why is the Universe Silent? Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

For several decades now attempts have been made to "listen" to the Universe in search for signals from extraterrestrial rational beings. Although SETI programs are equipped with cutting edge optical and radiotelescopes, computers and other intricate instruments, no meaningful signals have so far been received from outer space. Now we have no shortage of sophisticated equipment to discover planets in remote constellations; up to 20 new planets are discovered every year. It has been calculated that the total number of stars in the Universe is roughly 10 billion x 10 billion. Therefore, the number of cold celestial objects, or planets, must be of the same order of magnitude. Not very long ago it was discovered that asteroid falling on our planet often contain fragments of organic molecules. This means that "seeds" of life can travel over the Universe (as postulated by the panspermia theory). Unless we stick to the opinion that our civilization is a unique phenomenon, it is reasonable to presume that evolution producing intelligent beings and, hence, civilizations could have occurred on other planets throughout the Universe at different times.

Studies indicate that development of life on our planet began at the moment when conditions (water, atmosphere, temperature) became suitable to support life. Organic molecules gradually "developed" under the influence of changing ambient conditions. As millions of generations came and gone, living organisms underwent fundamental changes. On a certain stage, it was about 550 million years ago, many forms of animal life had appeared.

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Robotics and Genetic Engineering

[Jun. 8th, 2008|11:51 am]

Robotics and Genetic Engineering

The modern tempo of development, especially in microcircuit engineering, computer technology and genetic engineering is both fascinating and fearsome. We are living in the epoch when humans have outperformed Mother Nature in the creation of new and unusual things. What took evolution millions of years and generations to achieve takes only several years in modern research laboratories. The computer processing speed growth curve is a very impressive and convincing example. It appears, we are in one step from the creation of an artificial intelligence.

Automated systems have been designed and fabricated to perform most complicated tasks in the conditions unbearable for living organisms – in the vacuum of outer space or under high pressure, intensive radiation or high temperature. What is also important, they do not need to stop to eat or sleep. Truly fantastic opportunities will open for mankind with the creation of nanorobots – microscopic mechanisms capable of performing a wide range of functions, and, what is most important, capable of self-improvement and reproduction.

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Gerontology and Eugenics

[Jun. 8th, 2008|11:57 am]

Gerontology and Eugenics. Can we hope for life extension?

Making human life as long and as comfortable as possible is the main goal of many researchers in the field. The goal splits into numerous specific tasks – from prevention of hereditary diseases and elimination of factors causing various diseases and ailments to modification of genetic mechanisms responsible for aging of human organism. Gerontologists spare no efforts giving us persistent recommendations (which no one would cast doubt at), such as no smoking, regular physical activity, healthy diet, limited consumption of alcohol, weight control, avoid harmful exposure to radiation, toxic chemicals, etc., avoid stress, take regular medical checkups. Hereditary factors, such as the quality of the genome inherited from the parents, play an important role in one's life expectancy.

At the same time, experiments performed on various kinds of living organisms provide confident proof that starvation diet is an effective method of life extension. The most recent results of genetic tinkering with laboratory animals show that certain mutations can help double, quadruple or even tenfold increase the species' regular average life span. Although such animals sometimes showed signs of retardation, by and large their organism functions were close to those of the reference group animals. With the knowledge we currently have, it appears highly probable that researchers in genetic engineering will manage to find which human genes are responsible for aging, and find a method for their alteration. Following the recently completed many-year-long painstaking work of deciphering human genome, work has continued into studying its functions, mechanisms and elements.

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Russia: The National Idea Quest

[Jun. 8th, 2008|01:33 pm]

Russia: The National Idea Quest

Russia is one of the world's most important countries which determine the course of history and life of the world community. For many centuries in the past Russia had decisively influenced crucial events in the history of Eurasia, and in the recent hundred years its activity has expanded to nearly worldwide. Suffice is to recall its support of the national liberation movements in former colonies and involvement in various armed conflicts in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Shortly after the end of the Second World War, where those who claimed world supremacy were defeated, a new opposition had formed, this time between the former allies, primarily between the Soviet Union and the United States. The opposition fueled the arms race and brought the world to a dangerous point where the threat of a global nuclear catastrophe was very high.

Russia is among the main contributors to the world treasury of literature, fine arts and music; also, Russia boasts outstanding achievements in research science and technology, geographical studies and sports.

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What needs to be done?

[Jun. 8th, 2008|01:38 pm]

What needs to be done to ensure survival of the human civilization? Programs of survival

"If you want to change the world, change yourself."
Mahatma Gandhi

In order to survive and preserve civilization there is practically no options for mankind but to stop the endless chain of destructive wars and learn to resolve contradictions by way of negotiations and compromise. To begin with, radical reforms need to be implemented in the system of education and in the media as they strongly influence people's attitudes and behavioral patterns. A possible path to survival would involve the development and implementation of a set of global–scale programs. Let's call them Consciousness, Disarmament, Technology, Economy and Geopolitics. In terms of organization, these programs can utilize the time–tested approaches and mechanisms used in the recent successful national and international projects and programs, such as the Manhattan Project, the Soviet nuclear and missile programs, the Apollo Project and the European Union creation program. This time, however, it will be required to raise one step higher in the scope of work, its complexity and overall duration of the program.

Although these proposals may sound to a certain extent reminiscent of the old utopian concepts of building a society of justice, today we simply have no alternative to finding a way to peaceful coexistence and establishing a new, different from the present one, system of life on the planet. One of the main tasks is to stop spending money on military purposes and retarget these funds to peaceful programs, specifically to ensuring sustainable development of the human civilization. The combined total of military spending in the world currently equals approximately one trillion dollars a year. This money must be used for funding the work of resolving the global problem facing mankind.

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